No ham in PM’s Christmas plea to help the needy

Anthony Albanese says his favourite part of having the nation’s top job is ‘making a difference’ as he helps feed the homeless at Bill Crews’ Exodus Foundation.

Anthony Albanese, MP Chris Minns and Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne help prepare lunch at the Exodus Foundation for the homeless and hungry. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Anthony Albanese has encouraged Australians to reach out to those in need or grieving the loss of family, saying it is important to live out the Christian values that underpin the spirit of Christmas.

Speaking on 2GB radio at the Bill Crews’ Exodus Foundation in Sydney’s inner west which aims to feed the homeless and needy, the Prime Minister said his favourite part of having the nation’s top job was “being able to make a difference”.

He argued his government was about restoring consistency and a sense of order, following what he claimed was a period of turbulence that involved a lot of “chopping and changing”.

Mr Albanese also revealed he had received a swag of gifts from his family including a number of records from his son Nathan including Radiohead’s 1997 effort “OK Computer” as well as an album from aboriginal band King Stingray and a tie from his partner Jodie Haydon that had “happy bunnies on it.”

“Christmas Day can be a day of celebration for people with family and friends. But it can also be a really tough time for those who have lost loved ones during the year,” Mr Albanese said. “And it’s a good time to think about them as well. And maybe reach out if there’s a neighbour.”

Mr Albanese, who lived in council housing with his mother growing up, recalled how she would often “welcome people into the household.”

“As I got older, when I had friends who didn’t have their own family, they were always welcome at our place,” he said. “And that’s really the spirit of Christmas. And for people of faith, it’s a time for them to renew their faith in Jesus Christ.

“It’s an important Christian celebration.”

Mr Albanese said that, while Labor had only been in government for seven months, he cited a number of achievements including his intervention to impose energy price caps aimed at protecting manufacturing jobs.

He also cited Labor plans to provide cheaper childcare and medicines while rebuilding Australia’s relations with Pacific nations and France after the previous government cancelled a $90bn submarine contract with the French defence company, Naval Group.

“You have to have a measured, steady, ordered approach to government which is what we’re trying to do. I think people have seen a lot of chopping and changing. People want a bit of consistency.”

Mr Albanese said that helping out at the Exodus Foundation was about “Christianity in action” and “helping the vulnerable, bringing some joy to people’s lives.”

“I was in charge of potatoes for a little while. And I got demoted to peas,” he said. “Hopefully one day I will be promoted to ham.”

“There are so many volunteers here who I see every year,” Mr Albanese said. “I renew my acquaintance with them every year. And it’s particularly special to come here as the Prime Minister rather than as the member for Grayndler.” Mr Albanese warned that there was a “lot of inequality in Australia.”

“It’s something that my government endeavours to fix,” he said.

“What we can do is to work on solutions, both government solutions but also providing support for people like Bill Crews who are doing enormous work out there in the community.

“I know that many of the people here in the community are doing it really, really tough.”

Mr Albanese said that many Australians were still recovering from floods in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania and navigating the ongoing dangers of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Covid-19 is still out there and having an impact on people,” he said.