Election 2022: Anthony Albanese’s ‘private moment’ of thanks to mum

Anthony Albanese has not stopped since being named Australia’s 31st prime minister. That is, until Wednesday night.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with his mother, Maryanne Ellery.

Winning the election, swearing in his ministers and flying the 10 hours to Tokyo: Anthony Albanese has not stopped since being named Australia’s 31st prime minister. That is, until Wednesday night.

After touching down in Australia, the Prime Minister stopped at the cemetery where his mother was buried 20 years ago to the day, and took what he called a “private ­moment”, which have been few and far ­between over the past two months, to remember the woman who inspired him to rise to the highest office in the land.

Anthony Albanese collects his home-delivered copy of The Australian on Thursday. Picture: John Grainger / The Daily Telegraph

“When I touched down from Tokyo, yesterday was the 20th anniversary of my mum’s death. I travelled last night out to the cemetery to see her and have a chat,” he told Network Nine.

“I hope it gives people out there, whether they be single mums or people going through difficulties in life … I hope my journey does give people a bit of an uplift. It’s not about me. No one gets there … by themselves. You get there because people ­believe in you, because people provide you with support.”

Mr Albanese said he was not only thankful to his mother, but to the broader community of Sydney’s inner west, from neighbours who cooked him meals as he grew up to those who stood in the street and cheered as he left his house at 11pm on Saturday to ­accept his election victory.

“It was like the whole neighbourhood were on the street, just cheering the change in direction for this country,” he said.

After months of suits and ties, Mr Albanese was much more casual when he emerged on that same street on Thursday in striped pyjama pants dotted with rabbit illustrations, a Newtown Jets jersey and camel-brown Ugg boots for the short walk to the yard to pick up the day’s newspapers.

Within hours, a markedly fresher-faced Mr Albanese appeared for his first TV interviews since taking office, doubling down on a commitment to change the way politics is done.