Anthony Albanese insists he is one of the youngest world leaders

Anthony Albanese has declared himself ‘one of the youngest’ world leaders, insisting he is not worried about getting re-elected as he refused to rule out calling an early election.

Anthony Albanese has declared himself ‘one of the youngest’ world leaders and insisted he was not worried about getting re-elected for a second term, as he refused to rule out calling an early election.

Anthony Albanese has said he is “one of the youngest” world ­leaders and is not worried about getting re-elected, as he refused to rule out an early election.

Amid concerns over the age of President Joe Biden ahead of the November US election, the Prime Minister said he still felt “pretty young” when he represented ­Australia at global summits and noted that he regularly plays tennis in Sydney.

“I’m one of the youngest when I sit around a G20, it makes me feel pretty young,” Mr Albanese told business leaders at the Sky News/The Australian Economic Outlook lunch in Sydney on Friday.

“I still play in the Sydney Badge tennis comp when I can.”

The comments come amid about the US President’s age and cognitive ability, with reports the 81-year-old is showing signs of “slipping” and lacks the fitness to lead the country.

While Mr Albanese is 61, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunk is 44, French President Emmanuel Macron is 46 and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is 52.

Mr Albanese has been repeatedly questioned whether he will hold an early election in the wake of the budget, which included $300 energy rebates for all voters and a forecast that inflation will fall by Christmas.

There is ongoing speculation that there will be an early election this year, six months before it is scheduled in May 2025.

Mr Albanese told business leaders on Friday that he was not worried about the election and never took the job for granted.

He insisted he was focused on doing the right thing and that he never expected to become prime minister.

“I waited a while in 2013 before I nominated because I wondered, genuinely at that time, whether you have to have the destiny thing that some people have,” Mr ­Albanese said.

“I think that’s one of the things, frankly, that makes it possible to do the job as I do, because I’m not worried about what happens.

“I’m worried about doing the right thing and doing the best job that I can, and I’ll continue to do it for a period of time and I’ll let you know when.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the pace of rolling out large-scale solar and wind power projects.

During a question-and-answer session on Friday, Mr Albanese also defended the pace of rolling out large-scale solar and wind power projects amid fears Australia will miss its target of more than doubling renewable supplies by 2030. Mr Albanese said big infrastructure projects did not move in a linear fashion, arguing the nation would make up lost ground this decade.

“One of the things that happens with any infrastructure project – I know a bit about infrastructure – is it doesn’t go in a straight line. It ramps up,” Mr ­Albanese said.

“And that is one of the things that you will continue to see. That’s just what any modelling will show you.”

Mr Albanese said he disputed figures that Australia was only adding 3.5 gigawatts a year of ­renewable energy to the power grid compared with a required six gigawatt annual target.

“I don’t accept the figures that you’ve put forward,” he said.

Mr Albanese also criticised the prior Coalition government for failing to add enough electricity supply when coal power plants were closing.

“Not a single hole was dug on a new coal-fired power station. That meant a delay in action and rollout of what was needed for the energy grid.”