Previous offices 2007–⁠2013

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
In office 3 December 2007 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister	Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard
Preceded by	Mark Vaile
Succeeded by	Warren Truss
Leader of the House
In office 3 December 2007 – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister	Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard
Deputy	Stephen Smith
Preceded by	Tony Abbott
Succeeded by	Christopher Pyne
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
In office 1 July – 18 September 2013
Prime Minister	Kevin Rudd
Preceded by	Stephen Conroy
Succeeded by	Malcolm Turnbull (as Minister for Communications)
Minister for Regional Development and Local Government
In office 25 March – 1 July 2013
Prime Minister	Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd
Preceded by	Simon Crean
Succeeded by	Catherine King
In office 3 December 2007 – 14 September 2010
Prime Minister	Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard
Preceded by	Jim Lloyd
Succeeded by	Simon Crean
Manager of Opposition Business
In office 10 December 2006 – 3 December 2007
Leader	Kevin Rudd
Preceded by	Julia Gillard
Succeeded by	Joe Hockey

Member of the Australian House of Representatives
for Grayndler

Incumbent

Assumed office
2 March 1996

Preceded by

Jeannette McHugh

Personal details

Born

Anthony Norman Albanese

2 March 1963 (age 62)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Political party

Labor (since 1979)

Spouse

Carmel Tebbutt

(m. 2000; div. 2019)

Domestic partners

Jodie Haydon (2021–present, engaged in 2024)

Children

Residences

The Lodge (primary)
Kirribilli House (secondary)

Alma mater

University of Sydney (BEc)

Signature

Website

Nickname

Albo

Anthony Norman Albanese (born 2 March 1963) is an Australian politician. He is the 31st and current prime minister of Australia, a role he has held since 2022. He has also been the leader of the Labor Party since 2019. Before becoming prime minister, he was a member of parliament (MP) for the area of Grayndler in New South Wales since 1996.

His government was re-elected in a big win in the 2025 federal election. This made Albanese the first prime minister to be re-elected since John Howard in 2004.

Anthony Albanese's Early Life

Family and Background

Anthony Albanese was born on 2 March 1963 in Sydney, Australia. His mother, Maryanne Ellery, was Australian with Irish family roots. His father, Carlo Albanese, was Italian.

His parents met on a ship in 1962 but went their separate ways. Anthony grew up believing his father had died. He later found out his father was alive and met him in 2009. He also discovered he had two half-siblings.

Childhood and Education

Albanese grew up in Camperdown, a suburb of Sydney. He lived with his mother and maternal grandparents. His mother worked part-time and had health issues. The family lived on pensions.

He went to St Joseph's Primary School and then St Mary's Cathedral College. After school, he worked at the Commonwealth Bank for two years. He then studied economics at the University of Sydney. At university, he became involved in student politics. He was elected to the Students' Representative Council. This is where he started to become an important person in the Labor Party's left-wing group.

His mother passed away in 2002.

Before Parliament

After finishing university in 1984, Albanese worked as a research officer for a government minister, Tom Uren. Uren became a mentor to him. In 1989, Albanese became the Assistant General Secretary of the Labor Party in New South Wales. He held this role for six years. In 1995, he became a senior adviser to the New South Wales Premier, Bob Carr.

Albanese travelled a lot before entering parliament. He visited places like Vanuatu, South-East Asia, Europe, and India. In 1990, he bought a house in Marrickville, Sydney.

Early Political Career

Becoming a Member of Parliament

Albanese shortly after his election to Parliament.

In 1996, Anthony Albanese was chosen to run for the seat of Grayndler. This was after the previous MP, Jeannette McHugh, decided not to run again. The election was challenging because of concerns about aircraft noise from Sydney Airport.

Despite the challenges, Albanese was elected in the 1996 election. He won with a good margin. In his first speech to the House of Representatives, he talked about aircraft noise. He also spoke about the need for public transport funding and his support for multiculturalism. He wanted to be remembered as someone who stood up for his local area and for working-class people.

Joining the Shadow Cabinet

Anthony Albanese, Australian Labor MP in 2005

Albanese in 2005

In 1998, Albanese became a parliamentary secretary. This role helps ministers and is often a step towards becoming a full minister.

In 2001, he was promoted to the opposition's Shadow Cabinet. He became the Shadow Minister for Ageing and Seniors. Over the next few years, he held other shadow minister roles. These included Employment Services and Training, and Environment and Heritage. In 2004, he strongly spoke out against nuclear power in Australia. He argued it was not good for the economy, environment, or society.

In 2005, he also became Shadow Minister for Water. In December 2006, when Kevin Rudd became Labor Party leader, Albanese took on a key role. He became the Manager of Opposition Business in the House. This is an important tactical role in parliament.

Cabinet Minister

Albanese in 2011

Rudd Government

After Labor won the 2007 election, Albanese became a minister. He was appointed Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. He also became Minister for Regional Development and Local Government. Additionally, he was made Leader of the House. He was sworn in on 3 December 2007.

One of his first actions was to create Infrastructure Australia. This independent group advises the government on important building projects. With their advice, he helped double the budget for roads. He also increased investment in rail by ten times. Many saw Infrastructure Australia as a success. It helped deliver major projects across the country.

Gillard Government

Albanese at the opening of the Holbrook Bypass in 2013

In June 2010, Julia Gillard replaced Rudd as prime minister. She kept Albanese in his ministerial roles. After the 2010 election, which resulted in a hung parliament (no party won a clear majority), Albanese played a key role. As Leader of the House, he helped negotiate support from independent members. This allowed Labor to form a government. He was also in charge of guiding new laws through parliament.

In 2011, Albanese introduced two more big policy changes. One was about urban planning, focusing on better transport and safety. The other was about shipping, which was supported by both shipowners and unions.

When leadership issues arose again in 2012, Albanese supported Kevin Rudd. He said he was always unhappy with how Rudd was removed as leader. He urged the Labor Party to stop fighting and unite. He famously said, "I like fighting Tories. That's what I do."

Deputy Prime Minister

Albanese sworn in as deputy prime minister by Governor-General Quentin Bryce

In June 2013, Kevin Rudd became prime minister again. At the same time, Albanese was elected by his party as Deputy Leader of the Labor Party. The next day, he was sworn in as deputy prime minister. He held this role until Labor lost the 2013 election on 18 September.

Back in Opposition

2013 Leadership Election

After Labor's defeat in 2013, Albanese ran to become the new Leader of the Labor Party. He ran against Bill Shorten. Shorten won the election, which was the first time both MPs and party members voted. Albanese won among party members, but Shorten had more support from MPs.

Shorten Opposition

After the leadership election, Shorten appointed Albanese as Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Shadow Minister for Tourism. He held these roles while Shorten was leader. In September 2014, he also became Shadow Minister for Cities. After Labor's close loss in the 2016 federal election, there were rumours Albanese might challenge Shorten. However, he decided not to, and Shorten remained leader.

Leader of the Opposition (2019–2022)

Albanese during his time as Leader of the Opposition

2019 Leadership Election

After Labor's unexpected loss in the 2019 election, Bill Shorten resigned as leader. On 19 May 2019, Albanese announced he would run for the leadership. No other candidate stepped forward, so Albanese became the leader without opposition on 30 May. Richard Marles became his deputy. At 56, he was the oldest first-time Opposition Leader in 59 years. He announced his team of shadow ministers on 1 June 2019.

2022 Federal Election

Albanese led the Labor Party into the 2022 federal election. Early in the campaign, he faced criticism for not knowing some economic figures. He debated prime minister Scott Morrison several times. On 21 April, Albanese tested positive for COVID-19, which meant he had to isolate at home. He returned to campaigning the next week. On 1 May, he launched Labor's campaign, promising to lower medicine and childcare costs. He also wanted to increase manufacturing and help first-time home buyers. Polls suggested that many people were supporting smaller parties and independent candidates.

Prime Minister of Australia (2022–present)

Albanese with Vietnamese President Võ Văn Thưởng in Hanoi, Vietnam, June 2023

On 21 May 2022, Labor won the election against the Liberal–National Coalition. Anthony Albanese became the 31st prime minister of Australia. Labor gained more seats, and some seats went to independent candidates.

Two days after the election, Albanese and four other Labor members were sworn in as an interim ministry. This was because it wasn't yet certain if Labor would win a majority of seats. Albanese is the first Australian prime minister with Italian heritage.

On 30 May, it was confirmed that Labor had won enough seats to form a majority government. This was the first time Labor had won a majority since 2007. Albanese's full team of ministers was sworn in on 1 June.

Domestic Affairs

Economy

Cost of Living

A big challenge for Albanese's government has been the cost-of-living crisis in Australia. This is due to a worldwide rise in inflation. Inflation reached 8.4% in December 2022. The Reserve Bank of Australia increased interest rates many times.

In 2023, the Albanese government announced a budget surplus of $22.1 billion. This was Australia's first budget surplus in 15 years. They also had a second surplus of $9.3 billion in 2024.

In January 2024, the government changed some tax cuts. People earning less than A$150,000 would get a bigger tax cut. This caused some criticism, as Albanese had promised not to change them. However, the public generally liked the changes, and they became law. His government also announced more tax cuts for 2025.

Housing

Albanese became prime minister during a major housing affordability crisis. In 2024, the average house price was nine times the average income. To help, in August 2023, Albanese agreed with state leaders to build 1.2 million houses over five years.

In September 2023, the government created the Housing Australia Future Fund. This $10 billion fund aims to build 30,000 new affordable homes. In November 2024, the government passed a "help-to-buy" scheme. This allows up to 40,000 first-time home buyers to buy a home with government help. In February 2025, his government banned non-citizens from buying existing houses for two years.

Some critics say Albanese's immigration policies have made the housing crisis worse.

"Future Made in Australia" Policy

In April 2024, Albanese announced a big plan called "Future Made in Australia." This plan aims to boost Australian manufacturing, especially in sustainable energy.

The government's budget included $22.7 billion over ten years for this policy. It supports making green hydrogen, solar panels, and mining important minerals in Australia. This includes a $1 billion "Solar Sunshot" program for solar panel making. It also has a $566 million plan to map mining resources.

The laws for this policy were passed in November 2024.

Climate Change, Environment, and Energy

On 16 June 2022, Albanese's government committed Australia to reducing carbon emissions by 43% by 2030. This is based on 2005 levels and is a bigger target than the previous government's. In September 2022, this target became law. Albanese also supported expanding gas production. In December 2024, he approved the expansion of four coal mines. He has said he will not allow nuclear power in Australia.

In late 2022, his government announced changes to the "safeguard mechanism." This system requires large carbon emitters to keep their emissions below a limit. The changes, passed in March 2023, put a "hard cap" on emissions. This was a major step in climate change law for Australia. In October 2023, Australia rejoined the United Nations' Green Climate Fund. In December 2023, the government created a "nature repair market." This encourages companies to invest in projects that protect biodiversity. They also plan to set up a federal environmental protection agency (EPA). In May 2024, a new vehicle emission standard was introduced for new cars from July 2025.

Albanese's government took office during a big rise in electricity prices. In December 2022, he announced a plan to temporarily limit gas and coal prices. Parliament passed a 12-month cap on gas prices to help control electricity costs.

Industrial Relations

One of Albanese's first actions as prime minister was to support an increase in the national minimum wage. On 2 June 2023, his government again encouraged the Fair Work Commission to raise the minimum wage in line with inflation. The Fair Work Commission later announced a 5.2% increase in the minimum wage.

On 2 December 2022, the government passed the Secure Jobs, Better Pay law. This law allows unions to negotiate pay deals for multiple employers. It also aims to reduce the gender pay gap. The law makes it illegal for employers to stop workers from talking about their pay.

In 2023, the government tried to pass more industrial relations changes called the Closing Loopholes bill. This bill aimed to ensure temporary workers get the same pay as regular workers. It also aimed to make wage theft a crime. The first part of the bill passed in December 2023. The second part, which included minimum standards for gig workers and the right to disconnect, passed in February 2024.

Social Policy

Indigenous Affairs

In his election victory speech, Albanese supported the Uluru Statement from the Heart. He said his government would fully put it into action. In his first press conference, Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander flags were displayed. These flags are now also shown in the House of Representatives and Senate chambers.

Albanese promised to hold a referendum to create an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. This would help advise the government on Indigenous issues. The 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum was held on 14 October. However, the proposed change to the Constitution was rejected by most Australian voters. In August 2024, Albanese decided not to pursue the remaining parts of the Uluru Statement.

Immigration

On 25 May 2022, Albanese's government allowed the Murugappan family to stay in Australia. The previous government had tried to deport them. In February 2023, the government ended temporary protection visas. This allowed up to 19,000 asylum seekers to stay permanently.

In November 2023, the High Court of Australia ruled that keeping immigrants in indefinite detention was illegal. This led to 148 people being released. The government then passed emergency laws to put strict conditions on those released. These included ankle monitoring and curfews. However, in November 2024, the High Court also found these new laws unconstitutional. To get around this, Albanese's government introduced new laws. These laws give the government strong powers to deport non-citizens. These bills passed in November 2024.

In 2023–24, the number of people arriving in Australia decreased. In December 2023, the Albanese government announced a ten-year plan to change the immigration system. It aims to reduce Australia's annual migration intake to 250,000 by June 2025. The government also announced limits on international students.

Health

In May 2023, Albanese's government invested $3.5 billion. This was to triple the fee doctors receive for bulk billing patients. This helps address the decline in bulk billing rates. In February 2025, Albanese promised to invest $8.5 billion in Medicare services. This includes money for doctor visits and training programs. The government also opened 58 non-emergency urgent care clinics across Australia by early 2024.

Aged Care and Childcare

The first law Albanese's government passed was about aged care. It responded to recommendations from a Royal Commission. The law changed how aged care is funded and added new reporting rules. In November 2024, the government passed more aged care reforms. These increased funding for home care and reduced waiting times. In March 2025, Albanese's government passed a law to help families with childcare costs. It guarantees a minimum of three days of subsidised care.

Anthony Albanese's Political Views

Albanese describes his political views as progressive. He is part of the Labor Left group within his party.

Albanese supports Australia becoming a republic. This means replacing Australia's current constitutional monarchy with an Australian head of state. He has said he respects the Queen, even as a republican. He also wants to give constitutional recognition to Indigenous Australians. He promised to hold a referendum for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Social Issues

Albanese at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2003

Albanese supports LGBT rights. He often takes part in the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. In 2012, he voted to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia. He opposed holding a public vote on same-sex marriage. He believed people should not judge other families. In 2017, he voted for the law that eventually legalised same-sex marriage.

Environmental Issues

When he was a minister in the Gillard government, Albanese supported carbon pricing. He voted to create the Clean Energy Act 2011, which set up a carbon pricing scheme. After this scheme was removed in 2014, Albanese said it was no longer needed.

Albanese is a strong supporter of renewable energy in Australia. He believes Australia's future is in renewable energy sources. When he was elected in 2022, he said he would "end the climate wars". He made addressing climate change in Australia a top priority for his government.

Albanese and Penny Wong with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 2022

Anthony Albanese's Personal Life

In 2000, Albanese married Carmel Tebbutt, who later became a Deputy Premier of New South Wales. They have one son together. They separated in January 2019. In June 2020, it was reported that Albanese was in a relationship with Jodie Haydon. In February 2024, Albanese announced they were engaged.

Albanese describes himself as "half-Italian and half-Irish." He is a "non-practising Catholic." He is also a big music fan. After becoming prime minister, he went to a Gang of Youths concert. In 2013, he co-hosted a music TV show called Rage. He chose songs by bands like the Pixies and Nirvana. In 2023, his top artists on Spotify included Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift.

He is a lifelong supporter of the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league club. He was on the club's board from 1999 to 2002. He helped the club get back into the National Rugby League (NRL) competition. In 2013, he became a life member of the club.

He also likes Australian rules football. He supports the Hawthorn Football Club. He attended the 1991 AFL Grand Final, which Hawthorn won.

Anthony Albanese facts for kids

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