Anthony Albanese teases fresh detail about his wedding to Jodie Haydon
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed he briefly considered wedding Jodie Haydon in a secret ceremony on Valentines Day this year.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed he briefly considered wedding Jodie Haydon in a secret ceremony on Valentines Day this year.
Speaking on Brisbane radio on Tuesday morning, just hours before the federal budget was handed down, Mr Albanese said he considered eloping with his fiancée when parliament adjourned last month.
We did think about it, Ive got to say, on the [one-year] anniversary, really quietly, just doing it to stop speculation, Mr Albanese told B105.
But we decided that might get some speculation as well, so we didnt. [But] I did think about doing it really quietly.
The wedding will be in the second half of the year, it wont be elaborate. The only thing thats finalised is our ring bearer. And that, of course, is Toto the wonder dog.
Mr Albanese said last month he and Ms Haydon are planning to tie the knot in the second half of this year, likely in the spring, and that it will a small ceremony.
He told the Australian Womens Weekly that he had asked for the support of his 24-year-old son Nathan prior to popping the question.
Nathan is the child of Mr Albanese and his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt, a former NSW Deputy Premier.
Anthony Albanese said in a new radio interview he has considered secretly marrying Jodie Haydon on Valentines Day this year but eventually decided against it
Mr Albanese is the first Australian leader to get engaged while in office. Its understood he proposed with a ring specifically designed for Ms Haydon
I respect him and have a good relationship with him, and with his mother. So I asked him to think about it... and he was supportive. He wants me to be happy, and Nathan and Jodie have a really nice relationship as well, Mr Albanese said.
He said one major difference between himself and Ms Haydon had became apparent as they discussed the guest list - the size of their extended families.
Growing up, there was just me and my mum. I havent got any brothers or sisters. Ive got one really close relative, my son Nathan, and I cherish that relationship – were great mates, the Prime Minister said.
He said his six first cousins were vastly outnumbered by those of Ms Haydon who has hundreds … well, there must be 70 at least.
Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon conceded the pressures of the countrys top job had provided challenges in their relationship.
However he said frequent travel away and long hours were problems faced by many couples, such as those in FIFO jobs, and the important thing was they made the most of their time together when work commitments allowed.
Ms Haydon is an executive for Teachers Mutual Bank, which she said has been very supportive of her high-profile role as Australias de facto First Lady.
Her work ethic was learned, she said, through her mother and grandmother who were both schoolteachers.
The Prime Minister said Toto would be the ring bearer for his wedding later this year but other than that the couple have not decided on any details
Mr Albanese said he asked for the support of his son Nathan, 24, before popping the question to Ms Haydon (pictured with Nathans mother and Mr Albaneses ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt)
She credits them with instilling belief in her potential and that she never felt held back as a woman when it comes to the workforce.
It was at a work conference in 2020 where Ms Haydon met Mr Albanese - who was then opposition leader to the Scott Morrison government.
He had asked if there were any South Sydney NRL fans in the audience, at which Ms Haydon yelled out the teams catch cry of up the Rabbitohs.
We met up for a drink... its a nice relationship, he said of their first date.
The following year he was seriously injured in a car crash when a Range Rover crossed onto the wrong side of the road and smashed into his car in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville.
Ms Haydon got a call and raced to the scene to see the car written off, but Mr Albanese alive.
And I knew then that, yeah, I loved him, she said.
Planning for the pairs wedding has been brief, as Mr Albaneses main focus over the next few weeks will be his campaign for a second term as prime minister.
Anthony isnt a big fan of unnecessary shopping, Ms Haydon said.