From humble beginnings to next Prime Minister
Albanese promises to boost country’s reputation
Australia’s Prime Ministerelect Anthony Albanese is a politician moulded by his humble start to life as the only child of a single mother who raised him on a pension in gritty inner-Sydney suburbia.
He is also a hero of multicultural Australia, describing himself as the only candidate with a “non-Anglo Celtic name” to run for Prime Minister in the 121 years that the office has existed.
He has promised to rehabilitate Australia’s international reputation as a climate change laggard with steeper cuts to greenhouse gas emissions.
His financially precarious upbringing in government-owned housing in suburban Camperdown fundamentally formed the politician who has lead the centre-left Australian Labor Party into government for the first time since 2007. He is still widely known by his childhood nickname, Albo.
“It says a lot about our great country that a son of a single mum who was a disability pensioner, who grew up in public housing down the road in Camperdown can stand before you tonight as Australia’s Prime Minister,” Albanese said in his election victory speech.
“Every parent wants more for the next generation than they had. My mother dreamt of a better life for me. And I hope that my journey in life inspires Australians to reach for the stars,” he added.
Labor’s campaign has focused on policies including financial assistance for first-home buyers grappling with soaring real estate prices and sluggish wage growth. They also promised cheaper childcare for working parents and better nursing home care for the elderly.
Albanese promised to begin rebuilding trust in Australia ahead of a Tokyo summit with US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister
Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Albanese said he will be “completely consistent” with Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s current administration on Chinese strategic competition in the region.
But he said Australia had been
placed in the “naughty corner” in United Nations’ climate change negotiations by refusing to adopt more ambitious emissions reduction targets at a November conference.
“One of the ways that we increase our standing in the region, and in
particular in the Pacific, is by taking climate change seriously,” Albanese said.
Morrison’s Government had aimed to reduce Australia’s emissions by 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. Labor’s goal is 43 per cent.