Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sought the help of his good mate Daniel Andrews to help him win the election while plans to marry fiancée Jodie Haydon are put on hold.
Mr Albanese told 3AW drive host Jacqui Felgate he sought out the former Victorian premier after Labor’s polling numbers looked dire in what is anticipated to be a hotly contested election.
It’s understood Mr Albanese reportedly asked Mr Andrews to assist him in preparing for live TV debates against Liberal leader Peter Dutton in the lead-up to the election.
Albo also admitted he and Mr Andrews were flatmates in Canberra in the 90s after Felgate asked him why he asked Andrews for ‘help with the debate’.
‘Daniel Andrews is a friend of mine and he’s been a friend of mine for a long period of time,’ Mr Albanese told 3AW.
‘We shared, famously, shared a flat for a little while in Canberra when he was a staffer.’
Mr Albanese also admitted he would welcome advice from former WA premier Mark McGowan and former Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Mike Rann.
But in a shock admission, Mr Albanese said was also advised by former political nemesis.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sought the help of his good mate Daniel Andrews to help him win the election
Albanese said he is more focused on the election than he is to his fiancée Jodie Haydon (left)
‘I get the odd bit of advice from people like Tony Abbott and people will ring up, ask me what I should do, or telling me what in their view, I should do as well.
‘And, you know, that’s fine, I get on very well with Barry O’Farrell, I regard as a friend of mine, who’s the former New South Wales Premier.’
Ms Felgate then called Mr Albanese a ‘bipartisan prime minister’.
‘Well, I had Dom Perrottet and his lovely wife for dinner after he retired as Premier of New South Wales,’ he said.
‘We enjoyed a really constructive relationship. And a couple of weeks ago, I had David Crisafulli for dinner at The Lodge, the new Premier of Queensland.
‘And we’re working really cooperatively to deal with the impact of the floods that have occurred in Queensland.
‘That’s what people, that’s what Australians want to see, I think, from their leaders, is getting on and getting things done.’
Felgate also asked if Mr Albanese was more nervous about the election or his upcoming wedding to partner Jodie Haydon.
Albanese was asked if he was more nervous about the election or his upcoming wedding to partner Ms Haydon
‘Look, you know, I’m very focused on the election because elections are uncertain and that is my focus,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘And it’s fantastic, though, to have a commitment made that we made when we got engaged, myself and Jodie, that commitment that we want to share the rest of our lives together.’
Ms Felgate also pressed Mr Albanese about the unpopularity of the Jacinta Allan’s government and any potential blowback at a federal election.
‘You would have seen, no doubt, the results of the Werribee by-election and particularly in the West,’ Ms Felgate said.
‘Are you concerned that that unpopularity here will flow on to your fortunes.’
‘Look, you know, it’s a long term government there,’ Mr Albanese said.
Mr Andrews’ popularity is also on the wane after it was revealed multiple businesses had blacklisted the former premier.
These black-listers include Jim’s Mowing boss Jim Penman, Melbourne hospitality supremoes Paul Dimattina and Chris Lucas and multiple Mornington Peninsula golf clubs.
Mr Albanese uploaded this selfie from Mr Andrews’ home which depicted the former Victorian premier holding tongs in front of steaks on a grill
There was also significant backlash after the Daily Mail Australia revealed a bronze statue of Mr Andrews will suffer cost blow outs and constant vandalism.
Senior opposition spokesperson Brad Rowswell called for the statue to be axed over its initial expense and fears of a cost blow out in the years ahead.
‘Cost of living is through the roof and Victorians don’t feel safe in their homes,’ Mr Rowswell said.
‘But Labor want to push on with an obelisk to their former dear leader. How out of touch can this mob be?
Mr Albanese’s friendship to Mr Andrews is well-known and an online scandal involving the pair which centred around an allegedly staged BBQ exploded in September 2023.
Mr Albanese uploaded a selfie from Mr Andrews home which depicted the former Victorian premier holding tongs in front of steaks on a grill.
Political enemies and social media trolls surmised the photo was staged and the BBQ was not operating due to a lack of grill marks on the steaks.
Mr Albanese later said Mr Andrews ‘does cook a great steak’.
