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Jodie Haydon earned the nickname of Australia’s unofficial ‘First Lady’ after the 2022 election – but after accepting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese‘s romantic Valentine’s Day proposal, it’s about to become official.

The 45-year-old union worker watched him toil away in Opposition for two years before he seized power, supporting him through the highest of highs and several low points during their four-year relationship.

The couple met in 2020, at a time when Mr Albanese was recovering from a bruising – and unexpected – divorce.

Four years on and as the PM rides a political high with his popular Stage Three tax tweaks, they have announced their engagement.

Here’s everything you need to know about Mr Albanese’s biggest fan. 

Anthony Albanese has proposed to his partner Jodie Haydon and she said yes

Anthony Albanese has proposed to his partner Jodie Haydon and she said yes

Ms Haydon and Mr Albanese walk through the gardens of the lodge after announcing their engagement

Ms Haydon and Mr Albanese walk through the gardens of the lodge after announcing their engagement 

Ms Haydon shows off her engagement ring

Ms Haydon shows off her engagement ring 

Who is Jodie Haydon? 

Ms Haydon was born in Bankstown, western Sydney, to parents who were school teachers and grew up on the Central Coast of New South Wales.

She dropped out of university and began a career in the superannuation industry, where she worked for 20 years in various banking and finance roles.

She is now working as women’s officer at the NSW Public Service Association. 

In addition to her career, she also took over as the chief patron of the National Portrait Gallery in August 2022 – replacing former Prime Minister Scott Morrison‘s wife Jenny.

The position is a customary honour for prime ministerial spouses and Ms Haydon’s appointment was revealed on the PM’s register of interests.

In mid-2023, she also stepped into a new role as Ambassador for Redkite, a charity providing support for families impacted by childhood cancer.

Redkite offers emotional, financial and practical help for families who have a child under the age of 18 living with cancer.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese with his son Nathan (left) and Jodie Haydon

Anthony Albanese with his son Nathan (left) and Jodie Haydon

How did Jodie Haydon and Anthony Albanese meet?  

The once-divorced PM met Ms Haydon in early 2020 at a conference in Melbourne where the then-Opposition Leader was speaking.

Mr Albanese asked the crowd if there were any fellow South Sydney fans present and finance worker Ms Haydon, who lives in his Grayndler electorate, shouted: ‘Up the Rabbitohs’.

He later introduced himself and they decided to go for a drink when they were back in Sydney. 

He wooed his new girlfriend with a night out at the Young Henrys brewery in Newtown.

Anthony Albanese is farewelled by Jodie Haydon before departing to a visit to Ukraine in 2022

Anthony Albanese is farewelled by Jodie Haydon before departing to a visit to Ukraine in 2022

During his time in office, Jodie has been by Anthony Albanese's side every step of the way, earning her the nickname 'Australia's First Lady'

During his time in office, Jodie has been by Anthony Albanese’s side every step of the way, earning her the nickname ‘Australia’s First Lady’

‘We had what I thought would just be a drink at Young Henrys in Newtown, and we got on really well. That’s how it started,’ he told Women’s Weekly.

Mr Albanese, a father-of-one, had recently split from his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt after 19 years of marriage and 30 years together.

Mr Albanese said admitted he ‘didn’t see it coming’ when Tebbutt decided to end their marriage on New Year’s Day 2019.

‘I needed to stop trying to understand it and just accept it and accept that it was a decision that had been made and she was moving on with her life in a different direction and I needed to do the same,’ he said. 

‘You can tie yourself in knots trying to understand someone else’s decisions and thought processes.’ 

Mr Albanese and his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt - the former NSW deputy premier. The potential future prime minister said he 'didn't see it coming' when Ms Tebbutt ended their marriage on New Year's Day 2019

Mr Albanese and his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt – the former NSW deputy premier. The potential future prime minister said he ‘didn’t see it coming’ when Ms Tebbutt ended their marriage on New Year’s Day 2019

Anthony Albanese's ex-wife Carmel looked after his dog Toto during the election campaign in 2022

Anthony Albanese’s ex-wife Carmel looked after his dog Toto during the election campaign in 2022

The moment Jodie Haydon fell in love with Anthony Albanese  

Ms Haydon, who has never been married or had children, said she wasn’t looking for a relationship but realised she had fallen in love with Mr Albanese when he had a car crash in January 2021.

His Toyota was rammed by a Range Rover and he was rushed to hospital for X-rays but escaped serious injury.

Ms Haydon recalled arriving at the scene of the crash in Marrickville after a phone call and seeing her boyfriend’s smashed-up car.

‘I saw the mess of a car before I saw him and thought ‘he couldn’t survive this”. It was very scary, and in that moment, you realise just how much you love this person – the fear of losing them,’ she said.

‘As I jumped in the ambulance and saw Anthony, I knew then the depth of my feelings towards him.’

Anthony Albanese is pictured kissing Jodie Haydon at China Doll restaurant on Sydney's Woolloomoolo Wharf in 2020

Anthony Albanese is pictured kissing Jodie Haydon at China Doll restaurant on Sydney’s Woolloomoolo Wharf in 2020

After the accident, Ms Haydon was by his side as he embarked on a fitness quest, losing a whopping 18kg in less than a year by cutting out carbs, upping his exercise, and giving up alcohol for three months.

‘I’m so proud of Anthony’s discipline and motivation to improve his health. This was a decision made a while ago, after a near death experience, to make the most out of life and give yourself every chance to be healthy and happy.’

‘As his partner, I have seen how taxing life as a politician can be, it’s utterly exhausting both mentally and physically.’

Ms Haydon said she hopes Australians all seek to look after themselves the best they can and Mr Albanese’s lifestyle changes may motivate others to follow suit.

‘I hope his actions may inspire others to do the same.’ 

What are Jodie Haydon’s political views?

Haydon supports the Labor party and has been a member ‘on and off’ since her thirties.

In the past, she had declared she wanted to avoid making political commentary as the Prime Minister’s partner – but used her LinkedIn account to freely air her progressive views.

She called for the date of Australia Day to be changed, with a post saying: ‘Sovereignty has never been ceded. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.’

She has also argued for pay rises for teachers, supported asylum seekers and described outspoken feminist Grace Tame as inspiring among her posts.

Ms Haydon argued in this LinkedIn post for the date of Australia Day to be changed. Mr Albanese does not support this view

Ms Haydon argued in this LinkedIn post for the date of Australia Day to be changed. Mr Albanese does not support this view

Ms Haydon – a signatory for the Women in Super campaign ‘Make Super Fair’ – in 2019 called on the government to make a raft of changes to superannuation rules in order to protect women and low income earners.

She suggested an additional annual government contribution of $1,000 to be put into the super accounts of low income earners in order ‘to better support those with inadequate retirement savings’.

Ms Haydon also urged the government to remove the $450 monthly income threshold and to also publish a gender impact statement for any changes to age pension or retirement income policy.

The monthly income threshold – the minimum amount an employee must earn before an employer is required to pay super – was lifted on July 1, 2022.

Now, an employer must pay superannuation on all earnings.

A closer look at the Make Super Fair campaign reveals it is aligned with Mr Albanese’s decision to double the super contribution tax rate from 15 per cent to 30 per cent for the richest 0.5 per cent of Australians.

A mission statement from the campaign said modelling determined the additional contributions Ms Haydon proposed would cost approximately $2.7billion each year and would specifically target low income earners.

‘Most of [the targeted group] are women and need government help to achieve economic security in retirement,’ the campaign stated.

‘It is estimated that the Government spends $30billion on super tax concessions annually and the majority of current super tax concessions are paid to high income earners, who do not need government help to achieve a comfortable retirement.’

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This post first appeared on Daily mail

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