How Anthony Albanese was close to communists but now hoping to be Prime Minister

The man hoping to be Australia's next Prime Minister has transformed himself since leading Labor's 'hard left' as a young political operator.

Anthony Albanese - who hopes to turf out Scott Morrison at the May election - led a faction of NSW Labor known as the 'hard left' or 'socialist left' in the 1980s.

His supporters were known by many names including 'Bolsheviks', 'Ratbags' and 'Doers,' according to an essay by Labor MP Andrew Leigh.  

The faction 'maintained closer links with broader left-wing groups', such as the Communist Party of Australia, People for Nuclear Disarmament and the African National Congress.

In 1991 Mr Albanese - then Assistant General Secretary of the Australian Labor Party - conducted an interview with the Communist Party's official paper, the Tribune.

Revealing his hard left credentials, he talked about class and 'comrades who struggled before us' to put left-wing policies into action.

'The main reason for joining the ALP is that it is a trade-union based party. If you believe in some form of class politics then that is a very important link,' he said.

But those comments he made when he was 28 after growing up in housing commission are at odds with the man he is today.  

Now Mr Albanese has abandoned talk of class struggle and stripped down Labor's policy offering to give it the best chance of being elected.

The 58-year-old has scrapped Bill Shorten's hated franking credits and negative gearing tax policies.

The strategy is to remain a small target to avoid attacks and make this election a referendum on Scott Morrison's leadership and character. 

Meanwhile, Mr Albanese has been at pains to point out that he stands for aspiration and will back everyday Aussies who work hard for their families.

'I stand for a strong economy. I stand for making sure that people can not get left behind, but also that they not get held back for opportunity. I stand for aspiration,' he told the Today show earlier this month.

Asked by host Karl Stefanovic if he stands for 'inner-city lefties', Mr Albanese replied: 'Well, I stand for all Australians, Karl. And I'm comfortable sitting in a pub in Hewenden in North Queensland just as I am comfortable sitting around a boardroom talking about business.'

Drawing a line under his hard left days, Mr Albanese said he is now focussed 'on things that matter to Australians like jobs, wage growth, the crisis in aged care and the need for the revival of Australian manufacturing'.

'I'm very happy to stand by all of the policies that I have outlined ahead of the coming election because these are the policies a Labor government will implement if we are successful,' he said.

Mr Albanese, a divorced father of one who grew up in housing commission, is also portraying himself as a family man and has appeared in photos with his partner Jodie Haydon who was recently interviewed by Women's Weekly.

Ms Haydon revealed that she realised she was in love with the Labor leader when he was rushed to hospital after a car crash in Sydney's inner west early last year. 

'It was very scary, and in that moment, you realise just how much you love this person – the fear of losing them,' Ms Haydon said. 

Mr Albanese's car was hit by another driver but he made a full recovery.

From Albo's humble childhood to his marriage to a powerful Labor politician and a new romance with a high-flying financial worker: Inside the life of the man trying to become the next leader of Australia

By Charlie Coe  

Anthony Albanese will be supported closely by his girlfriend of two years as he challenges Scott Morrison for the Australian leadership this year.

The Labor leader will have his partner Jodie Haydon and son Nathan, 21, in his corner during the upcoming federal election, which is expected to be called in May. 

Mr Albanese, who earns $390,820 a year, and the First State Super financial worker were first spotted kissing at an upmarket Sydney restaurant in June

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