Tuesday 17 May 2022 03:16 AM Federal Election 2022: Anthony Albanese ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt backs PM tilt ... trends now
Anthony Albanese's ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt is actively campaigning for him to become prime minister, three years after she suddenly walked out on their marriage.
Ms Tebbutt, a former deputy premier of New South Wales, is even minding her former husband's beloved cavoodle Toto while he is on the campaign trail.
The 58-year-old was seen taking Toto for a run near her home in Sydney's inner-west on Tuesday, while the Labor leader was on the hustings in Perth.
Asked if Ms Tebbutt supported his bid to lead the country, Mr Albanese told Daily Mail Australia, 'Absolutely she does'.
'She's out there campaigning for me to be prime minister,' he said.
Anthony Albanese's ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt is actively campaigning for him to become prime minister, three years after she suddenly walked out on their 19-year marriage. She is pictured walking his cavoodle Toto near her home in Sydney's inner-west on Tuesday
Mr Albanese has spoken of being blindsided when Ms Tebbutt ended their 30-year relationship on New Year's Day in 2019. 'It was a life changing thing because it wasn't expected,' the 59-year-old Daily Mail Australia last Friday
A fit-looking Ms Tebbutt took Toto for a jog around the neighbourhood on Tuesday morning before heading back home.
Mr Albanese and Ms Tebbutt have a son Nathan who turned 21 last December and stays at both their houses. The pair jointly organised his birthday party.
'It was a really good night, 'Mr Albanese said. 'We both spoke at the 21st. It was a good occasion.
'I have a fantastic relationship with my son, which is great. He's terrific.'
Ms Tebbutt, who is CEO of the NSW Mental Health Co-ordinating Council, was providing assistance to Mr Albanese as he continued to criss-cross the nation ahead of Saturday's poll.
Mr Albanese said their relationship was 'fine'.
'She's looking after Toto at the moment,' he Albanese said. 'She's been helping in very practical ways. We talk regularly about what Nathan's doing, or the dog.'
Ms Tebbutt, who is CEO of the NSW Mental Health Co-ordinating Council, was providing practical assistance to Mr Albanese ahead of Saturday's poll. 'She's looking after Toto at the moment,' Mr Albanese said
Toto has featured regularly during the election campaign, and kept Mr Albanese company when he was trapped in his inner-west home after contracting Covid. Mr Albanese shared a snap on social media o himself with Toto and campaign draft speeches in April
Mr Albanese has spoken of being blindsided when Ms Tebbutt ended their 19-year marriage - and 30-year relationship - on New Year's Day in 2019.
'It was a life-changing thing because it wasn't expected,' the 59-year-old told Daily Mail Australia last Friday.
'So it was a shock and I found it quite personally traumatic because I didn't understand it.
'What I had to come to terms with was I needed to accept it rather than understand it. And I did that. Real life is complex and things get thrown at you.'
Mr Albanese is now in a relationship with 43-year-old First State Super finance worker Jodie Haydon, who he met more than 12 months after Ms Tebbutt left him.
The couple appears relaxed and happy together but Albanese won't use words like love publicly.
'I think successful personal relationships are ones that are personal,' he said. 'But I consider myself to be very fortunate to be in a relationship with Jodie.
'She works fulltime but she's been able to spend time on the campaign trail and that's been very good for me, as has Nathan spent time on the campaign trail as well.'
Mr Albanese is now in a relationship with 43-year-old First State Super finance worker Jodie Haydon, who he met at a conference in Melbourne in March 2020. The couple, pictured in April, appears relaxed and happy together but Albanese won't use words like love publicly
Mr Albanese and Ms Tebbutt met in Young Labor during the late 1980s.
Ms Tebbutt was the state's first female deputy
