Jodie Haydon campaigns: ‘non-political’ first lady campaigns for local Labor Party candidate alongside wife of NSW opposition leader Chris Minns
- Ms Haydon, 45, was photographed handing out Labor Party leaflets.
- She was there with Chris Minns’ wife, Anna.
- The statewide election will be held on Saturday, March 25.
He had previously vowed to stay out of politics, but Anthony Albanese’s girlfriend Jodie Haydon was pictured today speaking about the Labor Party’s tough campaigning.
The ‘first lady’ of Australian politics was pictured handing out leaflets to Labor candidate Ash Ambihaipahar at Mortdale station in south Sydney ahead of the New South Wales state election on March 25.
Dressed in a smart bright red blazer teamed with black trousers and heels, Haydon was seen smiling and chatting with Anna Minns, wife of NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns.
Jodie Haydon (left) chats with Anna Minns (right), wife of NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns
The couple were seen at Mortdale station in south Sydney handing out flyers in support of local candidate Ash Ambihaipahar.
The couple embraced before handing out party flyers to passing members of the public and posing for a selfie with Ms Ambihaipahar.
The candidate later posted the image on her Facebook page along with the caption: ‘Yeah the girls! It’s great to have Jodie Haydon and Anna Minns at Mortdale station this morning.
Haydon, 45, vowed to avoid political commentary before Albanese became prime minister.
“Anthony is the one running for political office, it’s not me,” he said in an interview with News Corp ahead of the 2022 election.
Ms Haydon and Miss Minns were photographed embracing.
“My job will be to focus on my day job and allow Anthony to focus on his.”
But his political views have come to light on several occasions since Albanese took office in May last year.
Last week, Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed that Ms Haydon was involved in a campaign to reform the superannuation system in 2019.
She wrote an article calling on the federal government to make a series of changes to the super rules to protect women and low-income people.
The disclosure of the file came after Albanese faced accusations of breaking a campaign promise following the announcement that his Labor government would double the tax on money in retirement accounts of more than $3 million.
Ms Haydon, who was born in Bankstown, Western Sydney, to parents who were schoolteachers, now works as a women’s officer with the NSW Public Services Association.
Last year, Daily Mail Australia revealed that he would regularly share his political views on his LinkedIn account.
These included calls to change the date of Australia Day, support for pay increases for teachers, and praise for outspoken feminist Grace Tame as an inspiration.
He shared a cartoon of an Aboriginal rights protester with the caption: “Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was, always will be aboriginal land. #ulurustatementfromtheheart #treaty #changethedate’.
Ms Ambihaipahar (left), Ms Haydon (centre) and Ms Minns (right) pose for a selfie
Ms Ambihaipahar then uploaded the selfie with Ms Haydon and Ms Minns to her Facebook page.
Ms Haydon’s view on the date of Australia Day contrasts with that of the Prime Minister who, during last year’s election campaign, insisted that the date should not be changed.
‘One of the things we need to do is find ways to unite Australia, rather than engage in culture wars. It’s really counterproductive,” she said.
Ms Haydon, who has been a Labor member “on and off” throughout her life, removed her LinkedIn in the wake of the Daily Mail Australia report.
Mr. Albanese is currently on a state visit to Fiji having signed the landmark AUKUS submarine agreement with his US and UK counterparts President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Ms Haydon argued in this LinkedIn post for Australia Day to be moved. Mr. Albanese does not support this view.
