Anthony Albanese drops five-word hint when he plans to step down as Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese has opened up about when he hopes to stand down as Prime Minister as he approaches four years of being in power.
He is hopeful of becoming the first Australian Prime Minister in more than six decades to pave his own way out of the role.
The last to leave office on their terms was Robert Menzies on January 20, 1966.
All 15 leaders since have been removed from the job either by the Australian public or their own party colleagues – or in Harold Holt’s case, due to death.
Albanese explained that he intends to step back from the role when he ‘stops growing as a person’ during a wide-ranging interview with Channel Seven podcast The Issue.
‘Then I’ll know it is time to watch the footy every Saturday rather than do this job,’ he said.
‘This job is an incredible privilege. I’m enjoying this job, but I don’t take it for granted at all.
‘I think that is a good thing, the stability that my government has been able to provide.
‘I certainly hope to be in that position (to leave the office voluntarily).
‘But that of course is up to the Australian public.’
He also opened up on his recent marriage to Jodie Haydon while dealing with the ongoing war in Iran, the global fuel crisis and the threat of a recession.
The couple tied the knot at The Lodge in Canberra last November after almost five years together.
‘Personally, it’s going very well,’ Albanese said.
‘I am very lucky at this stage of my life for us to have found each other.
‘There is something incredibly comforting after a really difficult day, no matter how much chaos there, is to go home and spend time with each other.
‘But it must be said that it is not enough at the current time, being so busy, but it is a great source of comfort and stability in the fact that Jodie and I have each other.’
Albanese warned Australians that the federal budget on May 12 will be ‘tough’.
It comes after the government revealed this week that 160,000 participants will be removed from the National Disability Insurance Scheme, saving taxpayers $15billion by 2030.
‘It certainly is a tough budget, and it’s been difficult to frame because of the uncertainty, which is there,’ Albanese said.
‘They’re all important, but this is a particularly critical time. This budget will be locked and loaded much later than would normally be the case.
‘I feel sorry for the people in Treasury and Finance because they’ll be adjusting them on a daily basis at the moment.’
He stressed that the United States remains Australia’s ‘most important security relationship, despite US President Donald Trump accusing Australia of not providing assistance in its war with Iran.
‘The United States is a democracy and it’s our most important ally, but they made this decision by themselves or with Israel,’ he said.
‘They didn’t consult us at the time; that’s their right to do so.
‘This isn’t a monogamous relationship between Australia and the United States. Australia is also … out there dating in our region.’