Naysayers will declare that Albanese should not have popped the question. They might argue the wedding could distract him from his day job. They might even claim that giving Haydon an expensive engagement ring shows he is out of touch with ordinary Australians. And they will be wrong.
Australians are likely to wish the prime minister well, no matter what their political views. In a conservative country, some might even warm to Albanese in the knowledge he will marry.
Nationals MP Keith Pitt was one of several Coalition MPs to shake hands with the prime minister in the House after news broke of the engagement. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The prime minister’s press office laughed off questions on Thursday about the timing of the wedding. Of course, it is too early to ask. The conjecture about wedding dates will be about as reliable as speculation about election dates.
Most Australians will probably tune out if the attention on the engagement goes on too long. It is personal for Albanese and Haydon, after all.
Even so, there is a serious political side to the wedding plan. The political risks grow as the wedding date nears.
A big event, with a significant cost, could only trigger questions about Albanese’s use of public venues for private events. Would voters accept a big reception at Kirribilli House?
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More to the point, would Labor’s media enemies go on the attack?
Albanese, a man who enjoys radio interviews on personal as well as policy questions, will want to keep attention on the government’s message without being asked endlessly about the wedding. So the date will have to fit with his political strategy.
This year is certain to test the government because Labor has to design more help on the cost of living in the May budget and deliver results on its policy promises. It has to make sure it is match fit for the next election, which could be held at any time from August 3 this year to May 17 in 2025.
A winter wedding could settle all the questions before voters go to the ballot box. Or everything could wait until after the election.
So if there is a wedding planner who knows how to juggle table settings, menu choices, guest lists and election timing, now’s the time to step up.
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