Why Albanese would 'have a disagreement' with his younger self now

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has publicly distanced himself from his past left-wing stances, particularly on immigration, stating he would now disagree with his younger self. In a candid interview, Albanese acknowledged that political experience leads to evolving positions, a sentiment he applied to his government's current embrace of strict border measures, which he once opposed.

“

If you want to run a migration system that's respectful of the contribution that migrants make, it has to be orderly.

He emphasized the necessity of an "orderly" migration system, drawing parallels with challenges faced by British Labour and US Democrats. Albanese asserted that his government's approach remains "respectful," contrasting it with past divisive tactics like the "children overboard" incident. He highlighted his commitment to bringing people together as a consistent principle.

The Prime Minister also reflected on his early political career, citing former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard and Tim Fischer's courage in enacting gun reform as examples of leadership. He recalled his own student activism, including a protest that became an "end in itself" due to endless consensus-seeking. This experience, he noted, shaped his understanding of protest and change.

“

Some of the positions are completely consistent, which is always to seek to bring people together.

Albanese, who entered federal parliament in 1996, shared insights from his three decades in politics. The interview, conducted by Annabel Crabb for ABC's Kitchen Cabinet, offered a personal look at the Prime Minister's journey and evolving political philosophy.

“

It had to be consensus decision making, which meant nothing happened … it was an endless 24-hour meeting.