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Is Albanese now one of the world’s top progressive leaders? He’s got a case

Peter Hartcher Political and international editor October 4, 2025 — 5.00am

The moment when Anthony Albanese toted a four-pack of beers into 10 Downing Street for dinner with the prime ministers of Britain and Canada was a symbolic one.

The beers were the “Albo” label pale ale brewed by his mate, Willie the Boatman, in the inner west Sydney suburb of St Peters, in Albanese’s electorate.

Albanese “is not a soaring orator,” observes Ed Cavanough, chief executive of the Labor-aligned McKell Institute think tank in Sydney.

“But he has a pretty powerful political brand and little things like that resonate with people.” It was a little thing that got a bit of

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