Thursday, April 13, 2023

‘Symbol of hope and inspiration’: Trudeau lauds Albanese in Time’s list of influential people

ByLatika Bourke
THE AGE.AU
April 14, 2023 

London: 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been named one of Time’s 100 most influential people in 2023.

The magazine compiles an annual list of people it believes are the most influential across six categories: artists, icons, pioneers, leaders, titans and innovators.



Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shakes hands with Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau.CREDIT:ALEX ELLINGHUSEN

Albanese is named in the top 100 alongside US President Joe Biden, Republican Senator minority leader Mitch McConnell, Germany’s Prime Minister Olaf Scholz and Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska.

The list also includes billionaire and Twitter owner Elon Musk, King Charles III, singer Beyonce and writers Salman Rushdie and Judy Blume.

Canada’s left-wing prime minister, Justin Trudeau, wrote a short piece on why Albanese had been selected, saying the Australian Labor leader embodied the driving values of progressives around the world.
TO THE RIGHT WING 'THE AGE' TRUDEAU IS LEFT WING!!!

“From growing up in public housing to taking office last spring as Australia’s new prime minister, he is a symbol of hope and inspiration,” Trudeau said.

“He works to lift up and amplify the voices of those who need to be heard from, particularly Indigenous peoples.

“His government supports those who need it most, believes that we need to take ambitious climate action, and unwaveringly supports democracy in the face of unprecedented threat.

“In a world where people are increasingly uncertain about what the future holds for them and their families, it’s easy for politicians to sow fear and division.

“To choose the path of hope and opportunity takes immense courage, and that courage lives within Anthony Albanese.“

Being prime minister of Australia does not guarantee a place on the list. None of Albanese’s three Coalition predecessors made the top 100 and nor did Julia Gillard. Kevin Rudd made the list in 2008.

Oscar award-winning actress Cate Blanchett paid testament to Syrian sisters and competitive swimmers Sara Mardini and Yusra Mardini who fled the war and sought refuge in Europe on a boat crossing between Turkey and Syria. Both are human rights campaigners, having sought asylum in Greece and Germany respectively and were named under Time’s Icons category.

Under Labor, the Australian government has continued the Coalition’s hardline border policies aimed at stopping boat journeys to Australia and one of the Albanese government’s first actions after being elected last May was to turn around an asylum seeker boat.

Blanchett said the sisters’ story, which was documented in the 2022 film The Swimmers showed why their advocacy for the right to seek safety mattered.

“That story continues as both Yusra and Sara fiercely advocate for everyone’s right to seek safety.

 Whoever. Wherever. Whenever,” she said.

Another Australian Oscar-winning actress, Nicole Kidman, praised her 2017 The Beguiled co-star Colin Farrell who was also named in the list.

She said he had a very “Irish sensibility” and “seems to look younger every year”.

“He was very emotionally open with me, and I’m very protective of him,” Kidman wrote.

“I admire his tenacity, his resilience, and his great sense of humour.”

Elvis director Baz Luhrmann wrote a piece for Doja Cat, praising the singer who was hailed by Time as a pioneer.

“When she started to work on Vegas for Elvis, Elvis was relegated to a Halloween costume—he wasn’t influential to the younger generation,” Luhrmann wrote.

But Doja and her producer Yeti Beats understood the importance of translating Hound Dog for a new audience.

“For them, it was an act of translating the roots of black music.”

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