PM wine and dines partner at Italian restaurant before proposing

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell reveals the details of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s romantic evening with partner Jodie Haydon at an Italian restaurant before their official engagement.

Mr Clennell was dining with Trade Minister Don Farrell at the same Canberra restaurant as the couple on Valentine’s Day.

“They had some Limoncello before they went to the Lodge where obviously the proposal happened,” Mr Clennell said.

“I got some mail during the evening that a couple of other ministers had booked the restaurant and then had unbooked from the restaurant.

“So they clearly got the memo the PM was heading there.”

It’s a big day in Cambra not your typical news story though when it comes to politics it’s a very good news story this one being prime minister Anthony albanesi is engaged to be married to his longtime partner Jody Hayden with me now is our political editor Andrew kenel and

Andrew the pair were at an Italian restaurant earlier in the night before the Pam engaged and proposed later at the lodge a restaurant that you’re familiar with in fact yes uh political editor and now part-time social correspond and Kieran so uh I was at the restaurant Italian and Sons last night I

Was there with Don Farrell the trade Minister we were in the front the Prime Minister and Jody were in the back which I was kind of glad of because otherwise it would have been a bit awkward um he did sort of see me briefly and uh then

Moved in the other direction which I was kind of happy with I didn’t want to invite you know interrupt his Valentine’s Day date so picture this at the back of the restaurant Don farell and I uh the the entire rest of the restaurant is couples and at the back is

The prime minister and Jody and also another couple of couples but they had sort of a reasonably private area they had uh pascali trimol who who owns the restaurant put on his own menu for them a handmade pasta mostly Seafood they had some lemon cello uh before they went to

The lodge where obviously the proposal happened the uh security detail was there as well I saw one of them so you know we often have a go with these guys you think about how hard their lives are but thing that did occur to me kierum

Was I thought well he’s got a chef at the lodge what’s he what’s he doing I mean it’s kind of sweet that he’s taking his girlfriend out for dinner at this great restaurant that you and I both love and that you introduced me to about

Four years ago and I’ve been a number of times since in fact we’ve DED with some of his political opponents there um one of whom accused me of hoovering up some Tio which was accurate because he’s lovely Tio there but I did uh I thought what’s well that’s nice but it’s unusual

For the PM to go out now we know why because he was about to pop the question the other thing I will say about the evening uh I got some mail uh uh during the evening that a couple of other ministers had booked the restaurant and then had unbooked from the restaurant so

They clearly got the memo the PM was heading there I don’t think they would have got the memo about the engagement but Don Farrell and I clearly did not get the memo because I had no idea I got I got there and someone said Albany to

The owner and then uh s and I said oh is the pm here he goes yeah yeah he’s out the back so what about that I mean I I was told he was in a good mood throughout a little bit P he seemed a bit pensive I’m told the Prime Minister

Not nervous but pensive and you can see why when when he was about to undertake that that very big question and uh uh pasquali uh his eight-year-old son requested a photo so there was a selfie um I think the main uh task of security in that location would be to stop

Selfies to be fragged but uh no I mean it’s um it’s some good hand Amazing Story isn’t it it’s some good handmade past so if you’re going to take unbelievable take your partner around it’s a good place to go it’s a I think it’s a very good choice at T and Sons I

Have to say I’m glad you introduced me to the Joint yeah many politicians dying there I will tell you one of the it’s one of the favorites of uh Tanya pisc who’s often seen as an a leadership rival of Anthony El well if you um you ever wrap up as a political

Correspondent I think you’re your social social and restaurant reviews are very good too mate you got you got a future anyway yeah but what a big day it’s a big Prim Minister I’m not stalking um it’s a big day for him and it is a big

Day and it’s it’s kind of unusual on a sitting day I think mercifully for all of us um the opposition is taking on one of these ministers in question time at the moment so we could reduce the awkwardness of uh I reckon Peter dunon will probably get up and congratulate

Him at the start that’s what you’re doing the sort of circumstances it is and uh and our very warm congratulations as well absolutely prime minister and Jody Hayden and all the very best for the future it is exciting an exciting day very romantic Choice as well on

Valentine’s Day so a romantic at heart Anthony albanesi now before you go I want to ask you about the story you broke yesterday which I think we we should repeat because there’s been a lot made about the broken promise on the tax cuts there will be no further major

Change on tax before the election if they are going to do it they’ll take it to the election senior government Source has confirm to me that is the case so if there are to be any tax changes they will be seeking a mandate for that this

Is it in terms of tax changes otherwise and that makes a lot of sense I mean they they’ve done the gamble here it seems to have worked pole wise they haven’t gone up in the polls but they have stabilize things and they’re ahead and uh but I I do think too from the

Conversations I’ve had it is very unlikely negative gearing would be on the table we’ve shown the polling in relation to that Kieran people don’t want changes to that if there was an area that they are looking at I reckon down the track uh for that election I

Reckon it will be the taxing of trusts uh who knows if there are other avenues but uh that that would be my tip but my my firm mail is there won’t be any more tax surprises in that budget last year we saw a PT change and a super change

They’ve just got to get that through the Senate they’re delivering surpluses if they want to do those tax changes they need to do what John Howard did with a GST in ’98 and take it to the electors Andre a bit of a different chat today but a very enjoyable one nonetheless thanks

Very much appreciate it