Prime minister mobbed by children, gets in a high-five
Anthony Albanese has been mobbed by schoolchildren in the heart of one of Australia’s fastest-growing suburbs as the first week of the federal election campaign draws to a close.
The prime minister headed to western Sydney on Friday when he dropped into Cabramatta Public School in the electorate of Fowler, which is being contested by Labor candidate Tu Le.
Screaming with excitement, about 500 children rushed to surround Mr Albanese in the school’s covered outdoor learning area.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.He shook hands, gave high fives and hugged a child before lifting one pupil into the air.
Students at the school told reporters they were excited to meet the prime minister, who was also accompanied by Education Minister Jason Clare.
Fowler, an ultra-marginal seat, is held by independent MP Dai Le, who snatched the seat from Labor at the last federal election in May 2022.
Earlier, Mr Albanese unveiled a new funding deal for a Hills district hospital in a bid to woo voters.
Federal Labor plans to will put up $120 million for maternity services at the new Rouse Hill Hospital, if it wins the May 3 federal election.
The money will go toward birthing rooms, a maternity inpatient unit and post and pre-natal maternity services at the hospital, which will support communities in Blacktown, the Hills Shire, Cumberland and Parramatta.
That will be on top of the $700 million the NSW Labor government has already committed to for the development - the first major adult hospital to be built in western Sydney in more than 40 years.
“Western Sydney is one of our fastest growing areas,” the prime minister said on Friday.
“We will deliver $120 million to deliver birthing and maternity services at the new Rouse Hill Hospital so mums-to-be in Western Sydney can give birth closer to home.”
The $120 million in funding was accounted for in the Albanese government’s 2025/26 federal budget.
This is Mr Albanese’s first visit to western Sydney for the election campaign.
Coalition Leader Peter Dutton made western Sydney one of his first campaign stops when the election was called last week.
Parramatta, held by Labor’s Andrew Charlton on a 4.6 per cent margin is a coalition target, as is Werriwa, held by Anne Stanley on 5.8 per cent.
