Aussies divided after Albo shouted drinks in a NYC pub: ‘I guess we all just paid for the beer’
Anthony Albanese was welcomed with open arms at an Aussie pub in New York City and allowed to ring the famous bell that gets patrons free drinks for two songs.
The Prime Minister was spotted at Old Mates – a pub owned by Aussie celebrities including Hollywood star Hugh Jackman, tennis legend Ash Barty and radio hosts Andy Lee and Hamish Blake.
Albanese – along with Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Communications Minister Anika Wells joined the pub full of revellers following the UN General Assembly High Level Week.
In true Aussie fashion, the pub must shout free drinks whenever a notable Aussie iconic rings the Bells Beach trophy.
Albanese was jokingly introduced as a ‘very special Australian’ who was in New York City on a ‘student visa or working holiday’.
‘This is a great venue, I promised to come here when I did Andy Lee’s show,’ Albanese told the crowd.
‘Have a great night. It’s been a really proud occasion as an Australia’s Prime Minister to be here to talk to the United Nations tonight.
‘It’s also really fun to be with you tonight. Thank you to this amazing bar, Australians know how to have fun!’
Albanese rang the iconic Bells Beach trophy which, in Old Mate’s pub tradition meant patrons would receive a drink on the house (pictured)
The prime minister was then seen pouring schooners of beer for patrons (pictured)
After ringing the bell, Albanese set to work and helped pour schooners of beer, serving them to the massive crowd of pub patrons.
However, the fun moment was misunderstood by some Aussies who mistakenly thought taxpayers would be the ones to foot the bill – rather than the pub itself.
‘Taxpayer shouting the bar. I doubt Albo used his personal credit card,’ one said.
‘So I guess we all just paid for the beer,’ a second person agreed.
But others praised the prime minister’s generous gesture.
‘Legend Albo,’ one said, while another wrote: ‘He’s a star’.
The packed pub was full of Australian A-listers including fashion designer Pip Edwards, decorated Olympic medalist Emma McKeon, and her partner – singer, actor and former competitive swimmer Cody Simpson.
The celebration came after the 36 Month’s Children in the Digital Age legislation was presented at the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week in New York.
‘Have a great night. It’s been a really proud occasion as an Australia’s Prime Minister to be here to talk to the United Nations tonight,’ Albanese told the eager crowd
Radio star Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli is seen posing with the prime minister at Old Mate’s
Retired swimmer and decorated Olympic medalist Emma McKeon (pictured) was also spotted at the pub with her partner Cody Simpson
The packed pub was full of other Australian A-listers including fashion designer Pip Edwards (second from the left)
The celebration came after the 36 Month’s Children in the Digital Age legislation was presented at the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week in New York.
The legislation, co-founded by Nova’s Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli and Rob Galluzzo, bans children under the age of 16 from creating social media accounts.
Wippa and Galluzzo, alongside Albanese, presented ‘Protecting Children in the Digital Age’ to a room full of world leaders.
‘Today I feel proud to be an Australian and a parent – not just because of our government and its policy, but because of our people and their power,’ Wippa said in his UN address.
‘Those signatures didn’t just change a law, they’ll change a generation.’
Australia is the first nation in the world to legislate a social media minimum age of 16 following the success of 36 Months.
The grassroots movement took grieving parents and a 147,000 signature petition to the Prime Minister urging for legislation to help combat online bullying.
The law, which comes into effect from December 10, will see tech giants face penalties of up to $49.5million for account breaches.
