Sources familiar with the planning of the event,who were not authorised to speak publicly,said Albanese had RSVP’d to the event and would likely use his weekend in Melbourne to campaign in the seat of Dunkley before the March 2 byelection in the bayside electorate.
The prime minister’s office declined for three days to confirm or deny his attendance at the function since this masthead questioned the office on Tuesday.
On Friday,2GB’s Ben Fordham was first to report the event and that Albanese had been invited.
On Friday afternoon,a spokesman for Albanese said he was “attending the annual food and beverage manufacturing dinner”.
The prime minister spent Thursday night at Sydney’s Fullerton Hotel for a fundraiser with the full Labor ministry. On Friday evening,he is due to attend Taylor Swift’s concert in Sydney.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is heading to the soirée,along with US ambassador Caroline Kennedy and leaders of major firms,such as Wesfarmers and Lion Nathan,this masthead has confirmed.