Therese Rein and Margie Abbott: Who Will Be Australia's First Lady?
As the election date nears, Australia will have a new First Lady. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's wife, Therese Rein or Tony Abbott's marital partner Margie Abbott will soon become the Australia's First Lady.
The 2013 federal elections will be the first time each candidate for prime minister has a partner who is also a workplace manager.
Therese Rain is not only Kevin Rudd's wife but the founder and director of Ingeus, an employment services company. The Opposition Leader's wife Margie is a director of a not-for-profit organisation, St Ives, a Sydney-based childcare centre.
Women's websites publisher Mia Freedman said both Therese Rein and Margie Abbott are managing their own businesses and that's a fact voters have to know about these women. Both partners working is normal in most households in Australia as both can earn income for the family.
Past prime ministers of Australia usually had housewives or stay-at-home but Eva Cox, a feminist expert said that is no longer the case today.
Ms Cox said Australia already had a female prime minister with a male partner who looked confused sometimes. Former prime minister Julia Gillard's partner, Tim Matthieson, was dubbed the First Bloke whose role was not clear to the public.
Ms Cox also said Therese Rein and Margie Abbott can carry themselves and the people should not judge what they're going to do once either of their husbands wins the election. Voters will soon be seeing a lot of the two women during the election campaign.
Ms Rein already has many followers on social media. Her husband Kevin Rudd is also active and has a strong personal following. Despite Newspoll results suggesting Kevin Rudd was headed for defeat, Ms Rein still had the support of those who follow her and wanted her to be first lady.
When Kevin Rudd was ousted as prime minister in 2010 but later ousted Julia Gillard to take over as Australia's leader, Ms Rein stood by his side to face the media. She was on a business trip when Mr Rudd took over the Labour leadership but made it back in time to be there for the swearing-in ceremony.
The Rudd children are also not to be ignored. Jessica Rudd caused a media frenzy when she published her first novel which had a story similar to her dad's ouster from Labour leadership in 2010. The novel was written before Kevin Rudd was deposed.
Nicholas Rudd, the eldest son, had assumed a senior role in the election campaign for Labour including youngest son, Marcus Rudd.
On the other hand, Tony Abbott's family is always seen with the Opposition Leader during press conferences before the election campaign. Frances and Bridget Abbott mostly goes with their father to official events and are often seen in photos together.
Michael Evans, who helped organise the Mrs Prime Minister exhibit, said first ladies in Australia were either supporting their husbands in a private way or in a more active and public way.
Therese Rein seems to be the first lady who will take on a more active role once her husband wins the election with her work in supporting the less fortunate. Margie Abbott can give private support but she had said she wanted to champion children who are at risk.
So who will be Australia's First Lady?