ACT leader Andrew Barr kisses husband after election victory

ACT leader Andrew Barr has kissed his husband during his joyous victory speech after winning re-election at the weekend’s territory election.

ACT Labor leader Andrew Barr is the longest-serving political leader in the country. The out gay man will extend his time as the territory’s Chief Minister past a decade following his third election win. The party has been in power in the ACT for 23 years.

Barr said late last night while Labor fell short of a majority – two independents were elected for the first time in years – he was confident he could form government with the support of the Greens and progressive crossbenchers.

“We will take the progressive, practical and proven policies we have taken to this election and enact them in government with the support, I hope, of a progressive crossbench that sees value in investing in public housing, public health and public education,” he said.

And during his joyful victory speech, Andrew Barr planted a kiss on his husband Anthony Toms as the crowd at his election event cheered.

The leader paid tribute to Anthony, who he described as “the man who has been my rock and my strength for 25 years”.

“We met at the very first Canberra pride event SpringOUT on November 13, 1999,” Barr said.

“Anthony, I love you.”

The couple married in Anthony’s hometown of Newcastle, New South Wales on their 20th anniversary back in 2019.