Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has brushed aside speculation of an early election writes Samantha Maiden

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was cranky this week after internal messages leaked and Samantha Maiden has the inside scoop ... quite literally, it was sent to her!

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was cranky this week after leaked internal messages revealed he was expanding his office “as we enter the election year”.

So cranky that he dismissed revelations of leaked internal encrypted messages as “a beat up” on Sydney radio, at the same time his office was launching a major witch hunt to find out who leaked the messages.

In doing so, he also announced the 2025 budget would be brought forward to March, suggesting the government would serve the full three-year term, rather than holding a snap poll before Christmas.

His chief of staff, Tim Gartrell, fuelled speculation of an early election by sending private signal messages to the entire office announcing the new appointment of a Labor veteran to a senior role.

Mr Gartrell sent the encrypted message to staff on Monday, saying David Epstein would be joining the office on March 4.

And then whoopsie daisy someone sent it to yours truly.

The leak shocked insiders, given that government phones traditionally have screenshots disabled for security reasons.

“I just want to give you a heads up on a new addition to the PMO,” the message read.

“David Epstein will be joining the leadership of the office in the role of Principal Private Secretary (PPS).

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“This is a role many PMOs have had and, in short, it’s a senior person on high-level matters.

‘This is an important role as we enter the election year and David is well-qualified for the role, having worked for Labor in a range of senior roles over five successive governments and opposition.”

Federal cabinet was advised of the appointment Mr Epstein, Kevin Rudd’s former chief of staff, this week.

Mr Gartrell then went on to suggest that 2024 could be “an election year” despite the fact the election is not due until 2025 – catching the eye of Labor staffers.

“David is one of the most experienced advisers around,” Mr Gartrell said.

Of course, there is more than one way to interpret that time frame. With Mr Epstein starting work in March, an election any time straight after that budget would mean it was running more or less a full term.

The next day, the Prime Minister was very cross indeed, dismissing the story as a “beat up”.

Despite the fact the messages were there in black and white.

“If you look at the memo that came from my chief of staff, it’s about someone joining my staff, in March,’ Mr Albanese told ABC Radio Sydney on Wednesday.

“And the term ends in May next year.”

Mr Albanese has shaken up his office recently ahead of the election.

But he’s brushed aside recent speculation of any early election after announcing major changes to the Stage 3 tax cuts.

Just last month, the Prime Minister reiterated his support for four-year parliamentary terms as he fielded questions about the timing of the next election.

Confirming the election is not due until May 2025, Mr Albanese said he believed the lower house parliamentary terms were too short and he would like to see standardisation with the states, which have set four-year terms.

The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese in his office at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I think that our terms are too short with just three years,” he said.

“Our view, our long-term policy, and we’ve put it to the Australian people, is for four-year terms, but I don’t anticipate that happening any time soon and I think that’s unfortunate.”

Mr Epstein is expected to bring some missing mongrel to the Prime Minister’s Office.

He began his career as a staffer to John Dawkins in the Employment, Education and Training portfolio, where he was involved in the campaign to introduce Australia’s Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS).

He then served as Director of the Ministerial Media Group and National Media Liaison Service for Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, which was seen as the template for modern day “scrutiny units” in Australia – also known as “dirt units” and “opposition research”.

He was chief of staff to the Kim Beazley when he was opposition leader, leaving the door open to speculation he may at some point replace Tim Gartrell.

In June 2007, he was appointed chief of staff and principal adviser to Kevin Rudd, first heading the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, then the Prime Minister’s Office.

Mr Epstein resigned as Prime Minister’s chief of staff in late 2008 and went to work at Qantas as group executive for government and corporate affairs at Qantas, and served on the Qantas Executive Committee.

He was recruited to BHP Billiton in late 2010 by CEO Marius Kloppers, to a new role as company’s head of Group Public Affairs.

Some media reporting on the fact the Prime Minister was “rubbishing” claims of an early election missed the point.

The point is the government is now on an election footing and also that the Prime Minister remains highly sensitive about leaks.