Labor underestimated Scott Morrison's skills as an ad man, writes Pamela Williams in the second article in her series on the inside story of Labor's doomed campaign.
It was May 5 and Bill Shorten was at a different altitude to mortal man, flying through clouds on the RAAF jet assigned to the Opposition Leader for the election campaign. It had less of the gorgeous finishes adorning the Prime Minister’s VIP, but it had a private compartment for meetings at the front of the plane.
Shorten and shadow treasurer Chris Bowen had gathered to go over the marginal seats travel schedule as well as Bowen’s debate with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg the next day. Shorten still had the second leaders' debate, two days earlier, on his mind. In the media, this had turned momentum his way.
Pamela WilliamsWriter-at-largePamela Williams is The Australian Financial Review’s writer-at-large.
She is an investigative reporter and author, and has won six Walkley
Awards and the Graham Perkin Journalist of the Year Award. Email Pamela at pamela.williams@afr.com.au
