Is Albanese leading Labor down a road to nowhere?

If the polls, unions, business, charities and the government’s own rhetoric are correct, then it is household budgets, not tarmac, keeping people awake at night, writes Andy Marks.

The road to victory in politics is paved with, well, roads. At least that’s what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appears to think. We’re barely into the new year and Labor has pledged $7.2 billion to fix the Bruce Highway, $1.58 billion and counting, across Sydney’s west, and a sizeable chunk of change on projects in Melbourne’s west.

The PM seems convinced roads are the answer.

The trouble is voters are asking a different question. If the polls, unions, business, charities and the government’s own rhetoric is correct, then it is household budgets, not tarmac, keeping people awake at night.

Albanese says he is listening.

“Delivering cost of living relief” he claims, is his government’s “number one priority.” Governments can do two things, even more, at once.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese seems to think roads are key to electoral success. Picture: Instagram

Roads funding packages needn’t rule out hip pocket relief. But roads won’t pay overdue bills, cover medical costs, or keep a roof over a family’s head.

Telling Australians, as Albanese has repeatedly, “we understand people are doing it tough” is fine.

Yet in the same breath blaming the Coalition for thwarting Labor’s relief measures is not a solution. It is politics. It is an excuse.

Anthony Albanese needs to turn his attention to cost-of-living issues or face electoral oblivion. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Former Labor prime minister, Julia Gillard pushed through a record level of legislation, and large scale reforms like the National Disability Insurance Scheme, in a minority government. No excuses.

If the current Labor administration wants to avoid its own minority scenario, or worse, then it should focus on what it claims matters. There is still an opportunity, albeit late in the day, for Labor to make transformative cost-of-living commitments ahead of the election. The party of big reforms failed to deliver any this term, but it has a chance to set that right.

The longer Albanese waits, however, the more hurried the conversation, and the less time he will have to convince the electorate he deserves more time.

Instead, we have roads.

A truck rolled on the Bruce Highway, which has recently been the subject of funding promises from Labor. Supplied: Darryn Nufer

A tactic as old as the Romans, who delivered them in spades.

In 2025 voters not surprisingly expect more. Looking at what Labor has proposed by way of policy, the electorate might also ask how these initiatives support the high-tech manufacturing goals of Future Made in Australia, or how getting more people on the road will serve Labor’s emission reduction commitments.

Labor strategists may be recommending Albanese holds back any substantial cost-of-living relief announcements until late in the campaign.

The PM may again plan on “kicking with the wind in the final quarter”.

But failing to meaningfully match your rhetoric with your actions confounds a rightfully impatient electorate and leaves the playing field open for others to drive home an early advantage.

Repeatedly, as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has proven how effective he is, not just at setting the national conversation, but stealing the march on Labor and blunting the prime minister’s carefully honed talking points. Think energy, immigration, antisemitism and housing.

Initially, some in Labor preferred joking about the Opposition’s nuclear energy plan rather than addressing the regional jobs, industry and infrastructure issues it raises.

On immigration, the debate became mired in technical arguments on targets and conflated with hurried international education limits.

With anti-Semitism, Labor held out, then relented on Dutton’s call to convene national cabinet.

Dutton’s commitment to temper foreign investment in housing, although likely limited in impact, nevertheless is finding favour with some voters seeking circuit breakers.

Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton has proved time and time again how effective he is at blunting the prime minister’s talking points. Picture: Gera Kazakov

It is a “do something” response. Sometimes that approach works in the absence of bold reform.

That was the case when, briefly, Greens housing spokesperson, Max Chandler-Mather was the only voice in Canberra speaking for the growing number of Australia’s who will never own a home.

The moment passed. But he drove the prime minister to distraction, while the Opposition reached for the popcorn.

Courage and relevance. At the right moments in politics are unbeatable.

It’s not like Labor haven’t tested the appeal of big cost-of-living relief measures with voters. Against type, the PM got a public opinion bounce when this time last year he boldly broke a promise on the previous government’s Stage 3 tax cuts to instead deliver all workers income tax relief.

Sticking with roads and following, rather than setting, the political agenda might be a comfortable, even proven path, for Labor. Some day, possibly quite soon, the prime minister, like the Romans will run out of track.

Andy Marks is a political scientist and executive director of the Centre for Western Sydney

Originally published as Is Albanese leading Labor down a road to nowhere?