Opinion: Not a killer blow, but further evidence Albo not across his brief

Anthony Albanese’s latest gaffe adds to the perception he is not across the detail, not reading his briefings and doesn’t understand policy, writes Matthew Killoran.

Yet another very public stumble, this time on his own NDIS policy, will be a blow to Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese’s confidence and his public image just as he needed build on the momentum he gained.

This wasn’t a “gotcha” question, it was about his party’s own six-point plan on which he spoke to the day before.

After a shocking first week, not knowing the jobless rate or cash rate, stumbling on his health policy costing and position on offshore processing, he found his footing.

Mr Albanese won the first debate, he went on the attack over aged care and appeared to hit his stride before he was struck down for a week by Covid-19.

Labor gained ground during this time as some of the frontbench talent were given a chance to shine – gaffe-free.

This is not a killer blow for the Opposition Leader, far from it.

But it adds to the perception that he is not across the detail, not reading his briefings and doesn’t understand policy.

It’s not his first fumble, or even his second or third.

After a solid campaign launch on Sunday and coming into the start of pre-poll next week he should be “kicking with the wind”, to borrow one of his own phrases.

Instead Mr Albanese scored an own goal which distracted from Prime Minister Scott Morrison under fire for how he has handled Australia’s relationship with the Solomon Islands.

With a lot of soft voters out there yet to make up their mind, and what is shaping up to be a close election, Labor cannot afford to many more errors like this if they want to retain their lead.