Federal election 2016: Opinion - Labor heavyweight David Feeney left floundering

DENNIS ATKINS: HE’s Labor’s self-styled campaign maestro and a controversial and divisive figure - but a series of stumbles have embarrassed Bill Shorten’s team.

• Federal election 2016: Bumbling MP leaks Labor’s secrets

ONE thing we now know for sure is that Labor frontbencher and self-styled campaign maestro David Feeney has a memory like a sieve.

A week after it emerged he had “forgotten” he had a negatively geared investment property in Melbourne’s inner north worth $2.3 million he’s walked out of a television studio leaving behind his campaign “strategy” documents outlining Labor’s spending plans and some of those famous “key lines and themes”.

Feeney is no ordinary Labor guy. He was called “my Eisenhower” by former South Australian Premier Mike Rann after he oversaw what was an unlikely victory in 2006.

Even more famously, Feeney was the campaign director for the shock win by Steve “who’s he?” Bracks in 1999, taking out the Victorian Liberal giant Jeff Kennett.

Since Feeney entered federal parliament as a senator in 2008 he’s been a controversial and divisive figure.

He fell out with Kevin Rudd quickly, despite playing a factional role in getting the Queenslander the Labor leadership in 2006, and this was pivotal in the moves against the first-term Prime Minister in 2010.

Feeney wanted a frontline role - he has never had a modest moment in his 46 years on earth - and would probably give up a relative to get ahead.

He moved political heaven and earth to ensure he got a seat when he was relegated to an unwinnable senate spot in 2013 - snapping up the notionally “very safe” Labor seat of Batman.

One problem for Feeney is that this seat is becoming increasingly favourable to the Greens party and he’s facing a tough challenge this year as these voters blossom in suburbs like Northcote in the electorate’s south.

Feeney’s old-style Labor Right persona is not good for attracting young greenish voters and the idea that he’s a rich guy who can’t remember having a $2.3 million house is a killer.

Now he looks like a dill who can’t answer questions about the school kids bonus and leaves behind confidential documents.

Perhaps next time he has a media engagement he might forget where it is. Labor’s campaign HQ wouldn’t mind at all.