Anthony Albanese forced to backtrack after blunder

Anthony Albanese was forced into yet another awkward backtrack on Sunday morning after a disastrous start to his election campaign.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese spoke to reporters in Cairns. Picture: Toby Zerna

Anthony Albanese was forced into yet another awkward backtrack on Sunday morning after a disastrous start to his election campaign.

The Labor leader attended an Easter Sunday service at St Monica’s church in Cairns with his partner Jodie Haydon, and only took a handful of questions from journalists following the service.

But he had another stumble when asked by a reporter if he remained committed to Operation Sovereign Borders, and if so, if he supported the retention of temporary protection visas.

Mr Albanese’s response was a succinct – but entirely incorrect – “yes”.

In fact, Labor opposes the visas on the grounds that they leave those seeking asylum in limbo for years on end.

However, Mr Albanese later clarified that he had misheard the original question, and that “Labor’s policy is to support Operation Sovereign Borders”.

“We support offshore processing. We support resettlement in third countries. We don’t support temporary protection visas,” he clarified – the second time in just one week he has had to clarify Labor’s border protection policies.

Albanese just walked back comments from his earlier presser outside the church, clarifying Labor does not support TPVs #[e-mail]/uOVzJPUhvJ

— Sarah Basford Canales (@sbasfordcanales) April 17, 2022

The latest misstep came after days of gaffes, beginning on Monday on day one of the official election campaign, when Mr Albanese was unable to answer basic economic questions about the cash and employment rates.

On Wednesday, he sparked an uproar after walking out of a press conference after just eight minutes – after previously promising to answer every question – and on Thursday, his claim Labor “wouldn’t need” offshore detention centres because the party would be successful in deterring “illegal” migrants by “turning boats back” caused a furore, with Mr Albanese forced to later clarify that while that was his “preference”, ultimately Labor would keep offshore detention.

Anthony Albanese was forced into yet another awkward backtrack on Sunday morning. Picture: Toby Zerna

During this morning’s brief interaction with the press, Mr Albanese also came out swinging against the Prime Minister, accusing him of breaking the leaders’ holiday truce by announcing that Anne Ruston would serve as Health Minister if Scott Morrison was re-elected on May 21.

“I do note the Prime Minister had said that today wasn’t going to be a day of usual campaigning, and that he has chosen, the government has chosen, to make a very significant announcement today of the appointment of a new health minister should the government be re-elected,” Mr Albanese said this morning.

The Labor leader also claimed Ms Ruston – who has previously stated that Medicare spending was “not sustainable” – would take the “universal out of universal health care”.

“She has made it very clear that if we have a re-election of the Morison government, we will see more cuts to Medicare…over the next three years,” he said.

“The appointment of Anne Ruston sends a very bad message.”

Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers continued the attack, who told reporters that “this appointment today should send a shiver down the spine of every Australian who relies on affordable health care”.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese forced to backtrack after blunder