’He’s weak, arrogant’: Labor insider eviscerates Anthony Albanese in extraordinary anonymous interview
A Labor insider has unleashed on Anthony Albanese in an extraordinary interview, calling the PM “weak”, “arrogant” and an “ineffectual buffoon”.
Federal Election
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A Labor insider has offered her unfiltered views on the Prime Minister’s performance in a profile of Tanya Plibersek that asks the question: “why isn’t this woman put in charge?
The piece in QNews - which specialises in news for Australia’s LGBTIQ community - is raising eyebrows after a political staffer told the outlet what they are really thinking ahead of the federal election on the condition of anonymity.
“Compared to Tanya, Albo comes across as an ineffectual buffoon,” she said.
“He’s weak, he’s arrogant, he can’t handle criticism and he’s not connecting with the electorate – to the point where Peter Dutton, of all people, could win the election. Albo’s been a disaster.”
Ms Plibersek is also grilled in the article about the possibility of making a future leadership challenge.
“I will be a senior member of a Labor government if I am re-elected, and if the party wins federally. I can say that,’’ she said.
But she said she was hopeful of securing another term.
“You can never take winning for granted,” she said.
“But of course, I want the opportunity to represent Sydney again. I just love the city. Remember that old Kenneth Slessor poem about William Street, which says: ‘You find it ugly. I find it lovely?’
“That’s how I feel about Sydney. I find it lovely. I love the inner city. I love its diversity, I love the grime, I love the character. I just love it.”
PM blindsides Tanya Plibersek
The Prime Minister blindsided his former leadership rival Tanya Plibersek after the 2022 election, demoting her from the education portfolio in a shock reshuffle move that delivered a big promotion to NSW Labor MP Jason Clare.
The Prime Minister then insisted that she was happy and willing to serve in the role.
“I’m delighted to be appointed a Cabinet minister in the new Labor Government with responsibility for the environment and water. I look forward to the challenge,’’ she said.
Mr Albanese said she would have a particular focus on the Murray-Darling basin.
“Tanya is someone who can get things done. She’s an experienced former minister as well as a former shadow minister,” Mr Albanese said.
Asked about Labor’s electoral prospects, Ms Plibersek was diplomatic.
“I think Labor has a very good story to tell,” she said.
“We have turned the economy around. We’ve got high jobs numbers, we’ve got growing wages, we’ve got falling inflation, we’ve got falling interest rates, we’ve cut taxes, we’re helping with the cost of living.
“I’m not saying the job’s done. I’m saying we want to keep going. In just two-and-a-half years, we’ve made huge changes. And if people want to see the results of that, they need to stick with the team that has been delivering for them up until now.”
Ms Plibersek has long been a critic of Peter Dutton and courted controversy after the election when she compared him to Lord Voldemort, the villain from Harry Potter.
“The worst thing would be the election of a Dutton government,” she told QNews.
“He’s opposed wage rises, he’s opposed just about every cost-of-living measure we’ve had,” she says. “He’s argued against tax cuts for lower and middle-income earners.
“Dutton has made a career of trying to divide. He talks about people being scared to go out for dinner in Melbourne because of African gangs. He’s talked about too much Lebanese migration. He was the guy who walked out on the national apology [to the Stolen Generations in 2008]. He was one of the very few Liberals who actually did that,.
“This is a man who thrives on division. He confuses anger and strength. You can be strong without being angry.
“Just look at the track record.”’
Census drama
Last year, the Albanese government dumped a proposal to include a question about sexuality and gender diversity in the next census.
The prime minister finally backflipped, stating “there will be a question in the 2026 census”, after a revolt from Ms Plibersek and other Labor MPs.
“I’m part of a big old creaky organisation called the Australian Labor Party,” she says. “And sometimes it takes it longer to move than an individual on their own would, because we need to bring people with us.”
An election must be held on or before May 17.
Originally published as ’He’s weak, arrogant’: Labor insider eviscerates Anthony Albanese in extraordinary anonymous interview
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