Labor accused of trying to dodge scrutiny after leaked media memo

Instructions claimed to come from Labor headquarters reveal the party will break with convention on the campaign trail, in a move blasted as “hypocritical”.

Labor strategists have been accused of attempting to “dodge scrutiny” and maintain a “small target strategy” after a memo purported to come from ALP campaign headquarters surfaced that revealed the opposition will not distribute transcripts or speeches delivered by opposition frontbenchers, only Anthony Albanese.

According to the memo, seen by The Daily Telegraph, Labor’s campaign HQ “will not be distributing transcripts during the campaign other than for the leader and campaign spokespeople, with a few limited exceptions”.

The document said the same thing would apply to speeches, and that “we will be reducing our reliance on media releases as a form of communication during the campaign.”

Only Anthony Albanese‘s speeches will be distributed as transcripts during the election campaign. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

It is generally standard practice for campaign media offices to release transcripts of media appearances and speeches, though observers have noted that the opposition’s day to day media operation did not release a transcript of shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus telling ABC Radio that Labor’s promise of a nurse in every aged care facility might need to be “pause(d)”.

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the memo cut against calls by Mr Albanese for transparency and accountability to take centre stage in our democracy.

“This is a hypocritical attempt by Labor to dodge scrutiny,” Mr Birmingham said.

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has accused the opposition of hypocrisy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“Labor’s small target strategy is already hiding detailed policies or plans from the Australian people and it’s now clear that they want to hide their shadow ministers too.

“It is becoming clearer and clearer that Anthony Albanese wants to cruise through this election campaign without any accountability or transparency.

“This appears to be a sign that Anthony Albanese doesn’t trust his frontbench, who have already called out weaknesses in his aged care promises and exposed the potential for higher taxes under Labor.

“How are Australians expected to decide if Labor’s frontbenchers are up to the job of being Ministers if they are being censored?”