Anthony Albanese highlights medicine, manufacturing and gender pay plan at Labor launch

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese focused on skills, the economy and care sectors and attacked rival Scott Morrison’s ‘smirk and mirrors’ during his Labor campaign launch

Australian families deserve a better future than what the Coalition can deliver, Anthony Albanese says, promising more spending on advanced manufacturing, cheaper medicines, and a plan to tackle the gender pay gap.

Calling on Australians to “shape the future,” Mr Albanese focused his speech at Labor’s official campaign launch on skills, the economy and care sectors. He declared he would make it a Labor government’s mission to fix the costs of child care and “neglect in aged care” which he said is “unconscionable”.

Mr Albanese announced a plan to cut the price of prescription drugs by $12.50 – $2.50 more per script than the government’s pledge – making $30 the maximum price under the PBS. Labor has proposed the changes would kick in by January 2023 and would pump $190m back into the pockets of Australians.

He also revealed a $1bn plan to develop “value-added products from Australian resources,” in an announcement tailored for the West Australian audience at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

“We’ll take resources like lithium and nickel … and instead of shipping them to another country to make batteries, we’ll have what we need to make them right here,” he said.

Federal Opposition leader Anthony Albanese speaks during the Labor Party election campaign launch at Optus Stadium. Picture Paul Kane/Getty Images)

He also announced a proposal for the government to provide an equity contribution of up to 40 per cent for 10,000 low and middle income earners every year.

“I want to build a better future – and I want to help more Australians own a stake in it,” he said.

Manager of Opposition Business Tony Burke, WA Premier Mark McGowan, Shadow Immigration Minister Kristina Keneally and SA Premier Peter Malinauskas come together during the Labor Party election campaign launch. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Balancing a promise for that future with an attack on Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Mr Albanese invoked the words of French president Emmanuel Macron to say that voters “don’t think, they know” the PM’s record.

“We have the worst inflation rate in two decades. Families are struggling, worried about the future.

“Yet Scott Morrison just keeps on scrambling from one photo op to another, boasting that the Australian people know who he is,” Mr Albanese said. “He’s got that right: they don’t think, they know. They’ve worked him out.

“Whenever Australia needs a solution, he offers only smirk and mirrors. We can do better than this. So much better than this.”

Labor leader Anthony Albanese welcomed by Kevin Rudd and Paul Keating at the Labor Party launch. Picture: Liam Kidston.

While Russell Crowe voiced a new campaign video, the star guest at Labor’s launch was state Premier Mark McGowan, who delivered a parochial message of WA’s success during the pandemic.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas also made the trip west, with Labor saying Mr Albanese is the man better able to unite the states compared to Mr Morrison

Former prime ministers Paul Keating and Kevin Rudd also received a standing ovation at the event.

After the launch, Mr Rudd said Mr Albanese would make a “first class” Prime Minister.

“He’s got a great work ethic (and) vision,” he said, adding there is a “very strong mood for change” and Australians “want to toss this mob out”.