Election 2016: Turnbull’s office had scouted Abbott staffers, they said no thanks

MALCOLM Turnbull’s office had informally scouted out three senior former Abbott logistic staffers over concerns that its team lacked election experience.

(FILES) A combo image of two file photographs shows current Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (L) at a press conference in Canberra on September 20, 2015, and former prime minister Tony Abbott (R) speaking to the media in Canberra on February 9, 2015. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on March 22 March, 2016 slapped down his predeccessor Tony Abbott who dramatically intervened to claim credit for policies the government is taking to upcoming elections. Abbott, who was ousted last September in a party coup, announced the government was running on his record, in extraordinary comments reminiscent of the political anarchy that has produced five leaders in five years. / AFP PHOTO / PETER PARKS

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• JULIE BISHOP TO THE RESCUE IN THE MARGINAL SEATS

PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s office had informally scouted out three senior former Abbott logistic staffers over concerns that its team lacked experience in running an election campaign.

However, is understood that the three “advance” team specialists, who lost their jobs in the office purge when Malcolm Turnbull rolled Tony Abbott last September, all snubbed the offer.

The Daily Telegraph has confirmed that the trio, who had worked on Mr Abbott’s 2010 and 2013 election campaigns, had been recently and informally approached by the Prime Minister’s office.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and former prime minister Tony Abbott.

It is understood that the PM’s office was seeking to recruit one more experienced person for the team. There are two former Abbott staff currently in the advance team but neither has run a federal election campaign before.

The three staff recently canvassed had been previously responsible for crucial campaign logistics operations under Mr Abbott including transport, hotels and daily media events.

They had been approached about potentially coming back to work in the new Prime Minister’s office for nine weeks.

However, the approach to former Abbott staff added to disquiet among some senior government operatives that the current PM’s travelling party lacked campaign logistics experience.

The logistic operation of a running an election campaign is regarded as one of the most important factors in a successful campaign.

Advance teams are critical for even the most basic things such as ensuring hotels are booked, rooms are secured, events are locked in, ensuring cars are at airports to collect the PM and his travelling party and making sure luggage doesn’t get lost — as well as looking after the travelling media contingency.

It is widely recognised that Kevin Rudd’s failed 2013 ­election campaign ran off the rails due to a lack of co-ordination between the campaign office and the Prime Minister’s travelling party.

“Everyone takes this stuff for granted, but it takes experience and a really sharp political antenna,” a senior government source said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday / Picture: AAP

“In a campaign, this stuff will kill them.”

There are generally three advancers that look after hotels, transport and daily events.

The advance team is responsible for setting up a mobile office ahead of the PM’s arrival on the campaign trail including transport logistics, confirming and paying for hotels, securing press conference space and checking in media.

The PM’s office said it wasn’t aware of any approaches to former Abbott staff and said the advance team for the campaign was now in place for Mr Turnbull’s office.

FOUR MEN AND A BABY

Clarissa Bye and Alicia Wood

THE south Sydney suburb of Penshurst woke to find a Prime Minister on the hustings yesterday, pressing home his message that abolishing negative gearing would hurt “mum and dad” investors.

The Mignacca family’s neatly mowed front yard was turned into a political spectacle as media, security and curious neighbours jostled to hear Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Treasurer Scott Morrison and local member David Coleman spruik the already existing policy.

Mr Turnbull reaffirmed that he would not make any changes to negative gearing, before going on to savage Labor’s policy to abolish those tax concessions for existing homes and only offer them for those purchasing new properties.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Treasurer Scott Morrison and local member for Banks David Coleman meet with Julian and Kim Mignacca and daughter Addison, 1, in Penshurst / Picture: Britta Campion

“Labor’s reckless changes will reduce property values, they’ll devalue every home, every property in Australia,” Mr Turnbull said.

It was a message Penshurst social worker Kim, who managed to keep her 11-month-old Addison happy during the whistlestop tour, said she supported.

Husband Julian, a plumber, said the family had bought an investment apartment at Cronulla, then traded it for another property.

The family live in the heartland of Banks, a marginal electorate that Mr Coleman is struggling to retain.