Federal election 2016: Shorten sliding towards defeat
BILL Shorten’s campaign is imploding, with the Labor leader unable to say when his party last produced a surplus and his colleagues privately talking about dumping him.
NSW
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BILL Shorten’s campaign is imploding, with the Labor leader unable to say when his party last produced a surplus, campaign chiefs resorting to misleading robo-calls and his colleagues privately talking about dumping him.
Senior figures within the Shorten camp are also understood to be disagreeing about the direction of the final hours of the campaign and Mr Shorten is becoming increasingly concerned about the election outcome.
It followed a horror performance at Tuesday’s National Press Club address where he labelled a comment by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, that political parties don’t always do what they say they will do, as the “defining moment” of the campaign without realising Mr Turnbull was referring to the Labor Party.
It is understood some in Mr Shorten’s camp have gone from believing they had a genuine chance to oust Mr Turnbull from The Lodge to now focusing on winning enough seats for him to remain Opposition Leader.
Despite the difficult week and poor polling in marginal seats, Mr Shorten publicly insists he can still win.
In contrast, a relaxed Prime Minister enjoyed a rock star reception as he had yum cha with his family in southern Sydney yesterday.
It was his only public appearance of the day, after doing five radio interviews yesterday morning. Mr Turnbull’s team are content not to wear out the electorate with over campaigning, given their seemingly strong position.
The Labor leader was left speechless after Today Show host Karl Stefanovic asked a basic question about when a surplus was last handed down.
Mr Shorten made bizarre warble before saying: “I believe I was an adult.”
Labor have also come under fire for misleading robo-calls. The call plays Mr Turnbull’s quote that “what political parties say they will support and oppose at one time is not necessarily what they will do”.
After playing the quote, the female voice on the automated phone message says: “It’s hard to believe he said that, isn’t it?”
She then reminds the listener that “just last week” Mr Turnbull said Medicare would “never, ever” be privatised.
The quote though, was referring to Labor ditching the School Kids bonus after spending three years trying to save it.
Mr Shorten said he was not told about every robo-call campaign that’s going on but did support “exposing” a prime minister who was “not prepared to say that he will keep his political promises”.
Mr Shorten will do a last- minute blitz of east coast electorates ahead of polling day on Saturday.
In contrast, Mr Turnbull is expected to visit the bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro before addressing the Press Club.
The Opposition Leader has maintained his optimism and refused to concede defeat, telling supporters he can win and urging them to get out and spruik voting Labor in the last hours before polling day.
“I think there is a discernible mood to change the government ... Australians do feel let down,” Mr Shorten said.
However, he knows that if he is not right there is a high chance he will be replaced as leader by Anthony Albanese.
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