Media frenzy over Anthony Albanese missing campaign trail

There was a very noticeable absentee as Labor tried to reinvigorate its campaign today, and some of the press were not happy.

It was supposed to be a positive day for Labor on the campaign trail as their leader Anthony Albanese returned from his Covid isolation period, but it got off to a rocky start in Sydney.

Before senior members of the party jet off to WA to officially launch the Labor campaign, there were tense scenes outside a greengrocers in western Sydney – where there was a very noticeable absentee.

Mr Albanese was nowhere to be seen despite exiting isolation this morning – leaving shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers and Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Kristina Keneally to front the press.

It started amicably enough with the pair walking around the greengrocers before presenting a poster showing how much everyday products like meat and vegetables had gone up in price.

There was tension in the air even before the presser began, with one media crew telling Labor staffers they didn’t want the cost of living poster in their shots.

“We’re not having that in our crosses,” said one reporter. “No, I’m serious.”

However, when the press conference got under way, fireworks really started to fly when they opened up to questions from the media – with everybody wanting to know where Mr Albanese was.

News.com.au understands the Labor leader was hit hard with Covid and will be taking a backseat over the next couple of days until he is fully recovered.

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Anthony Albanese was nowhere to be seen despite exiting isolation this morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Journalists at the press conference this morning however suggested Mr Albanese might be dodging scrutiny.

Mr Albanese did several interviews on breakfast TV this morning but did not front the press conference.

“Well, first of all, Anthony Albanese is returning to the fray today, and we’re very pleased that our captain will be back on the field with us,” Mr Chalmers said.

“And consistent with doctor’s orders, he is coming back, making sure that he can do enough on the first day back, and then we’re heading out to the great state of Western Australia after that.”

One reporter questioned why Mr Albanese wasn’t fronting the media, saying there were “plenty of people that he’s not talking to, plenty of journalists who aren’t able to ask questions”.

“Well, the campaign has still got three weeks to run,” Mr Chalmers said. “Anthony Albanese’s done a heap of interviews this morning and he will have a heap of engagements out west as well, consistent with the health advice.”

He fired up at a reporter’s suggestion that it was a “contrast” with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who came out of Covid isolation and held a press conference in Lismore.

“I’ll tell you the contrast with the Prime Minister – Anthony Albanese, he shows up, he takes responsibility, he works hard every day to bring people together,” Mr Chalmers said.

“And he acknowledges and has a plan for the cost-of-living crisis that has emerged on Scott Morrison’s watch.”

Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers and Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Kristina Keneally had to front the press. Picture: Liam Kidston

Another reporter pressed, “If he could do those breakfast interviews this morning, why couldn’t he come to an official press conference?”

“He will have a number of media engagements over the coming days,” Mr Chalmers said.

Mr Chalmers also shot down questions that implied that Mr Albanese was dodging planned televised debates with the Prime Minister.

“There are negotiations that happen in every election campaign that I can recall. Those negotiations involve broadcasters,” Mr Chalmers told reporters.

“They involve the two parties. What’s happening here is the usual negotiations that happen in the usual way with the broadcasters and the major political parties.”

Another senior figure who has been accused of going MIA in Labor’s campaign so far is Tanya Plibersek, and there were questions about where she was too. It is understood she won’t be taking part in Labor’s WA launch this weekend.

“Tanya has been doing a heap of media and making a huge contribution to our campaign, and making a big difference,” said Mr Chalmers.

“The launch on Sunday in Western Australia will have some of us there but not all of us there, and that’s appropriate.”

Originally published as Media frenzy over Anthony Albanese missing campaign trail