Albo marshalls the troops: ALP staff called to Sydney HQ

Labor has ordered its campaign staff to head to Sydney to its national headquarters from this Sunday as the party counts down for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to call the election.

Labor has ordered its campaign staff to head to Sydney to its national headquarters from this Sunday as the party counts down for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to call the election.

The party has established its national campaign headquarters in an office building opposite Hyde Park in Oxford Street, where more than 100 staff will be based until after election day.

The campaign nerve centre was tested out last year in a secret trial where party operatives “war gamed” various scenarios and ironed out any technological glitches that might hamper the smooth-running of the operation over the coming weeks.

The ALP is counting down for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to call the election. Picture: David Caird

While some have already been working out of the nondescript office block, the remaining staff have been told to head in this weekend.

One Labor source claimed staff were being told it was for another “trial”, although senior Labor sources say few are likely to head back to Canberra or regions once here.

Once operational, the campaign office will comprise multiple teams of people focused on individual tasks, such as a “seat unit” focused solely on winning or retaining electorates, as well as dedicated policy, strategy, media and advertising teams.

For the first time in decades, veteran Labor campaign operations director Sandy Rippington will not be running the show, with that job being handed to former Catholic Social Services Australia executive director Monique Earsman.

As well as holding previous campaign and national organiser roles, Ms Earsman has also worked for multiple Labor MPs, including Tanya Plibersek and Brendan O’Connor.

POSTER PAIN

As Peter Dutton was being grilled over his share-trading, four large outdoor billboards went live on main roads and opposite shopping centres in his marginal seat of Dickson.

The message on the billboards? “Let’s put something new in Canberra – integrity”.

The posters were put up by local community independent Ellie Smith, who is taking on Dutton in the ultra marginal seat.

Dickson Decides has unveiled its independent candidate Ellie Smith to run against Peter Dutton in Dickson. Picture: Liam Kidston

While The Sauce does not suggest Dutton has engaged in any wrongdoing, the timing of the posters could not have been at a more inconvenient time.

Smith – who was “preselected” through a local group called “Dickson Decides” – has received funding by Climate 200, although it is understood the bulk of her donors are locals.

Dutton has held the outer suburban Brisbane seat for 24 years, but Smith is hoping increasing disillusionment with the major parties and the slim 1.7 per cent margin will work in her favour.

FAMILY FEUD

There were bizarre scenes in the NSW Budget Estimates health hearing last week as Nationals MLC Wes Fang refused to give the floor to Liberal frontbencher Natalie Ward.

Each time Ward tried to ask a question, Fang interrupted with, at one stage, the two Coalition MPs talking over each other for several minutes.

Had the feud between the Coalition partners over the looming Port Macquarie by-election spilled over into Estimates?

Wes Fang. Picture: NewsWire/Damian Shaw

Natalie Ward. Picture: NewsWire/Nikki Short

Fang told The Sauce the blow-up was over the fact Ward was attempting to ask questions about an incident at the troubled Northern Beaches Hospital when he had already organised questions after the meeting with the family that had been involved.

However, The Sauce was told the family had also met with Liberal and Labor MPs.

“Natalie was using her allotted time to try to ask questions on the matter,” a Liberal source said.

“Fang had his own time, but was interrupting.”

At least everyone was on the same page.

Got some Sauce? Contact [e-mail]

Originally published as Albo marshalls the troops: ALP staff called to Sydney HQ