Anthony Albanese attacked for not coming to SA during the 2022 federal election campaign
Scott Morrison’s finance minister says he thinks the Labor leader must have forgotten where SA is.
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Pressure is mounting on Labor leader Anthony Albanese to finally visit Adelaide during the federal election campaign, as he is accused of “forgetting” where South Australia is on the map.
As the federal election campaign enters its fifth week, Mr Albanese is yet to set foot in the state, apart from a quick fuel stop for his campaign plane in Adelaide on his way to Perth on April 29.
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham accused the Opposition Leader of being a “no-show” in SA, where there is just one marginal seat – but a senior Labor source suggested his campaign was set to hit the state within days.
“He isn’t across his brief and that now extends to forgetting where SA is located,” Senator Birmingham said.
“Not only has Anthony Albanese forgotten basic economic figures and details, he’s got no economic plan and no policies for SA.”
Mr Albanese told the Sunday Mail he was “looking forward to coming back to SA soon to announce more of Labor’s plans for a better future for all South Australians”.
“I’ve always loved coming to SA and I’ve been a frequent visitor over many years,” he said, adding that he had several SA MPs on his frontbench, including Penny Wong, Mark Butler, Amanda Rishworth and Don Farrell.
The Coalition has made several major announcements in SA during the campaign, including $50m for defence training and $77m for a new cancer research centre.
It also unveiled a $218m investment in clean energy products.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has spent two days in Adelaide during the official campaign period, which started on April 11.
Mr Albanese was sidelined with Covid for an entire week of the campaign, and he spent two days in Adelaide on April 7-8 to announce his strategy to fix the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
While he is yet to return since then, his party has matched the Coalition’s promises to establish a new cancer research centre and upgrade the South Adelaide Basketball Club facilities.
Labor has also promised to bring forward the Coalition’s plans to fix congestion on Marion Rd, while pledging $13.2m to restore environmental habitats in Adelaide’s waterways.
Senator Wong blasted Mr Morrison for failing to “fix the Murray” in a “wasted decade in office”.
“Simon Birmingham shouldn’t panic – Anthony Albanese has a lot more on the way for South Australians in this election, and Simon won’t have to wait long,” she said.
With polls showing Labor is on track to snatch Boothby, one Coalition source said it was possible Mr Albanese believed the state’s only marginal seat was “already in the bag”.
“A brave judgement given they haven’t held the seat in over 70 years,” the source added.
gabriel.polychronis@news.com.au
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