Clare Armstrong: Anthony Albanese refuses to engage in political scrap over gaffe

Anthony Albanese is refusing to engage in a political scrap over his unemployment gaffe, turning instead to Taylor Swift for inspiration, writes Clare Armstrong.

After a disastrous first day on the election campaign Labor forewent a reset in favour of a “shake it off” approach to leader Anthony Albanese’s embarrassing fumble on economic figures.

The opposition leader evoked the iconic words of pop star Taylor Swift during his second press conference on the campaign trail, signalling Labor’s intention to simply ride out the storm rather than change tack.

“From time to time, if ever I make a mistake, I’ll own it,” he said on Tuesday.

“Here’s a Taylor Swift comment for you, my theory is shake it off.”

Taylor Swift has been quoted by Anthony Albanese as he defends his unemployment figure gaffe. Picture: Supplied

After a Budget reply speech centred on putting the “care” into aged care and two health-related policy announcements – one on funding for children with hearing impairments and another on psychiatric telehealth services – Labor has been unwavering in its policy focus.

But Tuesday’s $33.1 million telehealth announcement in the marginal Labor-held seat of Lyons in northern Tasmania, had almost no cut through when stacked against the fallout of Mr Albanese’s gaffe on economic figures.

Within hours of his faux pas, the Liberal Party had turned it into a political attack advertisement, but Labor has not taken the bait by engaging in the economic debate on the Coalition’s terms.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has refused to get into a political scrap over his unemployment figure gaffe. Picture: Toby Zerna

Mr Albanese will maintain the course and stick to his health messaging with a family-friendly and pragmatic emergency care announcement in Melbourne on Wednesday.

It’s this dogmatic discipline in strategy many in the party attribute to Mr Albanese’s strong position coming into the campaign.

For three years he resisted internal grumblings about the “small target” strategy and though at times it would have been easier to appease detractors by announcing flashy policies, his gamble paid off.

Similarly with the first-day press conference fail, Mr Albanese has shown he will not simply tear up the playbook at the first hurdle of this long six-week campaign.

Clare Armstrong is federal political reporter for The Daily Telegraph

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Originally published as Clare Armstrong: Anthony Albanese refuses to engage in political scrap over gaffe