Scott Morrison’s Andrews-Albanese double jeopardy attack is his Hail Mary

It is telling that on the eve of the election, Scott Morrison has deliberately resurrected the message that he will get the government out of our lives.

In interviews with the Herald Sun over the past three years, Scott Morrison has spoken at length about a range of issues affecting Victorians.

But aboard a RAAF plane on Wednesday afternoon, the Prime Minister’s answers to most questions diverted to the same theme: that he’ll get the government out of our lives, while Anthony Albanese would follow Daniel Andrews and put the government in control again.

Scott Morrison has spoken at length about a range of issues affecting Victorians. Picture: Getty Images

Morrison first tried this out six months ago when he visited Melbourne as the city was reopening. Back then, he was more focused on the state premiers, and the attack line was soon pulled back as Covid restrictions were eased during summer.

It is telling that now, on the eve of the election, Morrison has deliberately resurrected that message in Victoria and personally sought to tie Albanese to Andrews.

The Victorian Liberal Party has been running ads in outer suburban seats suggesting the federal Labor leader is a puppet of the Premier. They believe these voters – aspirational families hit hardest by lockdowns – can be persuaded to vote against Albanese because of their dislike of Andrews.

The Coalition believes families hit hardest by lockdowns can be persuaded to vote against Anthony lbanese because of their dislike of Daniel Andrews. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Labor strategists have seen little evidence this is working in seats such as McEwen and Corangamite. They argue many voters there blame Andrews and Morrison for what they went through during the pandemic, while others in inner-city electorates turn further against the PM when he criticises the popular Premier.

But with the traditional Liberal strongholds of Kooyong, Goldstein and Higgins at serious risk of falling, the PM has had to find an alternative pathway to stay afloat in Victoria.

The polls are tightening, and Morrison is not without a chance of pulling off another election miracle. The Andrews-Albanese double jeopardy attack is his Hail Mary here.