Labor tested Anthony Albanese’s ‘wrong priorities’ with voters ahead of Dunkley by-election

New research reveals Labor feared Anthony Albanese’s Voice referendum, overseas travel, and inaction on cost of living could hurt them at the Dunkley by-election.

Leaked material from a Labor focus group in Dunkley painted Anthony Albanese as having the “wrong priorities”, wasting a year talking about the Voice referendum and spending time overseas while Aussies struggled with soaring living costs.

Screenshots obtained by the Herald Sun show the ads accused the Prime Minister of “doing anything else” while grocery bills, mortgage repayments, rent and petrol prices went “through the roof”.

An advertisement from a Labor focus group for Dunkley.

Labor is worried that Albanese has been focused on the wrong priorities.

“This by-election send ‘Airbus Albo’ a message,” the internal ad states.

A Labor campaign spokesman said: “Political parties routinely test their opponent’s messages to understand how they will land with the general public”.

“It was clear from the outset that Peter Dutton would run a negative scare campaign in Dunkley,” he said.

But the Liberals’ federal director Andrew Hirst said: “Even their own research reveals that Labor is worried that Albanese has been focused on the wrong priorities and that the residents of Dunkley are paying the price.”

Cost of living is the top issue in the electorate.

Anthony Albanese was seen as having the ‘wrong priorities’.

Cost of living is the top issue in the electorate and Mr Albanese on Tuesday called on his party to ram home the benefits of the stage three tax cut changes.

The push, as the race for Dunkley tightens, follows growing concerns that Aussies don’t even know they will get more cash.

Labor holds the seat on a 6.3 per cent margin but insiders are concerned about the midterm protest over living costs.

The party has taken aim at Liberal candidate Nathan Conroy’s record voting for council rate rises in messaging to voters.

The Herald Sun can also reveal that attendees at a Labor focus group in mid-February marked Mr Conroy down for his role as mayor at the Frankston council.

“He talks about the cost of living, but council rates are a drain on our family’s budget,” a 34-year-old female from Frankston said.