The Source: Why the rush, Premier? Allan’s mad dash with Albo

Jacinta Allan kept her eyes down and her mouth firmly shut as she ushered Anthony Albanese from the site of the North East Link, leaving the puzzled press pack asking: why the rush?

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers

Unlike Joe Biden, who likes to cluelessly wander off after press conferences — or midway through them — sometimes getting lost, other times toppling over, Jacinta Allan made a swift exit from a presser with the Prime Minister on Thursday.

And during time for questions, well, she didn’t have to worry about speaking gibberish like sleepy Joe because she didn’t say a word.

Naturally the dozen or so hard-hat donning journos who had assembled at the base of two tunnel boring machines at the North East Link site had been launching questions at the PM.

He had just pledged another $3.25bn to a rail project already blown out by $10bn.

But as soon as Albo wrapped up his air time, JA — careful not to make eye contact with the press pack — ushered him away among their dozen staffers and security personnel.

Jacinta Allan was in a rush to lead Anthony Albanese away at the North East Link site. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“Premier, can we ask you a question,” one journalist called out as the pair walked off.

“Premier?”

“Premier, can we ask you a question,” one journalist called out.

But Jacinta and her team were already well on their way, leaving journalists scratching their heads.

Why the big rush?

According to the Premier’s media team, she absolutely could not have missed her minibus ride with the PM.

A ride with a travel time of approximately two minutes back to separate drivers in the construction site car park.

No bother, there were only several questions to be answered about multimillion-dollar budget cuts to world-leading and often life-saving medical research.

Maybe another one or two about the predicted demise of the state’s tourism body.

To be fair, this is not the first time the Premier hasn’t fronted up to the microphones to answer questions when the PM is around.

When Albo’s in town, Queen Jacinta must abide by his rules.