Anthony Albanese stumbles in trainwreck press conference

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has stumbled through his first official press conference on day one of the campaign.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has apologised for his “mistakes” after stumbling through his first official press conference on day one of the campaign.

Mr Albanese addressed reporters in Tasmania’s Devonport, owning up to not being able to answer simple questions about the RBA cash rate and unemployment rate.

“Earlier today I made a mistake. I am human. But when I make a mistake, I’ll fess up to it and I will set about correcting that mistake,” he said.

“I won’t blame someone else, I’ll accept responsibility. That’s what leaders do.”

Mr Albanese was then asked: “Do you know what the figures are?”

This time, it appeared the Labor Leader had done his research.

“Yes, 0.1 per cent is the cash rate, which is very different to the interest rate. And, of course, four per cent is the unemployment rate,” he said.

Earlier today his press conference in the crucial marginal seat of Bass to promote new funding support for children with hearing loss descended into chaos amid grilling from reporters.

Mr Albanese was initially asked if he knew the official cash rate, and dodged the question entirely, saying he did not want to play a game of “20 questions” before moving to the next reporter.

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Mr Albanese poked his tongue out as he grappled for an answer.

He refused to answer the same crucial question three times, and avoided questions about both Tasmania’s and the national unemployment rate before having to concede he didn’t have the answers.

The Opposition Leader was pulled up on avoiding the questions by Daily Telegraph reporter Clare Armstrong.

“After the start of the year when the Prime Minister couldn’t say what the cost of petrol or the price of a loaf of bread was, he was ridiculed for being out of touch with Australians,” she said.

“The Reserve Bank cash rate hasn’t changed since November 2020, the unemployment rates are widely published and available. Is it your expectation then that leaders don’t have to be across these kinds of details that directly impact voters’ lives? Are you not going to answer those kinds of specific questions for this campaign?”

After trying to justify his non-answers by arguing he did know the price of bread and milk, Mr Albanese became tongue-tied attempting to quote the national unemployment rate before handing over to shadow finance minister Senator Katy Gallagher who could answer the question.

“The national unemployment rate at the moment is, I think it’s 5.4,” Mr Albanese stumbled.

“I’m not sure what it is.”

Mr Albanese was asked if Senator Gallagher could answer the questions, allowing the Opposition Leader to step aside.

“The Reserve Bank current rate is 0.1 and the unemployment rate’s at 4 per cent,” she answered with ease.

Both Senator Gallagher’s answers were correct. Australia’s cash rate is currently 0.1 per cent, and has remained unchanged since November 2020.

Meanwhile, the unemployment is 4 per cent, a far cry from Mr Albanese’s answer of nearly 5 per cent.

Daily Telegraph reporter Clare Armstrong asked Anthony Albanese the simple questions about the economy. Picture: Sky News

Mr Albanese attempted to explain his non-answers, insisting he was not interested in answering questions about the “Tasmanian unemployment rate and the various rates that are put forward”.

“I’m happy to know that the last time I filled up, petrol was $2.20,” he said.

“I know how much the price of bread is. I know how much a litre of milk is.

“So I know about those things that affect ordinary people. I’m happy to engage with you or not. It’s up to people to ask whatever questions they want.”

The Labor leader also struggled to answer exactly how long he held the role of acting prime minister, despite the fact he spruiked that very experience extensively during this morning’s breakfast TV rounds.

“Well, I did it just on a couple of occasions,” he said, before being asked exactly how many days that equalled.

“Not that many days. But on two occasions,” he replied.

“But I’ve also been the deputy prime minister and leader of the government in the house for six years.

“I’ve been in parliament for 20 years. The difference is when I was acting prime minister, I knew I was acting prime minister.

“This guy’s been acting prime minister for four years. He won’t accept the responsibilities which are there.”

Scott Morrison easily answered both questions in his own press conference. Picture: Jason Edwards

After Mr Albanese’s failure to answer these questions, it came as no surprise that these were the very first questions off the bat for Prime Minister Scott Morrison in his own press conference.

The PM had no trouble answering, saying with confidence that the said the cash rate was 0.1 per cent and has “been there for some time”.

“The unemployment rate I’m happy to say is 4 per cent, falling to a 50 year low. It came down from 5.7 per cent when we were first elected,” he said.

“More importantly, as we went into the pandemic, we were facing unemployment rates up around 15 per cent. Now it’s 4 per cent.”

Mr Morrison said there were 375,000 more people in work today than before the pandemic hit.

“The reason that’s been able to be achieved which puts us ahead of all the advanced economies in the world, not just on growth and our through the year growth to end of September was 4.2 per cent, but also on jobs,” he said.

“We are ahead of all those major advanced economies.”

Mr Albanese’s failure to answer the two critical yet simple questions directly related to the economy and cost of living pressures – which the election is likely to hinge on – has sparked widespread disbelief, with Aussies taking to social media to voice their shock.

day one of the campaign proper. his opponent has been attacking him on the economy. It’s wild that Albanese didn’t know these answers. terrible look. https://t.co/B81EsV9YpB

— Shane Bazzi (@shanebazzi) April 11, 2022

Day 1 of the election campaign, and Albanese just guessed that the unemployment rate was 5.4% (it's 4%), before admitting he didn't know.
Our potential future PM also couldn't say what the RBA cash rate was - it's been 0.1% for almost 18 months.
Unbelievable. #AusPol2022

— Patrick Commins (@ComminsP) April 11, 2022

When I interviewed John Howard for the Howard Years series, he said he would swot each night so he knew every necessary number, fact relevant to his job. It was his job as leader, he said, to know. Albo coming up short on day one. What’s he been doing?

— janet albrechtsen (@jkalbrechtsen) April 11, 2022

And unsurprisingly, his Liberal opponents wasted no time in sticking the boot in, with Coalition politicians gleefully jumping on the awkward blunder.

Not only does Opposition leader @AlboMP not know the cash rate is 0.10%, but his minders are now busy explaining to him what the cash rate is & why it is different from what people actually pay on mortgages. Think about that… Albanese and Labor are not ready to run our economy.

— Alex Hawke MP (@AlexHawkeMP) April 11, 2022

D'OH! - Anthony Albanese doesn’t know what the unemployment rate is. FYI, youth unemployment is the lowest in over a decade. #auspolpic.twitter.com/9BR8LQjquK

— Young Liberals 🇦🇺 (@YoungLibs) April 11, 2022