‘Can’t comment’: Anthony Albanese dodges awkward Andrew Charlton question

Anthony Albanese has been grilled about an important detail that has been revealed about one of his candidates, but it seems he wasn’t in the loop.

Anthony Albanese has been grilled about potential hypocrisy over a legal oversight by his candidate for Parramatta, Andrew Charlton.

Today The Daily Telegraph reported that Dr Charlton, a former economic adviser to prime minister Kevin Rudd, had listed a rental in Woollahra, owned by his wife, as his place of residence.

Dr Charlton was enrolled at neither his current property in Parramatta nor his previous residence in Bellevue Hill.

“Today my wife and I have updated our enrolment details,” he said when the Telegraph contacted him for comment.

“We both lead very busy lives and this was an oversight, for which I take responsibility and apologise.”

Parramatta candidate Andrew Charlton. Picture: Liam Kidston

This follows a controversy involving the LNP’s candidate for Lilley, Vivian Lobo, and calls from Labor for him to be disendorsed.

Mr Lobo has been accused of claiming to live in Lilley while allegedly residing outside the electorate. The Australian Electoral Commission has referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police.

Mr Albanese previously called that a “very serious issue”.

At a media conference in Darwin this morning, the Labor leader was asked about the situation involving his own candidate.

“Your candidate for Parramatta has admitted that he had an oversight in regard to electoral laws. I’m talking about Andrew Charlton,” said Channel 9’s Jonathan Kearsley. “Given what you said about the Coalition’s candidate–”

“What? Detail,” Mr Albanese interjected, apparently unaware of the story.

Anthony Albanese was asked about Andrew Charlton in Darwin today. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“He said he was listed at his wife’s rental property under the electoral rules. Now, given what you said about the candidate for Lilley, is there a case of double standards here?” Kearsley said.

“I’m not aware of the issue you raised, so I can’t comment,” Mr Albanese said.

That wasn’t the end of it. Another reporter, the AFR’s Tom McIlroy, followed up on the initial question at the end of the presser.

“When the Liberal National candidate for Lilley was found to be registered at one address, but presented to the Electoral Commission as living elsewhere, you said it was a very serious issue, that the Prime Minister should take action, and that the media should ask about it–” he said.

“The Electoral Commission took action,” Mr Albanese interjected.

“You said it was a very serious issue for the Prime Minister. Does the same standard apply for your Parramatta candidate Andrew Charlton?” McIlroy asked.

“The Electoral Commission took action on that issue and referred the candidate for Lilley to the AFP. I expect the rules to always be upheld,” the Labor leader replied.

Labor Party signage at an election pre-polling site in Chermside. Picture: Richard Walker

Mr Albanese was also asked about the Chinese intelligence gathering vessel off the coast of Western Australia, described by Defence Minister Peter Dutton yesterday as an “aggressive act” by China.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has since accused Mr Dutton of “fearmongering”.

Mr Albanese was asked whether he thought the government had an “ulterior motive” for speaking publicly about the Chinese ship in the final weeks of the election campaign.

“Labor shares concerns about the presence of an intelligence ship off the coast of Western Australia from the Chinese government. We’ve asked for a full briefing,” he said.

Mr Albanese went on to complain about the government neglecting to give Labor briefings on national security matters.

“This is a Prime Minister who always plays short-term politics, who isn’t interested in the national interest if it’s a choice between the two, who will always go with the short term political interest,” he argued.

“I will not treat national security issues as an opportunity to make partisan, domestic political points. No Australian prime minister should do that.”