Election 2022 live: Reporter's odd afternoon nap comment to Anthony Albanese

There was a strange moment in Anthony Albanese's presser where a reporter seemed to suggest he had been caught taking naps since his return.

Ally Foster

@allyjfoster

less than 2 min read

May 6, 2022 - 3:08PM

‘It’s my turn to answer’: Albanese grilled by media over NDIS policy stumble

Welcome to week four of the federal election campaign, with Aussies set to head to the polls on May 21.

Follow our live blog below for all the latest updates from the campaign trail.

Live Updates

Deves visits Jewish museum

Oliver Murray

Katherine Deves has visited a Jewish museum after comparing her activism against transgender athletes to standing up against the Holocaust.
The under-fire Liberal candidate for Warringah visited the Sydney Jewish Museum on Friday, where she was given a tour by Holocaust survivor Paul Drexler.
“This was an important visit by Ms Deves and we are grateful that she took the time to tour the museum, meet with a Holocaust survivor and
learn what Nazism was really like," NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Darren Bark said.
“Ms Deves made the right decision to accept our invitation. We hope she will learn from this experience and reflect upon her visit and the incomparable devastation caused by the Nazis."
Ms Deves sparked backlash after comparing pro-trans activists to Nazi trains transporting Jews to concentration camps in a podcast.
On the podcast, recorded in February last year, Ms Deves said she felt her “Save Women’s Sport” campaign was comparable to the French resistance to Nazi occupation.
Ms Deves has been plagued by controversy since news.com.au revealed she described trans teenagers as “surgically mutilated” and said that surrogacy for couples was “a human rights violation.”
In a statement, the mother-of-three said she apologised for her comments.
“In my dedication to fighting for the rights of women and girls, my language has on occasion been unacceptable. It has hurt people and detracted from my arguments,” the statement said.
“I apologise for such language and the hurt that I have caused. I commit to continuing the fight for the safety of girls and women in a respectful way.”

Albo's notes revealed after NDIS gaffe

Ben Graham

Anthony Albanese brought a note scrawled in pen with the key points of Labor’s plan for the NDIS and a script of what to say when asked about it at today’s press conference.

The Labor leader on Thursday was accused of not being across the plan as he failed to recall the six areas of improvement to the scheme.

On Friday, he was involved in a back-end-forth with a reporter over whether he had stuffed up.

Mr Albanese responded by saying Labor’s plan for the NDIS “wasn’t about gotcha questions” but about putting people at the centre of the scheme.

He then spoke at length about his mum’s battle with rheumatoid arthritis and why the NDIS was so important.

Cameras at the press conference picked up on a note that he was referring to during questions.

At the top, you can see the key points of the NDIS policy written in blue pen – in case he was asked to rattle them off again.

And below, in large typed up letters, there is a prepared response for Mr Albanese about what to say if he was grilled again on the policy.

“I’ve been asked about the NDIS as if it is a quiz,” the note reads. “What is important is that Labor created the NDIS and Labor will always protect and strengthen the NDIS.

“And if I sound passionate about that it is because I remember all too clearly what it was like for my mum, crippled and bedridden without an NDIS that would have made it that crucial bit better.

“I know it because I’ve lived it.”

There is then a highlighted statement about how Labor has identified the problem and how it is the party to fix the current issues with the system.

Further down, it reads: “This isn’t a game. This is real life.”

At the end of the press conference, he was asked by a reporter what was inside the file that he placed the note in. He gave the reporter a bemused look as he walked off without answering.

Investigation into campaign signs

An investigation has been launched into a series of signs being placed around Sydney’s northern beaches that appear to make the misleading claim that independent Zali Steggall is a member of the Greens.

The Australian Electoral Commission confirmed they had begun probing whether the corflutes – which have been put up around the electorate of Warringah – breached the Commonwealth Electoral Act.

Ms Steggall said whoever had put them up was playing “dirty tricks”.

“So the dirty tricks begin,” she said.

“With just two weeks to go until polling day, my opponents are going low – very low – with fake posters appearing around Warringah suggesting I am somehow both an Independent and a member of the Greens.

“If the matter weren’t so serious it would be a joke.

“I have sought and received confirmation from the Greens that they had no involvement in the posters.

“We understand that this is a coordinated attack campaign targeting Independents, with almost identical corflutes appearing in other electorates overnight in Hughes targeting Georgia Steele, and in Mackellar targeting Dr Sophie Scamps.”

AEC spokesman Evan Ekin-Smyth said the signs did not appear to be authorised, which was a civil breach of the Act.

– Ashleigh Gleeson, NCA NewsWire

PM repeatedly dodges resignation question

Ally Foster

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has avoided answering a question over whether he would resign from the Liberal Party if he loses the election, instead turning the question back around to his opponent's failings.

Mr Morrison was first asked about former PM Malcolm Turnbull urging people to vote ffor independents.

"Should he be kicked out of the Liberal Party and will you resign if you lose the elelection," a reporter asked.

"I'm focused on the choice that Australians have to make in just a couple of weeks' time. When we started the election, I said it was a choice between a government and Liberals and Nationals who have demonstrated that we have an economic plan for the future, one that's taken us through these very difficult times. And a Labor opposition that people don't know," Mr Morrison said.

"As this campaign has gone on, we've soon just how much we don't know about the Labor Party and I think Australians are really starting to ask the question – is Anthony Albanese really up to this?"

On the matter of Mr Turnbull, Mr Morrison said he has great respect for former PMs, but didn't agree with Mr Turnbull's comments around independent candiates.

But, the press pack wasn't going to let him avoid the question that easily, with one reporter saying Australians "deserved to know" whether Mr Morrison would resign as leader in the case of a hung parliament.

Morrison: "This is choice for the Australian people."

Reporter: "That's not a yes-or-no answer."

Morrison: "You get to ask the questions, not say what the answer is. My answer to that is – my answer lies in the lap of the Australian people. See, I'm the first prime minister-"

Reporter: "That sounds like you would resign."

Morrison: "Again, I'll answer the question. I'm very happy to answer the question. And I'll take you through what it is. I'm the first prime minister that has been able to stand for election at the last election and then stand for an election again. So I'm going to the Australian people at this election, and that's the first time that has happened in about 15 years. And that has provided great stability and certainty, I believe."

Mr Morrison continued, claiming the decision was up to the Australian people.

"I put my trust in their good conscience and their good faith. That is my answer."

‘Move on’: Reporter heckled at Albo presser

Ben Graham

A Channel Nine journalist who asked the NDIS question that stumped Anthony Albanese yesterday was heckled by a member of the public who said the media need to “smarten up their act”.

The Labor leader helped volunteers pack hampers at a community centre in Sydney’s inner-west, before holding a press conference that was, at times, pretty heated.

About midway through, Nine’s Jonathan Kearsley pressed Mr Albanese on not being able to name the key six points of Labor’s NDIS policy on Thursday, and asked whether he should “fess up” that he wasn’t across the details.

“In week one of the campaign after you did not know the Reserve Bank’s cash interest rate and you did not know Australia’s unemployment rate,” he began.

“You said you were human, you make mistakes and you fess up."

“Last night on Q+A on the ABC you said you were not given the opportunity to name the six points on your National Disability Insurance Scheme policy.

“Did you make the mistake and not forget, or were you not given the opportunity to respond? If so, will you fess up to making a mistake today? And is asking a question about your own policy unfair?”

During the question, a volunteer at the community centre, Bobby Ali-Khan, began yelling out at Kearsley.

“Move on,” she called out as Kearsley continued speaking loudly.

“What kind of question is that?”

After the conference, she had some harsh words for the media – saying there had been a “death of intellect” when it comes to politics in Australia.

“I'm sure that at one point they all into journalism to make a difference and not to ask stupid questions, and then keep repeating stupid questions,” she told news.com.au.

“Do they really think that the public are unable to know what’s going on? They'll just turn off the channel. That's what you do. No one has to be listening to anything anymore if they don't want to. So they need to smarten their act up.”

Mr Albanese responded to Kearsley’s question by saying the NDIS was “not about gotcha questions”.

“What leadership is about is determining when there is a problem, identifying it, and then coming up with solutions,” he said.

“We did that in government. We created the NDIS. We are doing that from opposition under Bill Shorten who has had a role both in government and in opposition and he is coming up with solutions to stop the cuts and to put people back at the centre of the NDIS.”

Asked by news.com.au if he thought the constant pressing on the six points of their policy yesterday was fair, he simply responded by saying that “people are entitled to ask questions”.

The interjection from Ms Ali-Khan was not the only interruption in today’s press conference.

As it got underway, a small white dog ran playfully though the media scrum and about midday through a small boy walked up to Mr Albanese’s podium.

“Hello,” said Mr Albanese, as he bent down to greet him. “Where’s your mummy and daddy?”

The boy’s mum called out and the boy ran into her arms.

It was a sweet moment in an otherwise bruising press conference for the Labor leader.

It’s understood he will have the afternoon off before attending a dinner with the Hindu community in Parramatta tonight.

Reporter's odd 'afternoon nap' comment

Ally Foster

There was a strange moment in Anthony Albanese's press conference where a reporter appeared to suggest he had been taking regular afternoon naps since returning to the campaign trail.

The reporter started out by noting that the pace of his campaign is vastly different to Scott Morrison's.

Reporter: "[Scott Morrison] is racing between different electorates. It is a slower pace for you. I want to ask, how are you feeling post-Covid? Are you still going to rest into polling day?"

Albanese: "In terms of my health. Look, it is still – I think you have had Covid. It has an impact doesn't it?"

Reporter: "I haven't needed to have a nap in the afternoon. You are running for Prime Minister. Are you match fit?"

Albanese: "Well, yesterday I got up in the morning and did breakfast TV. I went into a smart energy expo in at the Convention Centre, I talked to providers there. I then did a press conference. I then went down and had a meeting with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I then went up to the CPO, the Commonwealth parliamentary Offices and had more meetings. I then went and spoke at a lunch at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and gave a considered, extensive economic speech about a better future and about productivity. I then went into my electorate office in Marrickville and then I did Q&A last night. I think that's a pretty good."

When asked about the napping situation, Mr Albanese's office told news.com.au that the Labor Leader has not been having any afternoon naps.

'I'm in charge': Albo fires up

Ally Foster

Anthony Albanese has fired up at the press pack telling them that he is "in charge" and to wait their turn to ask a question.

Mr Albanese hit back at reporters multiple times throughout Friday's press conference as they clambered to get a question.

"No, I am in charge," the Labor Leader said at one point when one reporter tried to speak over the top of another.

Mr Albanese then fired up again while answering a question about his NDIS gaffe yesterday.

"Let me tell you what the NDIS is about. It is not about gotcha questions. What it is about is providing -" he said before a reporter tried to cut in with another question.

"Hang on. You had your opportunity and now it is my turn to answer. So, just wait," Mr Albanese said.

One reporter even commented on the Labor Leader's attitude today, saying he was "clearly agitated".

"Mr Albanese, there have been moments during this press conference where you have been clearly agitated. Why are you not able to answer our questions? If you
were making funding announcements, for instance, we would have a lot more questions. The focus is now becoming about your blunders. When will you make a funding announcement?" the reporter asked.

Mr Albanese responded by saying he makes announcements on a "regular basis" throughout the campaign and will continue to do so.

"Yesterday I gave a 30-minute speech 30 minute speech to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the presence of 130 business leaders. I haven't got a question about it here this morning," he said.

"I look forward to you reading the speech and maybe asking me a question tomorrow."

‘Oh come on’: Karl hits back at Albo defence

Ally Foster

Today show host Karl Stefanovic has pushed back on accusations of "disgusting" behaviour from the media following Anthony Albanese's slip-up yesterday.

The Labor Leader was asked multiple times to recite the key points of his party's NDIS plan but was unable to answer the question.

Speaking to Today on Friday, National President of the Labor Party Wayne Swan vehmently defended Mr Albanese, slaming "gotcha journalism" and claiming he was being unfairly treated by the press pack.

"He was asked about a media release that was 18 days old. I think the problem we have got here is the Prime Minister is not being subject to the same focus and I also think there is a degree of hostility in the press pack that is not helping. It's not good for democracy and it's not good for debate," Mr Swan said.

"This gotcha journalism with the press pack on the road is disgusting."

Stefanovic then cut in, saying "Oh come on".

"What, asking questions of a person who wants to lead the country is disgusting?" he asked.

This prompted Mr Swan to fire up even more, saying demanding "dumb answers" was the problem.

"I think the sort of prosecution with Anthony Albanese is now at the level that we saw with Julia Gillard and that was a low point in Australian politics," he said.

Albanese returns to Marrickville

Ben Graham

Anthony Albanese is on his way to his own safe electorate in Sydney's inner west this morning, as he looks to bounce back from yesterday's testing press conference.

He'll be meeting disadvantaged residents at the Addison Road Community Centre in Marrickville.

There are around 20 marginal seats up for grabs around Sydney but, this morning at least, it appears the Labor leader is headed to where he already has a large support base.

He'll be holding a press conference later this morning where he'll undoubtedly be asked about the six key points in Labor's NDIS plan.

Pauline Hanson wins 'Mother of the Year'

Ally Foster

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has been declared 'Mother of the Year' by a conservative Christian organisation.

The Australian Mother of the Year award was set up by Family Voice after children's charity Barnardos scrapped the award last year, citing diversity reasons.

Ms Hanson, who has four of her own children and a step-daughter, was chosen due to her "commitment to family and the community and indeed Australia as a member of federal parliament”, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The One Nation Leader told the publication she had no idea she was nominated but she was honoured to recieve the award.

“You’re never over being a mother until the day that you die,” she said.

“The children may be adults but they come to you for guidance and advice and support they need throughout their lives.”

Election 2022 live: Reporter's odd afternoon nap comment to Anthony Albanese

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