‘Underdog’: Albanese defends himself after poll horror
Labor leader Anthony Albanese responds after polling released on Monday showed Labor’s primary vote behind that of the Coalition.
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Anthony Albanese has played up his underdog status and defended himself after a week of damaging missteps and a disastrous new poll slump.
The Labor leader was in Brisbane on Monday, where he visited families affected by the recent devastating floods.
However, his partner Jodie Haydon, who accompanied him during yesterday’s visit to the flood affected region of Bangalow in the NSW Northern Rivers region and to Bluesfest in Byron Bay, was notably absent.
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During a press conference held in the backyard of a recently-flooded family home – a last-minute location change after LNP protesters bearing signs with the slogan “It won’t be easy under Albanese” gatecrashed a planned stop in Frew Park – Mr Albanese defended himself as he attempted to reset his election campaign, which had been marred by a string of fumbles and own goals last week.
As the presser kicked off, he was grilled by journalists about a new poll which revealed the ALP’s primary vote had dropped by four points, and insisted that the party was going into the election as “underdogs”.
“I’ve consistently said that it’s a mountain that Labor seeks to climb. A mountain it seeks to climb because we have only done it three times since the Second World War,” he said.
“It’s always tough for Labor to win from Opposition, so we know how tough it’s going to be.
“But we also know our obligation to get there, to climb that mountain. Because if we’re going to defend Medicare, if we’re going to defend secure work, if we’re going to be taking action on climate change, if we’re going to look after people in disasters, we need a Labor government.”
He was also asked about the mixed reception he received at Bluesfest in Byron Bay last night, where he was booed by audience members as he introduced rock icon Jimmy Barnes on stage.
“Well, it was a terrific night last night and I thank Barnesy for the invite to Bluesfest and he gave a great set. And it’s fantastic that the arts and entertainment sector that were left behind during the pandemic, they didn’t get enough support, are getting back on their feet,” he replied.
“I’m not a commentator. What I know is that Australia needs a new government,” he said soon after, when a reporter again asked about the frosty reception from festivalgoers.
“Australia needs a better future, and the feedback that I get around the country, whether it’s in Cairns, whether it be in Byron yesterday ... is that Australians really know that this government’s tired.
“It’s out of puff, it’s out of time. It doesn’t have an agenda for this term let alone a plan for the next one. We have a plan for a better future.”
There was also an increase in personal attacks against the Prime Minister, with Mr Albanese claiming Scott Morrison had an unwelcome “pattern of behaviour” when Aussies needed him the most.
It was an obvious pivot from week one, in which Mr Albanese had largely steered clear of lashing his opponent, instead aiming to draw attention to Labor’s policies.
“If Scott Morrison is re-elected we can expect cuts to health, cuts to education, cuts to other essential services because this is a Prime Minister who only defines action by what’s in the short-term political interests of himself,” Mr Albanese said.
“But what we saw from the federal government, whether it be bushfires, floods or the pandemic, is a real pattern of behaviour.
“Scott Morrison, when, after the election in the 2019-20 bushfires, went missing. And he failed to act soon enough, and he only acted when the political pressure was really put on.
“On the pandemic, he said it wasn’t a race and didn’t order enough vaccines, and we know that not only were we not at the front of the queue, which Mr Morrison said, we were way, way, way at the back of the queue.
“And, on floods, we saw again a political response rather than a human response.”
He was also asked repeatedly about how Labor planned to staff GP and other health clinics following a string of recent healthcare announcements.
After several questions on the issue, Mr Chalmers stepped in to claim the ALP’s policy for Urgent Care Centres was “about taking pressure off emergency departments” and was based on “work done by the Parliamentary Budget Office”, with costings to be “finalised and released” in time.
Mr Albanese, Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Senator Murray Watt and Labor candidate for Brisbane Madonna Jarrett then paid a visit to the nearby Newstead Brewing Company, which had also been impacted by the floods.
During the stop, Mr Albanese tucked into pizza and beer – indicating it was perhaps a cheat day after his recent health kick, which has seen the Opposition leader shed more than 18kg – spoke with employees, and mingled with the press who have been accompanying his campaign.
Originally published as ‘Underdog’: Albanese defends himself after poll horror
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