Anthony Albanese facing questions about why Daniel Andrews has not been involved in his campaign
Daniel Andrews has been a notable omission from Anthony Albanese’s tour of Victoria, fuelling speculation about the Premier’s “toxic” image.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has campaigned publicly with every Labor State Premier except Dan Andrews.
The absence has sparked serious questions about whether the Premier’s stringent Covid lockdowns have made him too toxic in the outer-suburban seats his federal team is trying to win.
Mr Andrews is also under increased pressure to stand down amid revelations he has been secretly grilled in a second anti-corruption probe.
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan – whose tough border policy increased his popularity during the pandemic – was front and centre at Labor’s campaign launch at Perth’s Optus stadium on Sunday.
New South Australian Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas was also in the front row as Labor hopes to leverage their popularity and win key seats in both states to gain a majority government.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was also out with Mr Albanese in Brisbane on Monday for the Labour Day march.
But on Wednesday when Mr Albanese visited the marginal seat of Chisholm in Melbourne’s east and Cooper in the inner north, Mr Andrews was nowhere to be seen.
The Saturday Herald Sun asked Mr Albanese when Daniel Andrews would be out campaigning with him.
Mr Albanese said he assumed, because the state budget was handed down on Tuesday, that parliament was sitting. However, it was not.
“I certainly will be campaigning with Daniel Andrews during this campaign,” he said.
But it’s not the first opportunity for the leaders to join forces during the campaign.
When Mr Albanese announced federal Labor’s major promise to open 50 urgent care clinics nationwide at a “strengthening Medicare rally” in Melbourne alongside members of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.
The opposition leader is also campaigning for a federal anti-corruption commission “with teeth” that would have scope for public hearings.
But on Friday it was revealed that Mr Andrews’ has been grilled over his association with property developer John Woodman, who is under investigation for allegedly corrupt land deals.
It is the second time Mr Andrews has been called before Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission for private integrity hearings.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy has again repeated his call for Mr Andrews to stand down.
“Daniel Andrews needs to do the decent thing and stand aside until IBAC hands down its report,” he said.
The revelations come amid concerns the Premier’s handling of the Covid pandemic could affect federal Labor in outer suburban seats, as voters angry about vaccine mandates turn to the United Australia Party and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.
But Labor sources say they haven’t detected any major issues with Mr Andrews, and that research tells them support for UAP was falling.
They claimed that while Mr Andrews was a polarising figure, the anti-vax movement made a lot of noise for a small group.
Instead they said it was hard to get leaders’ diaries to align, adding they would like to see the pair out together.
Mr Albanese on Friday addressed speculation that McEwan in Melbourne’s north, held by Labor MP Rob Mitchell by 5.3 per cent, was at risk.
“The Prime Minister is trying to put out there that seats like McEwen are marginal seats,” he said.
“The truth is that Rob Mitchell will win with a considerable margin in McEwen.”
One Labor MP told the Herald Sun it was a tactic to get Labor to boost resources and spending in the seat.
A picture of Mr Albanese and Mr Andrews enjoying a barbecue last year prompted a wave of conspiracies online about whether the gas was on because there were no flames.
Mr Albanese’s office was asked if the pair met on Wednesday afternoon but did not respond.
More Coverage
Originally published as Anthony Albanese facing questions about why Daniel Andrews has not been involved in his campaign
‘I got cancer before the biggest school years of my life’
On the cusp of the most serious school years of his life, St Bernard’s College student Sebastian Khoury received a shock cancer diagnosis that disrupted his study plans.
Stamp duty slashed on apartments in major new housing push
Stamp duty will be cut for all apartments, units and townhouses bought off-the-plan as the Allan government moves to make it easier to buy and build homes. Here is how the scheme will work.