The secret plan to save Anthony Albanese from COVID - and what happens if he catches it

It’s the campaign catastrophe that no one in Labor wants to talk about publicly: what happens if Anthony Albanese catches COVID-19 during the federal election?

Prime Minister Scott Morrison tested positive for COVID at the start of March and, after a week of illness and isolation, returned ready to hand down the budget and call the election.

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese.Credit: Getty

But Mr Albanese has not caught coronavirus, and with the election due to be called in a matter of days, the opposition leader will hit the campaign trail – where he is likely to meet scores of voters every day – at risk of contracting the virus.

Last week, manager of opposition business Tony Burke returned a positive result and went into isolation. Mr Burke works closely with the opposition leader on a range of matters, including parliamentary tactics, and the pair had spent considerable time together.

A day later, Mr Albanese’s chief advancer tested positive for the virus too. That’s despite the opposition going to much greater lengths, such as regular tests and mask wearing, than the government to protect the leader, and themselves.

Labor staff were even told to not go out to pubs or bars after the opposition leader’s budget reply speech on Thursday night, to lessen the chance of people picking up an infection.

If, or when, Mr Albanese contracts the virus he will have to enter a week of isolation and stop campaigning when the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Labor has already issued strict protocols for journalists who will join him on the trail: to get on board the Albo bus, you have to be triple vaccinated, wear an N95 mask in most settings and take a rapid test every three days. Anyone who tests positive is off the bus. The rules for the Morrison bus are less strict – essentially, it’s follow the rules of the state or territory you’re in.

The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age spoke to seven senior Labor MPs about what other contingencies were in place to try and manage the situation if the leader, and figurehead of the campaign, falls ill.

None would speak on the record as they were not authorised to do so, but the MPs confirmed the campaign has war-gamed what to do if Mr Albanese catches COVID.

Senior shadow ministers including Richard Marles, Penny Wong, Jim Chalmers and Mark Butler will play a more prominent role if Mr Albanese is sidelined, taking on the job of being the leading spokesperson for the party on a particular day, depending on what the issue might be.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese have different COVID-19 rules for media on their campaign buses.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Albanese, if he is well enough to do so, will conduct campaign events via video conference and potentially also press conferences. And it is also possible that a senior MP, perhaps Mr Marles as deputy, could take over the leader’s campaign plane and take the travelling media pack with him, too.

As one MP put it, “we have been working through every contingency for a while now, like we did for budget week”.

“Morrison has had it [COVID] but Albo hasn’t, so it’s another wild card in the campaign for us.”

With the Prime Minister lagging behind the opposition leader in all the opinion polls, every possible advantage – such as Mr Albanese being unable to campaign for a week – will be welcomed by Mr Morrison.

For Labor and its leader, COVID-19 is yet another risk to manage during the campaign.

Stay across the most crucial developments related to the pandemic with the Coronavirus Update. Sign up for the weekly newsletter.