Anthony Albanese NDIS question wasn’t a gotcha, it was a Dorothy Dixer

Illustration: Johannes Leak

So now Anthony Albanese is being brought down by gotcha journalism.

But when did asking the leader of a major political party a basic question about one of their chief policies become a “gotcha’’ question?

If anything Thursday’s question about Labor’s NDIS plan was the other end of the spectrum - it’s what is known in the trade as a Dorothy Dixer.

Please sir, tell us what you are going to do if you get into office?

Labor leader Anthony Albanese refers to his notes during a press conference accompanied by Chris Bowen. Picture: Liam Kidston

The only problem was the Opposition Leader didn’t seem to know ... He couldn’t name the six points of his NDIS plan on Thursday and had to refer to notes hurriedly handed to him by a minder to complete the answer.

The spin from Labor is that politics is not a pop quiz.

It wasn’t a mistake, Albanese told the ABC’s Q&A, he wasn’t given the opportunity to answer the question properly.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese flicks through a folder during yesterday’s press conference. Picture: Sky News

What a load of rubbish. What happened to his vow at the start of the campaign to own up to his mistakes?

Scott Morrison may not hold a hose, but Anthony Albanese doesn’t hold the answers to basic questions.

Labor is already trying to win office on one of the lightest policy agendas in living memory.

You’d think the least the leader could do would be to learn the few facts that he’s put out there for voters and be able to recite them back.