Dennis Shanahan
Anthony Albanese: Toto and Souths trump serious answers around Brittany Higgins, Katy Gallagher
Does Anthony Albanese really think a more than $2 million compensation payment and the allegations of politically weaponsing a rape allegation and the indigenous voice to Parliament and executive government are not “serious issues”?
Of course not.
But is he prepared to use every bit of his long political expertise to manage the media, avoid serious questioning and only talk about his chosen topics - preferably the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league team?
Of course he is.
What’s more the Prime Minister is also prepared to exaggerate his availability “for lots of press conferences about broad things”.
This is especially the case when the Labor Government is in lockdown about any questions relating to Katy Gallagher misleading the Senate over what she knew about the Brittany Higgins’ allegations of rape before they were public, any more details about the hundreds of times Labor asked about the rape allegations and the procedures and proportionately of the government compensation payment to Higgins.
On Thursday morning Albanese had a legitimate and important reason to call a press conference in the Prime Mminister’s courtyard of Parliament House in announcing the cancellation of the Russian Embassy plans for a new building.
But the rest was media management: only 30 minutes’ notice of the press conference; holding the press conference against the deadline of introducing the new legislation and; telling journalists only questions about “serious issues” would be allowed.
When asked respectfully - after a question on the embassy - about transparency on the Higgins’ payout Albanese’ response was a wave of the hand and a declaration: “Look, we’re dealing with this issue today. It’s actually a serious issue”.
Then, after more questions about the embassy and ALP conferences which he answered, Albanese was asked about the “trajectory of the Voice” and said: “Can we just ask questions about this, if that’s okay? I do lots of press conferences about broad things but ...”.
He then, despite warning that he only had minutes left, answered more questions about the Russian Embassy.
As for the claim he “does lots of press conferences about broad things “ the fact is he gives few press conferences in the Prime Ministerial courtyard where the full press gallery can attend and is more inclined to do FM radio interviews and talk about the “bunnies” and Toto - his dog - or give a press conference in regional areas.
A press conference on the cancellation of the Russian Embassy was a genuine reason for the PM to come into the courtyard but his efforts to restrict questions while appearing to be readily available to give answers needs to be noted.
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