Political credibility is built on mastering policy detail

It should go without saying that being prime minister of Australia is a big job that requires special talents. Top of the list is being able to understand complex ideas, retain important facts and co-operate with others to deliver the best outcomes for the nation. Incumbent ministers have an advantage at election time because they have spent years deeply involved in the minutia of policy detail in their respective portfolio areas. The prime minister must have a deep understanding of issues across the board, as must the treasurer who is responsible for delivering the funds that make the wheels of government turn.

Anthony Albanese has deep experience at the top of government. As a former minister responsible for infrastructure, Mr Albanese would appreciate the difference that well targeted and delivered projects can make. As Opposition Leader, Mr Albanese cannot reasonably be expected to be infused with the same level of detail on current government activities as senior Coalition members. But having had the benefit of time away from the responsibility of delivering policies in real time, Mr Albanese should be expected to know intimately the detail of opposition policy that he hopes to introduce. Being able to argue the detail of these policies is what elections should be all about. Without detail there can be no mandate.

For this reason it is extraordinary that Mr Albanese appears not to be across the fundamental numbers such as the unemployment rate and cash rate that set the parameters within which a government can act. Mr Albanese’s inability to recall these details on the first full day of the campaign can be excused as unfortunate but not fatal. His inability on Thursday to recall the details of Labor’s six-point plan for the National Disability Insurance Scheme is more worrying. This is particularly so given that, days before, Mr Albanese highlighted the NDIS as a great Labor initiative from Julia Gillard and his predecessor, Bill Shorten, and he pledged to protect it as well as Medicare. Not knowing the detail is no small matter given the NDIS now costs more than Medicare, and those costs are rising in tandem with increased demand for community care. At this stage of the federal election campaign, the issue is much bigger than a brain freeze on Labor’s six-point plan for the NDIS. It is an indicator of Mr Albanese’s capacity for detail. No doubt Mr Albanese’s lapses of memory have come as an unwelcome and unexpected surprise for many on the Labor campaign team. Corrective measures have been taken with Mr Albanese now accompanied by senior colleagues when questioned by the media. The ALP has attempted to turn its negative into a positive with the claim this demonstrates the depth of Labor’s talent.

For voters, however, it is Mr Albanese who is supposed to be out in front holding the hose. The contrast is a confident Scott Morrison who, with the benefit of incumbency, clearly has an advantage as well as an uncanny ability to retain and recall detail. There is no doubt Mr Albanese is experienced and capable, and he has had some important and challenging roles during his career in politics. But the evidence from the campaign to date is that he is neither properly prepared nor hardened for the task. Voters recognise the challenges and special qualities that are required to be prime minister.

This is why they do not change government often. When they do it is usually to reward a candidate who can demonstrate the energy, passion and confidence needed for the job. This includes knowing the detail. Mr Albanese is ahead in the polls but has two weeks to convince voters he is serious about policy and the demands of the high office he seeks.