The good news for Anthony Albanese’s Labor leadership is that Richard Marles is defending him. The bad news for Anthony Albanese’s Labor leadership is that Richard Marles is defending him.
It is always a good thing when a deputy opposition leader defends the opposition leader but it can be a bad thing, depending on the reason.
Marles’s motives were pure. His assessment of the May election failure was correct.
His vision of an appeal to the aspirational middle class was sound and the timing of his decision was perfect — just as Albanese had a big victory in effectively ejecting his union bete noir, the CFMEU’s John Setka, from the ALP.
MORE: Richard Marles writes we need an effective ALP | Marles lashes Bill Shorten’s ‘politics of division’
Support for the new leader was essential; ensuring the blame for the election loss rested on Albanese’s predecessor, Bill Shorten, was crucial; and support for a new long-term vision of job creation and aspiration was fundamental.
Marles, Labor’s Treasury spokesman, said: “In June, Anthony unveiled a new ministry and leadership team that is united. And together we have been listening to the voters who thought of supporting Labor on May 18 but ultimately chose not to.
“The message from those voters is that they are tired of the politics of division, and want to hear from Labor about how we will apply our values to putting the national interest first.”
A new team, a new start, a recognition that voters turned from Labor, a rejection of the politics of division and a positive set of values about jobs.
But the problem, the bad news, is that Marles was compelled to declare that the leadership team is “united”.
As soon as someone in the leadership team says they are united, there is an immediate recognition of disunity.
It’s like a pilot calling back to the passengers to “remain calm” — the result is instant fear, apprehension and panic.
Albanese can see the destabilisation, probably without any clear aim and just a combination of loss, frustration and protecting reputations, but it also has to be put down before it gets out of control.
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