Coronavirus: no place for Albanese in cabinet of actual leaders

The calls for Anthony Albanese to join the national cabinet are misconceived, misplaced and smack of seeking political relevance despite claims the opposition is not seeking to politicise the coronavirus crisis.

The national cabinet is not a war cabinet which includes members of the opposition as members of the government and it is not a rebadged COAG leaders meeting. It is a formally constituted federal cabinet committee, the members of which are heads of government.

As members of the cabinet, the nine elected executive leaders decided to keep the membership of the crisis club to government heads — people who could make decisions and exchange information confidentially.

The Prime Minister has no power over the other jurisdictions and they maintain their rights to act independently — as they are — but at least in consultation.

Different states and territories will have different responses to match their particular needs — the Northern Territory’s concern for remote indigenous communities, the fact that Tasmania is an island or that NSW is a virus hot spot — and difference doesn’t mean failure.

But the idea of including opposition leaders — not just Albanese — would double the membership of the cabinet and create a partisan atmosphere which doesn’t add any executive decision-makers. Opposition leaders are parliamentary leaders and have a role in keeping the government to account, amending legislation and making constructive suggestions.

But a member of a decision-making cabinet can’t then turn around publicly and call for different decisions as Labor and Albanese have over testing for coronavirus, suggesting the criteria be changed.

It’s perfectly reasonable for Albanese to question government action, and it is incumbent on Morrison to include Albanese in briefings. But Albanese can’t operate as Opposition Leader one minute and as a decision-maker in the national cabinet the next.

Albanese and all those other opposition leaders may be frustrated but becoming a 10th wheel is not the answer.