Federal election 2022: Anthony Albanese’s lips sealed on Labor policy costings

It was an attempt at media management that ended in chaos when Anthony Albanese cut short a press conference.

It was an attempt at media management that ended in chaos.

Anthony Albanese abruptly cut short his press conference at a railway manufacturing facility on the hustings in Perth after refusing to answer several questions about his policy costings.

Dissatisfied members of the press pack chased after the Opposition Leader, continuing their interrogation after he brushed off questions on the size of projected ALP deficits.

“Isn’t there a problem with transparency here, Mr Albanese?” said one journalist in pursuit of the Labor leader as he walked silently out of the nearest door.

“We are following you for answers Mr Albanese. And you are now just not giving them,” said ­another.

During the preceding short press conference, a frustrated Mr Albanese had attempted to deflect at least seven questions on his costings by arguing they would be officially unveiled on Thursday.

With the Coalition releasing its costings on Tuesday morning, one journalist said the release of Labor’s costings on Thursday would give voters only 48 hours to decide which policy platform they preferred ahead of polling day on Saturday.

“There’s no point announcing it now,” Mr Albanese said. “I want you to be there on Thursday. I don’t want to disappoint you.”

But the tactic failed.

The incident exposed Mr Albanese’s ongoing struggle to maintain control over the travelling media pack as well as his economic narrative. It also played straight into the Morrison government’s political argument.

Anthony Albanese, left, with Kerry Stokes in Perth on Tuesday. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Speaking on Tuesday morning, Josh Frydenberg declared: “What is Anthony Albanese hiding from? The answer is proper scrutiny.”

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan, who was campaigning with Mr Albanese in the seat of Hasluck, faced the cameras after the presser was cut short to make further remarks.

But, after asking whether there were any questions for him, the Premier was forced to stand by awkwardly as journalists raced after the federal Labor leader.

“I will just wait until this ­madness finishes,” Mr McGowan quipped.

Just four days out from polling day, Mr Albanese’s handling of the press pack has become a daily test of his ability to control the political optics of his own campaign.

He has resorted to favouring journalists for questions if he deems them to be “polite” and “quiet”.

“He got the call first because he was quiet and you’re getting the call next because you’re quiet too,” Mr Albanese said on Tuesday.

Campaigning in the west on Monday, he also told journalists: “I’ve got a polite incentive scheme going on here.”

Mr Albanese’s approach is in stark contrast to that of Scott Morrison, who speaks loudly over the top of journalists’ attempts to interject, with the Prime Minister on Friday likening himself to “a bit of a bulldozer”.

He has also faced criticism from his political opponents for an apparent failure to retain his composure and detail his own policies during pressure-filled doorstops.

Mr Morrison said last week that he “just unzips his head and just lets everything fall on the table”.

In the first week of the ­campaign, Mr Albanese was caught out wrongly guessing the national unemployment rate and being unable to identify the official cash rate.

Two weeks ago, he was unable to nominate his own six point plan for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Mr Albanese is likely to face further questions on projected ALP deficits, with the Opposition Leader booked in for a set-piece address to the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.

That comes after The Australian previously revealed that Labor’s deficits were projected to be $10bn higher over the forward estimates.

“All of our costings will be outlined on Thursday,” Mr Albanese said. “We’ll have more announcements to make, including a reference to some of these issues at the National Press Club tomorrow (on Wednesday).”

He also hit back at Mr Morrison, accusing the Prime Minister of trying to evade media scrutiny.

“You might like to consider this … we have a Prime Minister who isn’t even giving you the respect, as the national press gallery, of appearing at the National Press Club before an election.”