Campaigning Albanese promises to ‘hold the hose’

Anthony Albanese has sharpened his personal attacks on Scott Morrison as he outlines his alternative vision for Australia.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison visits Mt Panaroma on Sunday during the Bathurst 1000. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Anthony Albanese has promised voters an ”affordable and achievable” agenda if Labor wins next year’s election, using a campaign-style speech to sharpen his personal attacks on Scott Morrison and outline his alternative vision for Australia.

The Opposition Leader urged Australians to not trust the Coalition with “another three years of division and inaction” because the Liberals and Nationals didn’t deserve a second decade in power.

Speaking at Wests Ashfield Leagues Club in Sydney on Sunday, Mr Albanese asked undecided voters to put their trust in Labor because the “future success of this nation depends on us winning the next election”.

Reflecting Labor’s shift away from the 2016 and 2019 election failures, dominated by radical economic and climate policies, Mr Albanese said his agenda was ambitious and “just as importantly … affordable and achievable”.

“This summer, the next time someone tells you they still haven’t decided who they’re voting for and they don’t think it will make a difference anyway,” Mr Albanese said.

“Ask them this: do you really think this government led by Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce will get better in its fourth term? Is this as good as it gets? Do you believe, as I do, that Australia can be better? That we can aim higher?”

Mr Albanese unveiled his election slogan, A Better Future in front of ALP supporters and senior Labor MPs including Richard Marles, Michelle Rowland, Katy Gallagher, Tony Burke, Linda Burney and Kristina Keneally.

In one of his most significant speeches since replacing Bill Shorten as leader, Mr Albanese outlined Labor’s election priorities and how he would bring Australians through the post-pandemic recovery.

“I can’t stand here today and promise you that I’ll get everything right. But I can promise you if I get something wrong – I’ll own up to it. I may not always be the smoothest talker – but I can promise you I’ll always tell it straight,” he said. “I won’t run and hide from responsibility. I won’t go missing when the going gets tough.”

With ALP strategists believing Labor was gaining traction in undermining the character of the Prime Minister, who they view as their greatest threat given his campaigning prowess, Mr Albanese attacked the “cynical space in which Scott Morrison operates”.  “He chooses to divide. He chooses to play politics. He chooses to pit people against each other. To pit state against state,” he said.

“Australians have been simply magnificent. You have rolled up your sleeves and done your part. Because in Australia, in tough times, every one of us has to ‘hold a hose’.”

Mr Morrison, who visited the Bathurst 1000 Supercars event and toured flood-affected regions in central western NSW on ­Sunday, said while Mr Albanese was “campaigning and politicking back in the inner city” he was ­listening to those who had been “devastated” by floods.

In his speech, Mr Albanese outlined a future for Australia where “no one is held back and no one is left behind”, and focused on how he would drive productivity and increase stagnant wages to grow the economy.

“A better life for working families: stronger Medicare; cheaper child care; better aged care,” he said. “Secure jobs: better pay; fair conditions; investment in skills and education. A future made in Australia: renewable energy; manufacturing and a proper ­National Broadband Network.

“And a country at home with our identity: celebrating music and the arts; cherishing the ABC and SBS. One which makes good on the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

“This is my vision for our country’s future.”