How ‘quiet genius’ cemented himself at heart of ALP leadership

The man at the helm of the campaign that delivered Labor its biggest victory in decades has cemented himself at the heart of ALP leadership.

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The man at the helm of the campaign that delivered Labor its biggest victory in decades is being described by his party colleagues as a “quiet genius” who has now cemented himself at the heart of ALP leadership.

Paul Erickson was appointed as Labor’s national secretary following the devastation of 2019, left to pick up the tattered pieces of a party that lost the “unlosable election”.

But just six years later, the former unionist has steered Labor through not one but two election wins, both with Anthony Albanese offering himself up as prime minister and a party discipline that senior Labor figures said they had never seen before in an election campaign.

“He’s got the best elements of a national secretary, so no nonsense, but he also has a bit of fear about it as well,” one senior Labor source said.

“He doesn’t schmooze or go out to dinner or coffee with people, right? He’s not one of those.

“But when he calls you, or when he says something, you listen. I’d describe him as a quiet genius”.

Labor national secretary Paul Erickson at the National Press Club.

Born in Victoria, Mr Erickson completed a bachelor of arts and diploma in economics before going on to join the ACTU and becoming head of research and data for the organisation during the 2013 election.

He has also worked in the NSW and Victorian state governments, advising several Labor ministers including Peter Batchelor, Richard Wynne and Carmel Tebbutt.

One Labor source familiar with the party’s campaigns going back decades said that when Mr Erickson was chosen to join the national secretariat he was simply “the obvious choice”.

Paul Erickson, ALP national secretary, at Anthony Albanese’s election night function held at Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Looking around at who we could have gotten into that job, he was so clearly the obvious choice and the thing about him … is he has done sort of the ‘apprenticeship’ needed before working all the way up to the senior level,” the Labor MP said.

“But the other big thing is his personal characteristics. He is calm and very thoughtful. The way he thinks about things is very, very deliberate.

“At the same time, he can really draw a hard line. He’s not afraid to draw that line you absolutely can’t cross.”

While described as “a bit cold” and “not exactly personable” by colleagues, Labor figures all agreed on the point that Mr Erickson simply didn’t need to be.

“I don’t need you to be my best friend, but tell me what to do, tell me what to say,” a Labor MP said.

“He has this clear thing of actions have consequences and he makes you want to do the right thing … even if that’s not always what you want to do.”

In paying homage to Mr Erickson, Mr Albanese said on Saturday night that the Labor figure had been a “magnificent campaign director” while managing to become a first-time-father.

“Paul has run an outstanding campaign and … he managed to become a dad during the campaign,” Mr Albanese said.

The birth of Mr Erickson’s first child is not exactly common knowledge. No social media posts, no tweets or showmanship about one of the other big days of his life.

“That’s just him,” a Labor MP said.

“He just never thinks of himself as the story and would be horrified if that took up an inch of column that should be for … our message.

“He’d just think ‘why do people want to know about that?’ A lack of ego is a rarity in that role.”

And it’s a role he is likely to have for some time to come, with the two decisive Labor wins which occurred under that quiet but forever watchful gaze prompting colleagues to hope he never leaves.

“It’s a matter for him obviously, but for us we’re thinking ‘please, please don’t leave, because whatever you’re doing it’s working’.”