Labor loss ‘more than franking credits’: Bowen

Ahead of the release of Labor’s campaign review, Chris Bowen has urged against blaming Bill Shorten, or a single policy, for the loss.

Opposition Health spokesman Chris Bowen. Picture: AAP

Chris Bowen has refused to pinpoint his proposed franking credit crackdown as a major reason for Labor’s May election loss and also urged against putting too much blame on Bill Shorten.

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Labor’s former Treasury spokesman, who was the architect of the controversial franking credits policy, said the result was “more complicated than one particular element”.

“I don’t think it is as simplistic as you know one policy or one particular group. If you look very closely at the swings to and from the Labor Party in different areas I think that indicates a more complex and nuanced issue. ” Mr Bowen told ABC radio.

“We struggled with traditional Labor Party voters … blue collar workers who don’t have franking credits, who aren’t retired.

“We thought we needed to invest more in health and education and tax cuts for low income earners and that the franking credit system was unsustainable.”

Bill Shorten. Picture: AAP

Mr Bowen, who took over the health portfolio after the election, would not say whether the ban on cash refunds for franking credits should be scrapped.

“That’s a matter for us to work through collectively as a shadow cabinet,” he said.

Mr Shorten has issued regret about adopting the franking credits policy and declared it was an electoral vulnerability.

Ahead of the campaign review report being released on Thursday, Mr Bowen also said it would be a mistake to put too much of the blame on the result on the former Labor leader’s unpopularity.

“Bill has taken responsibility as leader for the defeat. That’s the right thing that he did there,” Mr Bowen said.

“But I think it would be a big mistake just to say ‘Oh well it was all down to Bill Shorten’ when the leadership is just one factor. Bill worked his guts out across the country. Nobody could have work harder than Bill to make himself a viable alternative.”