Music to Albanese’s ears as Morrison changes tune on leadership style

Anthony Albanese used a campaign rally of Labor faithful in Brisbane to ridicule the Prime Minister’s vow to change his leadership style if re-elected.

Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese in Brisbane on Sunday during the Labor Party campaign launch. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Anthony Albanese used a campaign rally of Labor faithful in Brisbane to increase his attack on the character of Scott Morrison, ridiculing the Prime Minister’s vow to change his leadership style if re-elected.

The Opposition Leader said “even Scott Morrison is distancing himself from Scott Morrison” in an attempt to win another term in power.

“He said that if you vote for him, instead of getting another three years of the same, he’ll change,” Mr Albanese said.

In front of cheering Labor supporters, Mr Albanese also mocked Mr Morrison for describing himself as a “bulldozer”.

“Just a couple of days ago Scott Morrison said he was a ‘bulldozer’. I kid you not. His words,” Mr Albanese said.

“A bulldozer wrecks things. A bulldozer tears things down.

“But I’m a builder. That’s just who I am. Who I’ve always been.”

The Labor leader said the public had “worked out” the character of the Prime Minister.

“They know he never steps up, never takes responsibility,” Mr Albanese said.

“He will always go missing when the going gets tough.

“They know Scott Morrison failed on bushfires and they know he failed on floods.

“They know he didn’t order enough vaccines and then didn’t order enough rapid antigen tests.

“They know that the only time frame he thinks about – for anything including himself – is the 24-hour news cycle.

“He will say anything and do anything to get through.”

Other speakers at the Labor rally were former prime minister Kevin Rudd, Brisbane candidate Madonna Jarrett, opposition treasury spokesman Jim ­Chalmers and the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

ALP president Wayne Swan was in the crowd, as was deputy Labor leader Richard Marles and opposition health spokesman Mark Butler.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks to the Labor Party faithful. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

With Mr Albanese using state Labor premiers to help prosecute his campaign, Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland needed a prime minister who was “always on our side when it counts”.

“A future with Anthony Albanese and Labor, where Australia can look ahead together, united, with confidence and optimism,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Or a future of more of the same 10 years of Scott Morrison and the Liberal National Party.

“Where climate change continues to be denied, where our hospitals continue to be underfunded.

“A future with Scott Morrison, where our aged-care system remains in crisis and the NDIS remains shattered and ­broken.”

With polling suggesting Labor was on track to win just one seat from the Coalition in Queensland, Ms Palaszczuk said Mr Albanese “understands us”.

“He’s not going to deny Queensland our fair share, like we have seen from Scott Morrison,” she said.

“Instead of picking fights with us … Albo is someone who will work with me to get the job done for Queensland.”