ALP review: Labor in denial on policies, says Morrison

Scott Morrison has accused Labor of being in denial about the policies they took to the election.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday. Picture: AAP

Scott Morrison has accused Labor of being in denial about the policies they took to the election, declaring the opposition failed to win the so-called “unlosable” election because they “spoke down” to their constituents.

Speaking to Sky News on Thursday, the Prime Minister said the Coalition’s ability to “speak clearly” to the aspirations of Australians was a key factor in its re-election. “We, I believe, spoke very clearly to the aspirations of Australians. They know things are hard ... but Australians have an irrepressive optimism and I don’t think they (Labor) understand that. That’s what I thought they spoke down to.”

Mr Morrison said he believed the ALP review, released on Thursday, seemed to have “60 ­excuses” as to why Labor’s policies weren’t behind the loss.

“Their policies weren’t where Australia wanted to go and they seemed to be in denial about that.”

Earlier, Richard Marles refused to say Bill Shorten was unelectable and suggested the former Labor leader’s unpopularity was the “least significant” finding of the ALP election review.

The deputy Labor leader, who maintained that Mr Shorten could have won the election despite Labor’s defeat, said he accepted “collective responsibility” for the result. “I think we could’ve won the election with Bill as leader. What the review makes clear was that this was a complex landscape. There were many factors,” he told Sky News.

Mr Marles conceded Labor had lost its base by failing to be “clearer” in its messaging about how the ALP sought to run the country and manage the economy.