‘Why isn’t Jason Clare running for PM?’: Anthony Albanese stand-in ignites Labor base

Stepping in for Anthony Albanese, the Labor MP delivered a cameo that ignited the party’s base and left some asking why he wasn’t leader.

“Well the boss has got the bug, so you got me,’’ Jason Clare quipped as he opened his first dig as stand-in for Anthony Albanese, who has been forced off the election campaign with a Covid infection.

Mr Clare, Labor’s 50-year-old housing spokesman from Paul Keating’s old NSW seat of Blaxland, delivered a cameo that ignited Labor’s base, lit up its Facebook page and left some asking by the end of the press conference why he wasn’t the party’s leader.

Asked if people seeing more of Scott Morrison on the campaign trail with the Opposition Leader in isolation was a positive or negative for Labor, Mr Clare delivered a one-liner that would have made Mr Keating proud.

Jason Clare on Friday. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“Voting for this government again, after they’ve been in power now for almost a decade, would be like staying in a taxi that’s run out of petrol. It won’t take you where you need to go.’’

Having the focus on Mr Morrison was “a positive for the campaign,’’ he went on. “The more they see of Scott Morrison, the more they will realise this government has run out of puff.”

After two weeks of shouty, stumble-prone performances by Mr Albanese, Mr Clare was calm and considered. He quipped and jabbed and, in the process, delivered something of a reset for the Labor campaign.

Later, Mr Clare, press bus in tow, toured flood-damaged agricultural business in the western Sydney seat of Macquarie.

Jason Clare tours the ultra-marginal Labor seat of Macquarie, on Sydney’s western fringe. Picture: Tim Hunter.

With Mr Albanese in isolation until Thursday, Labor’s campaign duties will be shared among the frontbench. Meanwhile, Mr Albanese will do television interviews – he did several on Friday afternoon – in a bid to keep his campaign on track.

At his press conference, Mr Clare was asked a tough question about Labor deputy leader Richard Marles playing down the prospect of Chinese bases in the Pacific and suggesting Pacific ­Nations should be able to deal with whatever countries they want, including China.

Showing some nimble political skills, Mr Clare replied: “Let me give you another quote – ‘China provides a real stability to the region and, frankly, the world economy and stable growth from China is good news for Australia and the global economy’.

“Who said that? Scott Morrison,’’ Mr Clare said.

Asked if Mr Marles’ comments made Labor’s position hypocritical given its attacks on the government’s handing of Solomon Islands’ decision to sign a security pact with China, Mr Clare paused and reframed the debate.

“I take the opposite view. I think this (Mr Marles’ comment) is hard-headed. Understand what China is up to. Expect they’re going to be in there trying to ­assert influence. And make sure we respond.’’

Labor’s Facebook page lit up after the press conference. “Why isn’t Jason Clare going for PM, we will have a better chance to win,” one viewer said. “Jason what magic stuff! You would make a great PM!” another wrote.

“Jason Clare’s responses are clear and forceful. Sadly, the contrast with Albo is significant, who presents as insipid and hesitant,” wrote another.

Asked at the end of the press conference “Are you not the Labor leader that many people have been looking for?”, Mr Clare laughed before answering: “The short answer is Anthony Albanese is the leader this country desperately needs.” Then he added: “It’s time to give Albo a go.”