Why John Howard’s take on election day one made most sense

Whether voters want to stick with the devil they know or gamble on an unproven leader remains to be seen. But let’s focus on policy and not personality politics this election, writes Rae Wilson. Take the poll.

Former Prime Minister John Howard claimed day one of the election campaign for me.

When journos quizzed Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on everything from the cash rate to the unemployment rate, he conceded he could not be accurate on the spot.

It came after questions about the price of bread and a litre of petrol stumped Prime Minister Scott Morrison in February.

The Albanese ‘gotcha’ moment led just about every news outlet in the country but Mr Howard said it best when asked about the brain fart.

“So what,” Mr Howard told a media pack.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese stumbling over questions at a media conference in Launceston, Tasmania on his first stop of the federal election campaign. Picture: Sky News

Yes, Albanese’s economic credentials must be on show, especially since the Coalition campaign is basically – ‘we’re not perfect but our track record is better than Labor’.

But like Mr Morrison, he would have a whole team around him briefing him more extensively if he was leading the country and he would likely have a finance minister at the top of her game.

Mr Howard did walk back his reaction to an extent when interviewed later.

“The context is that he’s not regarded as being the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to economics and because the Labor Party doesn’t have a well-developed economic plan,” he told Sky News.

Former Prime Minister John Howard speaking during a Leadership Matters breakfast on April 12, 2022 in Perth, Australia. Picture: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

“A stumble like that is magnified because it’s emblematic of the state of affairs.

“Now if that had been a mistake made by say, Paul Keating when he was Prime Minister or leader of the opposition, treasurer, well people would have said ‘so what’ and moved on because he was regarded as having strength in that area.”

Whether voters want to stick with the devil they know in Mr Morrison or gamble on an unproven leader in Albanese remains to be seen.

But I hope we can focus on the policies this election instead of personality politics and petty hits at the other side.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Sydney visiting SpanSet who make products for safety equipment including harnesses slings. Picture: Jason Edwards

What can our government do to ease cost of living and housing burdens while ensuring our economy is in good shape?

How can we balance net zero policy aims with the need to keep food on the table in regions like Mackay that rely on coal industry jobs?

Dawson MP George Christensen will run in third position on the One Nation Senate ticket in the upcoming election. Picture: Daryl Wright

How can the Feds support us in diversifying our skills and training so we can innovate for the time when thermal coal jobs are greatly reduced?

And now, we also need to ask our outgoing Dawson MP George Christensen how he thinks he can best serve us if he succeeds running third on the One Nation Senate ticket.

Over the weeks to come, we will – in print and online – ensure it is your voice, the voice of everyday Queenslanders, that gets the ear of the politicians and so drives the agenda, and gets the answers.

It is during election campaigns that politicians listen. What needs to change? Make yourself heard.

Originally published as Why John Howard’s take on election day one made most sense