Anthony Albanese’s colleagues question his ability to lead Labor as he makes another mistake

Anthony Albanese’s own Labor colleagues are questioning his ability to lead after he made his fifth campaign mistake just two weeks from the polls. See the video.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese’s own Labor colleagues have turned on him just two weeks from the polls saying he has been “found out” over his “cringe-worthy” failure to remember his own National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) policy.

His fifth embarrassing campaign blunder in just four weeks – one of which was spent in Covid-19 isolation – has left some in his own party questioning his confidence and ability to handle stressful situations.

One Labor MP labelled Mr Albanese’s failure to outline his party’s six-point plan to fix the NDIS on Thursday as “cringe-worthy” as he was forced to read from cheat sheets handed to him by staff.

Another said Mr Albanese had been “found out” during his “trainwreck” of a media conference, adding his lacklustre performance casts doubt over his ability to perform under pressure.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese refers to notes during a press conference at the Smart Energy Expo, ICC Sydney. Picture: Liam Kidston

After failing to detail the six points, Mr Albanese instead said what Labor would do “was outlined by Bill Shorten”.

“But Mr Albanese, what are the six points?” he was again asked.

He responded: “We will put people at the centre of the NDIS”.

Mr Albanese was then peppered with more questions including “what is the policy?” and “do you not know what it is?” which he dodged.

Mr Albanese then deferred a question to his Climate Change spokesman Chris Bowen before briefly abandoning the press conference to seek advice from a senior advisor.

He returned to the lectern minutes later to clearly read from a set of notes handed to him. Others within the Labor Party tried to hose the gaffe down, saying the issue was not being raised by voters out on the hustings.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese tours the Smart Energy Council Conference with Chris Bowen and Mark Butler. Picture: Liam Kidston

It was the latest major blunder during Labor’s campaign in which Mr Albanese has repeatedly failed to recall basic information.

On day one of the campaign on April 11, Mr Albanese floundered when asked to name the unemployment rate – stating it was “5.4 per cent” before declaring “I’m not sure what it is”.

Just three days later he was forced to correct his claims that his Urgent Care Clinics policy had been fully costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese addresses the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry lunch, Doltone House Darling Island, Sydney. Picture: Liam Kidston.

And on April 17 was forced to issue a statement clarifying his earlier response on whether he remained committed to Operation Sovereign Borders and in support of retaining temporary protection visas. He later claimed to have misheard the question when he originally answered “yes”.

Thursday’s blunder came just hours after Mr Albanese accused a breakfast TV host of using Liberal Party notes in her questioning of his policy knowledge, labelling a claim he wasn’t across his briefs as “absurdity”.

He was also asked on Thursday if his tendency to call on shadow ministers during press conferences was to avoid answering detailed questions.

He declared the claim was “rather bizarre” and said he was happy to share the spotlight.

“I’m captain of a team, I’m very proud of the team that we have,” he said.

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Originally published as Anthony Albanese’s colleagues question his ability to lead Labor as he makes another mistake