Mental blank: Albanese forgets his lines again as he fumbles policy pitch
Anthony Albanese has failed to list the six points of his party’s NDIS platform, with his adviser handing him his policy brief midway through a press conference.
The Labor leader has been under attack for not knowing his brief ā an accusation he denies ā but failed to outline his plan when repeatedly questioned by journalists on Wednesday.
āWhat (the plan is) about is making sure that we take pressure off people who are at the moment having their programs cut,ā he said.
āWe will make sure that thereās administrative efficiency. So much is being wasted. We will put people at the centre of the NDIS in all of our programs.ā
After being handed his policy brief and stalling while he flipped through the pages, Albanese read through the six points.
Laborās six-point plan includes lifting the staffing cap and urgently reducing insecure labour-hire arrangements; stopping spending waste on the excessive use of lawyers; boosting efficiency; stopping any cuts; fixing regional access; and co-designing changes to the scheme with the sector.
Albanese earlierĀ fended off suggestions he was avoiding commenting on the specifics of Labor policy, by referring questions to other party officials.
āThere was a reportĀ the other day that said, āAlbanese gives housing question to housing shadow ministerā and we all just had a chuckle and could not believe how, frankly, strange that spin was,ā he told the Nine Network.
āThis is one of the most bizarre things Iāve ever seen. Iāve answered questions each and every day. Iām the captain. Iām proud of my team.ā
Albanese also says he remains open to the possibility of working with independent MPs, spruiking his past experience in the Gillard and Rudd governments when Labor worked with the cross bench.
āMy aim is to get people to vote Labor, to elect at least 76 members of the House of Representatives ā¦ and if that occurs, I will give respect not just to the crossbenchers, but to the other side as well,ā he told ABC radio.
āThatās the way that I operated as leader of the government in the House of Representatives during the Gillard government, treating people with respect.ā
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Albanese insists Labor remains committed to its carbon reduction target when asked on a proposal by crossbenchers to raise the emissions reduction target to 60 per cent by 2030.
The Greens and some independents have indicated a key demand will be stronger emissions reduction targets in the case of a hung parliament.
āOur policies are 43 per cent by 2030. What Iām interested in is the implementation of our policy,ā Mr Albanese said.
āWe donāt have the same policy as the independents or the Greens or the Liberal Party.ā
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