Australia’s PM vows to ‘empathise’ more if re-elected
Sydney, Australia – Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday he will ‘ empathise’ much more if he wins May 21 elections but was accused by the opposition of making a desperate political manoeuvre.
Morrison, whose conservative government lags in the opinion polls a week before the vote, admitted a day earlier that he had been a ‘bulldozer’ to get things done during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I know there are things that are going to have to change with the way I do things because we are moving into a different time,” he added.
On Saturday, Morrison renewed his promise of personal change.
The Australian leader said he would seek to ‘explain my motives and my concerns and empathise a lot more - but I tell you what, at the end of the day what matters is I get the job done’.
Morrison said he had to make unpopular decisions and act quickly during the pandemic, adding: “I am looking forward to changing the gears of our government.”
It is a change from the campaign stump message he has delivered to voters until now: ‘You may not like me’, coupled with a summary of his plans and achievements, notably fighting the virus and boosting economy.
‘Desperate statement’
A Newspoll released on Friday showed the opposition Labour Party leading the ruling LiberalNational Party coalition by 5446 per cent on a two-party basis - barely changed from a month ago.
“I don’t believe this prime minister can change. That’s a desperate statement that he made,” opposition Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese told reporters. The opposition leader also reacted angrily to a Sydney Morning Herald report that he had been kept out of the loop during Australia’s negotiations to obtain nuclear-powered submarines in an alliance with the United States and Britain.
US President Joe Biden’s administration had repeatedly asked Morrison’s team to ensure bipartisan support in Australia for the alliance, dubbed AUKUS, the paper said, citing White House officials.
Instead, Morrison reportedly waited more than four months before briefing the opposition on the deal. After being informed, Labour supported the agreement.