PM in waiting fails to inspire

ANYONE else out there feeling drained?

If not, you should be.

After two years of Covid, alongside bushfires, floods and a war in Europe, the last thing anyone needed was a marathon, six-week-long federal election campaign.

Still, by this time Sunday, the votes will be in and, if polls are anything to go by, Anthony Albanese will be Australia’s next Prime Minister.

While no one can deny Prime Minster Scott Morrison has made his fair share of blunders, it’s also fair to say that, as Opposition Leader, Mr Albanese, has been less than inspiring.

Not being a fan of Mr Morrison is one thing, but the big question on most people’s lips is how Mr Albanese will cope if he does take out the top job.

If the past six weeks is anything to go by, not too well, I’d say.

For Mr Albanese, in politics for 26 years, three years as Opposition Leader and aspiring to the prime ministership, you would have thought he’d have at least brushed up on the basics before hitting the campaign trail.

But no, he was “good to go”.

Just as long as he didn’t have to answer questions from pesky reporters.

It all started on day one when he had no idea what Australia’s unemployment rate or cash exchange rates were.

Day two, he had no idea who Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner was.

On day three, he walked out of a press conference after only eight minutes, refusing to answer questions despite having earlier promised to take all questions.

Then he was caught out telling porkies about his role in the Hawke government claiming he was an economic adviser when in reality he was a junior research officer.

On day four he had to clarify comments that he would turn back boats and therefore would not need refugee centres.

He pledged $135m to be spent on super clinics to keep people out of hospitals.

He claimed his plan had been fully approved by the Royal Australian College of Medical Practitioners and fully costed by the PBA. But the Royal Australian College of Medical Practitioners slammed the idea, saying it had neither been consulted nor given full approval. Nor it seems had the plan been fully costed by the PBA.

On Easter Sunday, when asked if he supported the Coalition’s sovereign borders policy and the retention of temporary protection visas, he replied “yes”. But later backtracked, saying that while Labor supported offshore processing, it did not support temporary protection visas.

If anyone was looking for a bit of clarity, it was never forthcoming.

This week he fled from a press conference, refusing to answer a question, leaving an embarrassed and humiliated West Australian Premier Mark McGowan to pick up the pieces.

It was poor form, especially from the man knocking on the door to The Lodge.

Then on Thursday, he twice told an ABC interviewer

WHILE NO ONE CAN DENY PRIME MINSTER SCOTT MORRISON HAS MADE HIS FAIR SHARE OF BLUNDERS, IT’S ALSO FAIR TO SAY THAT, AS OPPOSITION LEADER, MR ALBANESE, HAS BEEN LESS THAN INSPIRING.

Australia’s “borders are closed” despite our borders being open since February.

So it does beg the question.

How will Mr Albanese cope leading this country if he cannot get across the most basic of details and is gun shy when it comes to press conferences?

Is he seriously up to the job, or will he just continue to do a Forrest Gump and keep on running.

Hang on to your hats folks, we could well be about to find out.