ALP’s new team get out for Albo

WHILE Anthony Albanese recovers from Covid-19, a rolling roster of Labor politicians will step in for the Opposition Leader and try to minimise the effect of his absence.

But campaign activities scheduled for priority seats in Western Australia have been put on hold.

Mr Albanese is expected to be out of isolation on Thursday, in time for Labor’s official campaign launch.

It is believed that deputy leader Richard Marles, treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers and campaign spokespeople Katy Gallagher and Jason Clare will be the main figures appearing on the trail.

How prominent Mr Albanese

is during his week in isolation will depend on the severity of his illness. He sounded raspy while blitzing television news appearances on Friday afternoon.

He confirmed that Mr Marles would represent him at Anzac Day ceremonies in Darwin at the weekend.

“I’ve had better days, but a lot of people have had it a lot worse,” Mr Albanese said.

“I’m one of the many millions of Australians who have gone through this and I’m just taking the health advice.”

The appearance of Mr Clare – who has been touted as leadership material in the past – proved successful on Friday, when the Western Sydney MP faced the media in a calm and considered outing in stark juxtaposition to Mr Albanese’s stumble-prone performances.

“The boss has got the bug so you’ve got me,” he said.

“It means that Albo will be in isolation for the next week, and it means some changes to the campaign.

“It means that you’re going to see more of Albo’s team, right across the country, talking about our positive plans.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison wished Mr Albanese well but said he was unfazed by Labor’s change of tack.

Internally, those in the Coalition camp say Labor’s campaign pivot will be a doubleedged sword – with the potential to frame other MPs as being better than Mr Albanese while also forcing more scrutiny on to the Prime Minister.

Mr Clare, describing the Opposition Leader’s infection as “almost inevitable”, defended Labor’s campaign strategy saying all proper precautions were taken, including Mr Albanese getting daily rapid antigen tests.

“This is a long campaign. He’ll be back at the halfway mark. He’ll be back when the second half starts in a week’s time,” he said.

“(But) we are not a one-man band. We are a strong, united team and we’ll show that over the next few days.”