Labor leader Anthony Albanese has argued “everyone” has a motive to advocate for a particular election outcome while refusing to identify the “vested interests” he claims played a role in Labor’s defeat.
The Conservative Party saw Bill Shorten’s post-election blame game after last month’s election a bring just another example of leftist paranoia which proves how incredibly out of touch the Labor Party is with common sense Australian, yet new leader Albo is perpetuating that disengagement.
The Australian reports, the Opposition Leader last week agreed with Bill Shorten that “vested interests” had influenced Labor’s dismal election result, but has repeatedly been unable to reveal those who conspired against the party.
Speaking to journalists in Brisbane yesterday, following a shadow cabinet meeting, Mr Albanese repeated claims that United Australia Party leader Clive Palmer was one of those who campaigned against him.
Mr Palmer, who did a preference deal with the Coalition, is believed to have spent more than $50 million in an advertising blitz in the lead up to the May 18 poll.
“That’s what election campaigns are about – people defend their interests,” Mr Albanese said.
“Here in Queensland, of course, Clive Palmer in particular ran a very big campaign.
“Everyone has a vested interest: trade unions, employers, different groups in society will campaign for their interest but they will also put forward a view that says this is in the national interest.”
Asked who specifically was against him and what impact they had on the election outcome, Mr Albanese said: “You can work that out. People engage in campaigns.”
The Opposition Leader appeared frustrated at the line of inquiry, suggesting it was a “trick question”. He reiterated that “everyone” had an interest.
It was the second day in a row that Mr Albanese skirted the issue by refusing to clarify what he meant when he said he agreed with remarks made by Mr Shorten.
Speaking to his colleagues after the election loss, Mr Shorten, who was widely tipped to win government, blamed the outcome on opposition from sections of the media and corporate Australia.
“We were up against corporate leviathans, a financial behemoth spending unprecedented hundreds of millions of dollars advertising, telling lies, spreading fear,” Mr Shorten said. “They got what they wanted. Powerful vested interests campaigned against us, through sections of the media itself, and they got what they wanted.”
Last Friday, Mr Albanese told Nine’s Today program he agreed with Mr Shorten. “There is no doubt that vested interests did play a role,” he said. “But we also have to accept our responsibility that some of the policies that we put forward clearly didn’t connect with enough people.”
