An anonymous ‘Labor insider’ has allegedly unloaded on Anthony Albanese, branding the Prime Minister ‘weak’, ‘arrogant’ and an ‘intellectual buffoon’.
The jaw-dropping accusations, supposedly from a political staffer, have emerged in a glowing profile of Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek by LGBT website Q News.
‘Compared to Tanya, Albo comes across as an ineffectual buffoon,’ the anonymous ‘Labor insider’ was quoted as saying.
‘He’s weak, he’s arrogant, he can’t handle criticism and he’s not connecting with the electorate – to the point where Peter Dutton, of all people, could win the election.
‘Albo’s been a disaster.’
Ms Plibersek, 55, laughed off suggestions she might challenge for Labor’s leadership, and told the website she has a ‘huge job with the environment portfolio and I love it’.
‘And I’m just so pleased to be part of the Labor government because I believe it’s only ever Labor that changes the country for the better,’ she added.
‘I’m not sitting around worrying about what I’m not doing. I’m very focused on what I am doing.’
An anonymous ‘Labor insider’ has allegedly unloaded on Anthony Albanese (pictured with Tanya Pilbersek), branding the Prime Minister ‘weak’, ‘arrogant’ and an ‘intellectual buffoon’
Pressed on whether she could see herself in the Lodge, she said: ‘I will be a senior member of a Labor government if I am re-elected, and if the party wins federally. I can say that.’
In the glowing profile, which asked ‘why isn’t this woman put in charge?’, Ms Plibersek shredded Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
‘The worst thing would be the election of a Dutton government,’ Ms Plibersek said.
‘He’s opposed wage rises, he’s opposed just about every cost-of-living measure we’ve had. He’s argued against tax cuts for lower and middle-income earners.
‘Dutton has made a career of trying to divide. He talks about people being scared to go out for dinner in Melbourne because of African gangs. He’s talked about too much Lebanese migration.’
She added: ‘He was the guy who walked out on the national apology [to the Stolen Generations in 2008]. He was one of the very few Liberals who actually did that.
‘This is a man who thrives on division. He confuses anger and strength. You can be strong without being angry.
‘Just look at the track record.’
The jaw-dropping accusations from a supposed political staffer, which emerged in a glowing profile of Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek (pictured) by fringe LGBT website Q News
The uneasy relationship between Mr Albanese and Ms Plibersek, which dates back years, is well-documented.
The pair, who both belong to the Labor party’s left-wing faction, hold neighbouring inner-city Sydney electorates and served as ministers during the Rudd-Gillard years.
But they subsequently clashed over support for Bill Shorten, with Mr Albanese blaming Ms Plibersek for scuttling his own chances of leadership.
The rift continues to this day, despite Mr Albanese being forced to ‘absolutely’ deny it as recently as December after he shelved her ‘nature positive’ environment laws.
An election must be held on or before May 17, with the PM’s preferred election date of April 12 now under threat from Cyclone Alfred.
Monday is the latest the PM can call the election for the April 12 poll date, and ongoing fallout from the cyclone is now set to make that unlikely.
The Prime Minister’s office declined to comment.