After romping home at the polling booths in his inner-western Sydney electorate of Grayndler, Labor MP and renowned DJ Anthony Albanese now has his eyes squarely on the Opposition Leadership.
After current Opposition Leader Bill Shorten announced plans to step down as party leader following his shock defeat at the hands of ScoMo and the Coalition in yesterday’s election, Albo has publicly declared his desire to have a crack at Labor’s top job.
Fronting reporters on Sunday arvo at Balmain’s Unity Hotel, Albanese admitted the election result was a pretty disappointing one for the ALP.
“What matters more to me is the future. The future of our party and making sure that we face up to the big challenges that we face as a nation,” he said, adding that he believes himself to be the right choice to captain the ship.
“I will be asking the members of the caucus and the party for their support. I think Australians know me, I’ve been around in politics now for two decades,” he continued.
“I sometimes get things wrong, if I do that, I’ll say that’s the case. I’m someone who can take on the other side of politics in a vigorous fashion.”
“What you see is what you get with me. For better or worse, I’m a bit rough at the edges but I think that Australians don’t want someone that just utters talking points so from time to time, I will not be as articulate as someone who’s simply reading from a script.”
Plus, you know, he also quotes Grinderman, Tom Waits and Chuck Berry in parliament, , spins Polish Club and saves Aussie bands from breaking up, which is something we can definitely get behind.
Definitely preferable to certain other pollies who can’t name a single AC/DC song to save their life IMO.
Anyhoo, during the chinwag, Albo also tipped his hat to outgoing leader, Bill Shorten.
“I want to pay tribute to his team and his staff members, they worked incredibly hard,” he said.
“Let me tell you, Opposition Leader is the hardest job in politics. No question that is the case. Bill Shorten has done it with distinction over the last six years and he has my respect for the job that he has done on behalf of the party.”
Shorten will remain as Labor’s interim leader until the party picks a replacement.
