Anthony Albanese has bizarrely claimed that Australia’s borders are closed even though they have been open since February.
In an interview on ABC News Breakfast on Thursday morning, Albanese claimed the border closure was helping to keep unemployment below four per cent.
Presenter Lisa Millar asked him: “However, two days before an election campaign, and such a low unemployment rate will surely give the government a boost to their argument about how they run the economy.”
The Labor leader, who hopes to govern the country after Saturday’s election, said: ‘Our borders are closed, Lisa. Our borders are closed. People are doing it hard.
‘This is having an impact on employment figures, we know this is the case. But we also know that people are having a very bad time,” he added.
‘We want an economy that works for people, not people who work for the economy. “That is why we will alleviate the cost of living by offering cheaper childcare and cheaper electricity prices.”
In fact, Australia’s borders have been open to everyone who is double vaccinated, including tourists, since February.
While campaigning in Longford, Tasmania, Scott Morrison took advantage of his opponent’s mistake.
‘You don’t even know if the borders are open or closed. This guy doesn’t know if he’s coming or going,” he stated.
At a press conference later that morning, the Labor leader said he meant the borders were closed.
‘The borders were closed. The borders were closed,’ he said.
‘And I was asked a question about the skills shortage, and one of the things that businesses are saying is that they were affected by the fact that the borders were closed.
‘And in fact, people who were here on temporary visas were told to leave. “That has had an impact on our labor market.”
The strange moment came after Albanese failed to state the unemployment rate or cash rate at an embarrassing press conference on the first day of the election campaign.
Albanese’s campaign mistakes
April 11: He wrongly assumed the unemployment rate was 5.4% and failed to give the Reserve Bank’s interest rate.
April 12th: Admitted that he did not know who the Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, was.
April 13th: He stormed out of a press conference after just 10 questions, two days after saying: “I’m not Scott Morrison, I don’t run away from press conferences.”
May 5th: He was unable to outline his six-point plan for the NDIS until an adviser handed him a policy document to read at a press conference.
may 19: Interestingly, Australia’s borders are closed when they have been open for three months.
Albanese was also accused of “avoiding scrutiny” by not offering to hold a press conference after publishing the costs of his policy on Thursday afternoon.
He was also forced to reverse his decision to get rid of the traveling press group and send them to Canberra.
Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Shadow Finance Minister Katy Gallagher will hold a media conference on costs in Canberra, but the Labor leader will be in Brisbane.
On Tuesday, Scott Morrison called a press conference after Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham released the Coalition’s costs.
When asked if he would do the same, Albanese said, “I’m traveling through five states, five.”
Albanese has launched a last-minute campaign to win marginal seats during the last two days of the election campaign.
The opposition leader will begin the day from Sydney, visiting the Bennelong headquarters, before moving to Brisbane.
Albanese will then target coalition-held seats such as Longman, Dickson and Ryan in Queensland.
The Labor leader said he would leave nothing to chance during the final 48 hours of the campaign.
“Elections are always very close,” he told ABC TV on Thursday.
“Later I will be in South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria over the next few days.”
Australia’s border has been open since February. Pictured: A passenger wearing a mask after a Qantas flight.
The nationwide race is part of a strategy to target 20 marginal seats held by the Liberals.
Albanese will be alongside five of his senior shadow ministers during the sprint to the finish line, including deputy leader Richard Marles, shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers and education spokesperson Tanya Plibersek.
The Labor Party will unveil the costs of its policies later on Thursday after days of speculation.
Albanese outlined $750 million in budget savings during a speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday.
“We have been transparent, every single one of our policies and commitments we have presented costs above anticipated estimates every day,” he told the Nine Network.
“Our bottom line is absolutely responsible.”
With new unemployment data to be announced later Thursday, Albanese said other economic figures have shown an increase in the cost of living.
It comes as new pay data revealed real wages rose by 2.4 per cent last year, well below the inflation level of 5.1 per cent.
“I welcome any drop in unemployment – we’ll wait and see what the numbers show today,” Albanese told ABC.
“The problem is that the government said its strategy around wages was about employment… what we are seeing is that wages are not increasing.”
With AAP
Australian Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese and Shadow Home Affairs Minister Kristina Keneally on Wednesday.