Albanese fails to recall NDIS policy details as Morrison pushed on Solomons relationship

Anthony Albanese failed to recall the details of a major policy at a press conference, on the same day Scott Morrison was again evasive on when he had last spoken to his Solomon Islands’ counterpart, during a morning of tense interactions with the media.

Under a barrage of questions, the Labor leader was initially unable to name the six points of his party’s plan to improve the national disability insurance scheme, and was later handed briefing notes by an advisor.

During his own tetchy press conference, the prime minister also refused to answer questions on the Solomon Islands relationship and whether he was a “toxic” presence for Liberal MPs in inner-city seats.

“We will continue to ensure our relationships are managed well,” Morrison said, as he was peppered with questions over the security pact between China and the Solomons.

On day 25 of the election campaign, the major party leaders both held press conferences at the same 9.30am timeslot (AEST); Morrison from the seat of Parramatta, and Albanese at a clean energy conference in Sydney.

The second question Albanese received was about the NDIS, with pledges to improve the support system being a key plank of Labor’s election platform. At a press conference on Wednesday, Albanese had boasted of Labor’s “comprehensive plan announced by [shadow minister Bill Shorten] with six points”. On Thursday, Albanese was asked what the six points were.

“The six points are what we will do in terms of what was outlined by Bill Shorten,” the Labor leader said.

“What that is about is making sure that we take pressure off people who are, at the moment, having their programs cut. We will make sure that there is administrative efficiency. So much is being wasted by the claims that are going forward with legal battles for individuals. What we will do is put people at the centre of the NDIS.”

Repeatedly pressed by journalists for “the other five points”, Albanese could only respond “we will put people at the centre of the NDIS” four times in a row.

Later, when the shadow energy minister, Chris Bowen, stepped up to the podium to address a question on his portfolio, Albanese was handed a briefing book by an advisor.

“Are those the six points that you have to be handed to you by your advisor?” one journalist asked, as questions returned to the NDIS. When another journalist claimed “you don’t know your policy document”, Albanese responded: “That is not right.”

One journalist said “we just saw you – it’s on camera”.

Albanese flipped through the book, running his finger down a page as he appeared to search for information on the NDIS, before reading out the policy.

“Our policy on the NDIS is to defend and fix the NDIS, lifting the NDIA staffing cap, doubling existing funding for advocacy, fixing regional access and stopping waste… it’s to put people at the centre of the NDIS,” Albanese said.

The “six key measures” published in a Labor press release on 19 April included “Labor will revitalise the National Disability Insurance Agency”, “Stop the waste”, “Boost efficiency”, “Stop the unfair cuts”, “Fixing regional access” and “Put people back into the NDIS”.

A plan to “double existing support for disability advocacy”, as cited by Albanese, was not listed in the top six measures but under a separate list “beyond these major initiatives”.

The Liberal party’s official Facebook page posted about the awkward exchange five times in the three hours after the press conference, with one post claiming Albanese “can’t answer simple questions about his own policy”.

In his own testy press conference, Morrison rejected claims that the Coalition had neglected Australia’s relationship with Solomon Islands, and evaded questions about scathing criticisms from the country’s prime minister Manasseh Sogavare.

In an address to Solomon Islands parliament, Sogavare did not directly cite Australia, but pushed back on rhetoric that his country was in the “back yard” of any other nation – and claimed his country had been “threatened with invasion”.

In several terse answers, Morrison curtly responded “no” when asked if his own rhetoric had inflamed the situation and denied the Coalition’s “Pacific step-up” policy had failed.

“I am following carefully the advice I get from our security intelligence agencies in how we are responsibly managing the issues in relation to this matter,” Morrison said when asked why he hadn’t directly spoken to Sogavare in recent times.

The PM also declined to say exactly when he had last spoken to his Solomon Islands counterpart, saying only “I have had contact with him in the last few months”, despite repeated requests for more detail from journalists.

Morrison also dodged questions on whether he was intentionally avoiding visiting inner-city seats like Wentworth and North Sydney on campaign stops, despite Liberal MPs in those electorates facing stiff challenges from climate-focused independents.

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“I don’t outline my program in advance. You all know that. That is how campaigns work,” Morrison said.

He did not respond to follow-up questions on whether he had “given up” on seats like Wentworth and North Sydney.

“I am focused on the contest between Labor and Liberal, and myself and Mr Albanese,” Morrison said.

Albanese has been criticised by some media travelling on his campaign for continually switching the “rules” by which he runs his press conferences.

On Wednesday, he said “everyone gets one question”, declining to answer double-barrel questions and claiming “I was criticised by some of the media yesterday for giving you more than one”.

On Thursday, journalists on the Labor campaign bus pointed out Albanese did not take a question from every reporter present and wound up his press conference after only 18 minutes.

Morrison’s press conference went for about 28 minutes. Both men retreated despite more questions being called by journalists.