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West Australian
21-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Labor campaign director and national secretary Paul Erickson reveals strategy behind landslide election win
The mastermind behind Labor's historic election victory has said Anthony Albanese being in the 'form of a lifetime', a hyper-targeted strategy across states, and Peter Dutton 'missing every opportunity' were among his recipe for success in a long-term plan. Outlining the behind-the-scenes strategy that delivered at least 93 lower house seats, ALP national secretary Paul Erickson was scathing of the Coalition's campaign, accusing it of being consumed by culture wars and guided by flawed readings of Tony Abbott's 2013 landslide and the failed Voice to Parliament referendum. He said his team etched a stark contrast between Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton, portraying the PM as 'steady, authentic, and measured', while describing the turfed former Opposition Leader as 'gloomy', 'downcast', and most animated when 'magnifying Australia's problems'. 'From the first Monday of January through to election day, the Prime Minister was in the form of a lifetime,' Mr Erickson said. 'Albo was in his element, connecting with everyday people. While the Prime Minister was telling a positive story about who we are and where we're going, Peter Dutton was gloomy about the country. 'In contrast, Peter Dutton promised to drag the country backwards. Back to the relentless, infected division of culture wars. 'Peter Dutton never missed an opportunity, to miss an opportunity.' He said Labor won big in 2025 because Australians accepted two simple arguments: First, Mr Albanese was the only leader with a plan to make Australians better off over the next three years and in uncertain times, Mr Dutton represented 'an unacceptable risk'. He said several uncontrolled external influences played into the campaign, but played to Mr Albanese's hands as 'critical leadership tests', including Donald Trump's liberation day tariffs, ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and ANZAC Day neo-Nazi incidents. It resulted in a thumping majority win for the party and the first election since 1966 where the incumbent party didn't lose a seat. However, it came despite boasting a historically low 34.6 per cent primary vote. 'In the campaign, you're not so much focused on trying to drive up that number as you are trying to run the strongest possible campaigns in all the places that they need to be in to get to a majority,' he said. 'In a world of a declining primary vote for major parties, it means that there's no such thing as a safe seat. You have to make sure that you're running the strongest possible candidates and campaigns everywhere in the country.' Throughout his address Mr Erickson also delivered an extensive thank you to his team and for creating 'the only CHQ (campaign headquarters) I've ever seen that people didn't want to leave'. In a list of lessons he handed down to the embattled Opposition, he urged the now fractured Coalition to abandon its nuclear energy policy. The policy had played a huge role in Labor's paid communications in the final stretch, including their headline 'He cuts, you pay' campaign. He urged the Liberals to instead embrace the economic opportunities of the energy transition. 'They operate in an echo chamber,' he said. Mr Erickson criticised the Coalition's strategy of maintaining unity at all costs, resulted in 'lowest common denominator' policies. 'As a result, the ideas that the Coalition put forward in the term and in the campaign were a pitiful crop, cultivated in the poor and infertile patch of common ground the Coalition agreed to stand on,' he said. He said a 'misread' of the Voice to Parliament reject had convinced the Coalition that a 'century-old reluctance to change the constitution, represented a realignment of Australian politics and an endorsement of their narrow world view'. He highlighted their approach of opposing everything Labor proposed and trading middle-class urban supporters for potential gains in outer suburbs. '(They chose to) trade in their middle class supporters and urban electorates for a path to victory built on frustration with inflation in the outer suburbs and regions,' he said. The party was more focused on claiming 'front-runner status' than explaining their vision and 'what they would do if they won'. Teal threat and review Mr Erickson also committed at the Press Club address to reviewing the Teals attempts to take Labor-held seats. He acknowledged the close calls in electorates like WA's Fremantle and ACT's Bean with independent challenges but said it wasn't a local phenomena but more of a broader trend. 'There's no such thing as a safe seat anymore,' he said. 'We were not surprised to see those independent challenges emerge. We'll be having a look at what that means and how we campaign to me It reinforces them as such thing as a safe seat.' Kate Huelett on Wednesday warned her narrow loss to Labor's Josh Wilson in the formerly safe seat 'really feels like a turning point' in Teals targeting Labor seats: 'I think this is a real warning shot'. Mr Erickson revealed Labor dedicated resources to counter the Greens, especially after their 2022 successes in Queensland. He said the Coalition's blocking strategy meant for the past three-year term, Labor had to 'deal with' the Greens, who he claimed were also intent on blocking Labor policies. 'The sore points after the 2022 election for Labor was the recognition that we had underestimated the threat from the Greens,' he said. Mr Erickson dismissed right-wing group Advance's claims of knocking Greens out of seats, including their former leader Adam Bandt in Melbourne. He suggested their messaging was ineffective compared to Labor's efforts and more about appealing to donors than actually influencing progressive voters. 'Content that Advance were putting out about the Greens, it was a very different quality that was making them a much harsher marketing argument. 'I think it had more to do with appealing to the views and concerns of their donors than it did to actually having an impact among progressive votes.' Mr Erickson said Labor invested heavily in reaching voters through emerging media platforms, working with influencers to meet voters where they were. 'The media landscape has changed, that's clear. It's continuing to evolve, and the pace of change is accelerating. 'We also tried to connect with lots of new and emerging forms of media, new content creators, podcasters, things like that, and made the effort to be everywhere.' He said the Prime Minister also had a better relationship with the traditional media through the press gallery and was available to the travelling press pack multiple times daily as well as addressing the National Press Club in the final week of the campaign. Asked about misinformation around advertising Coalition's potential Medicare cuts, known as Labor's 'Mediscare campaign', Mr Erickson stood firmly behind Labor's advertising, stating they were comfortable with their assertions. 'On truth in political advertising. It's been in our platform since 2021 that Australia needs a truth in political advertising framework,' he said. 'I'm sure that all of the ads that we ran in this campaign would have sailed through (the current political advertising framework). 'There's some very good questions to work through there. I'm sure that the Joint Standing Committee on electoral matters will take that up as part of their inquiry into the election. 'There's a set of really important questions that need to be worked through about who the umpire is, how the process works, what the penalties and the sanctions are, because you've got to get the balance right, and you don't want to end up having a dampening effectt.' He was also asked if Labor would use their new-found political power with a majority of at least 93 in the lower house and a friendly Senate for major reform which unions and business have called for. Mr Erickson said Labor would stick to the policy agenda they presented at the election and cautioned them getting ahead of themselves. 'I think that there was a lot of ambition in the plan for the next three years. We need to be stay very round and just stay focused on delivering the agenda that we were elected on, and I think that that's that is where the focus has been over the first few weeks, and that's where it needs to remain.' In the final weeks, Labor's tracking polls showed voters believed the Coalition had 'told the most lies' during the campaign. 'Our tracking poll found that voters believed that Labor's campaign was more focused on the issues that mattered,' he said. 'Labor was the best party to make them personally better off over the next three years by a margin of 12 points. The Coalition had told the most lies during the campaign by a margin of five points. And the Coalition ran the more negative campaign by marking the 11 points. 'These results are the ultimate indictment of the Coalition's closing focus on cultural wars instead of cost of living.'
West Australian
07-05-2025
- West Australian
‘Concerned': Alarming note issued by Brisbane Council
Tents in a well established homeless encampment in inner city Brisbane have been slapped with eviction notices by the local council, while landscaping works occur around their dwellings. The Brisbane City Council have plastered stickers on tents in Musgrave Park, located in South Brisbane, warning owners that if they were not collected by May 7, they may be confiscated or disposed of. 'If you need help with housing options, please contact the Safe Communities Team on (07) 3403 8888,' the notice said. The park is currently undergoing works in preparation to host the Paniyiri Festival held from Saturday May 17 to Monday May 19. Throughout the festival, the park will be temporarily fenced off to the public, and only those who have purchased a ticket will be allowed access. A Brisbane City Council spokesperson said the move-on orders aligned with a new approach to homelessness in the city outlined in March, and were unrelated to the festival. 'Brisbane residents have grown increasingly concerned about the violence, drug use and anti-social behaviour occurring in tent encampments in parks,' they said. 'As a result, we're taking a calm, measured and considered approach with the Department of Housing, Police and Queensland Health to get people out of dangerous encampments and into safe accommodation.' The homeless encampment at Musgrave Park has received widespread attention after multiple attempts to remove the tent city by Brisbane City Council failed. In March this year, Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner outlined a new policy whereby in instances where people camping in parks refuse accommodation or assistance, they would be asked to move on within 24 hours. At the time, Mr Schrinner said he believed most campers were 'homeless by choice'. He said that the people in the homeless encampments refused assistance from the Council and other organisations during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, and that accommodation was available to them. Greens Councillor Tina Massey said the removal of vulnerable people from Musgrave Park ahead of this year's Paniyiri festival marked a 'harsh and regressive shift' from the inclusive planning of previous years. 'Dutton's vision for Australia continues right here in Brisbane under the cruel leadership of Lord Mayor Schrinner,' she said. 'I urge the Lord Mayor and Premier to stop criminalising homelessness and start investing in real solutions. We need more social and affordable housing, not more fines and forced relocations.' Greens Senator Larissa Waters urged the Lord Mayor to reconsider his approach to tackling homelessness in Brisbane. 'It is appalling The Lord Mayor of Brisbane is striking vulnerable people sleeping rough with this heartless policy. 'Criminalising poverty is never a solution to poverty. What people without homes need are homes. 'We have the tools to really fix the crisis in this country and the Greens urge all levels of government to use them.' A spokesperson from local charity Northwest Community Group said Brisbane City Council and event organisers for the Greek Food Festival have not adequately provided support to those who are being relocated for the events. 'The festival is an annual event, usually they have a special area put aside for people experiencing homelessness but this year they are just kicking everyone out,' they said. The Northwest Community Group has organised a sit-in at the Park on Wednesday May 7, calling for event organisers to consider the needs of the homeless people who will be forced to relocate. 'People were left in the dark about what was going to happen and where they were meant to go,' a post to the group's social media said. 'The festival footprint maps were not finalised until the day the fences went up, and they were never shared.' In October last year, Brisbane City Council cut the electricity to two homeless tent cities at Musgrave Park and Kurilpa Point Park, leaving them without access to power outlets or barbecues. At the time, Greens Councillor Trina Massey said: 'This callous act denied people sleeping rough the ability to cook food on BBQs or charge their phones – possibly leading to missed calls with offers of housing from the Department of Housing.' 'The removal of power has already made our parks less safe for all community members. Rough sleepers are now resorting to potentially much more dangerous gas based equipment to enable them to cook meals, the most basic of human rights,' she said. 'I've already been told that a gas canister has exploded.'
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussies still cautious as retail trade creeps higher
Consumer spending continues to tick higher, albeit at a sluggish pace, especially in supermarkets and grocery stores. Retail trade rose 0.3 per cent in March for a strong annual pace of 4.3 per cent, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on Friday. The data implies that a Reserve Bank cash interest rate cut in February had little impact on spending in March. That cut to 4.10 per cent was the first in four years. "Retail spending continues to grow at a steady pace, with food-related spending in supermarkets and grocery stores the main driver of growth," ABS business statistics head Robert Ewing said. "Supermarket and grocery store sales were especially strong in Queensland, where households stockpiled essentials in anticipation of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred." Turnover for the month totalled $37.3 billion. Food retailing had the largest rise in turnover, up 0.7 per cent, along with other retailing, while sales fell 0.5 per cent for cafes, restaurants and takeaway food, along with services and department stores. Spending on clothing, footwear and accessories rose 0.3 per cent in the month. Retail spending grew in all states in March except Queensland, which was in the midst of Alfred. "The extreme weather early in the month led to significant disruptions for businesses and households throughout Queensland," Mr Ewing said. "These included temporary business closures for many retailers, particularly cafes and restaurants, while people were also advised to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel." The statistics bureau also released the producer price index, a measure of inflation for sellers of goods and services. It rose 0.3 per cent in the March quarter to be up 3.7 per cent over the year. The retail spending figures will play a role in the Reserve Bank's next decision on May 20 on monetary policy, AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said. The current market consensus is for a cut of up to 25 points on the day, taking the rate to under three per cent.
RNZ News
26-04-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Severe thunderstorm warning for Northland lifted
MetService's rain radar as of 6.13am on Sunday. Photo: Supplied / MetService A severe thunderstorm warning has been lifted for the Far North. MetService's weather radar had detected them near Kaitaia, the Maungataniwha Range and Victoria Valley early Sunday morning. "These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the southsoutheast, and are expected to lie near Mangamuka, Broadwood, and the Maungataniwha Range at 07.22 am and near Rawene, Mangamuka, and Kohukohu at 7.52 am," MetService said. The thunderstorms were expected to be accompanied by torrential rain, it added. The forecaster said no thunderstorms had occurred in Northland overnight, but the potential for periods of heavy rain, thunderstorms and possible downpours continued on Sunday. On Saturday night, MetService added a yellow severe thunderstorm watch for Northland, which was already under a yellow heavy rain watch. It will be in place from 8pm Saturday to 3pm Sunday, warning of: "periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and downpours possible. Amounts may approach warning criteria and possibly exceed them about isolated areas, especially in downpours." ️Rain has arrived in Northland. Warm, moist air is being pulled over the country over the next couple of days by a low in the north Tasman Sea. ⛈️There is a risk of thunderstorms and downpours for the upper North Island during this time, so keep up to date with the latest… Many parts of Northland and Auckland have been hit hard by heavy rain, storms and flooding this month, first in early April , then last week, by the rain-sodden and slow-moving ex-Tropical Cyclone Tam weather system . Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula - and the areas surrounding them - could also have heavy rain and thunderstorms heading their way this weekend, too, MetService forecasters said. "An active front will lie slow-moving close to the north of the North Island over the next few days... Warm, moist air is being pulled over the country ...by [the] low in the north Tasman Sea." People are advised to stay up-to-date on the latest changes to the forecast, on MetService's watches and warnings page . Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
26-04-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Severe thunderstorm alert for Northland Sunday
MetService's rain radar, at about 7:30pm Saturday. Photo: Supplied/ MetService MetService has added a yellow severe thunderstorm watch for Northland, which was already under a yellow heavy rain watch. On Saturday night, the heavy rain watch was in place for the period until mid- Sunday afternoon. Forecasters warned of: "periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and downpours possible. Amounts may approach warning criteria and possibly exceed them about isolated areas, especially in downpours." The yellow severe thunderstorm watch added on Saturday through until about 3pm Sunday, to emphasise the risk posed by thunderstorm conditions in Northland. The storms could affect people at the top of Northland from 10pm Saturday, before spreading south to Dargaville and Whangarei by 6am Sunday. "Downpours of 25 to 40mm per hour are possible in localised places - and may occur regardless of whether there is thunderstorm activity or not," forecasters said. That could lead to hazardous driving conditions, poor visibility, flooding or slips. The forecasters noted that the conditions bringing the heavy rain came with "a lot of uncertainty", and it was hard to tell how much rain could be on the way, and where it might fall. ️Rain has arrived in Northland. Warm, moist air is being pulled over the country over the next couple of days by a low in the north Tasman Sea. ⛈️There is a risk of thunderstorms and downpours for the upper North Island during this time, so keep up to date with the latest… Many parts of Northland and Auckland have been hit hard by heavy rain, storms, and flooding this month, first in early April , then last week, by the rain-sodden and slow-moving ex-Tropical Cyclone Tam weather system . Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula - and the areas surrounding them - could also have heavy rain and thunderstorms heading their way this weekend, too, MetService forecasters said. "An active front will lie slow-moving close to the north of the North Island over the next few days... Warm, moist air is being pulled over the country ...by [the] low in the north Tasman Sea." People are advised to stay up-to-date on the latest changes to the forecast, on MetService's watches and warnings page . Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
