T Sharples, Tweed Heads
Speaking to the media for the first time since Labor’s historic loss (that could easily see ScoMo in power for the next ten years) Bill Shorten now under Albanese’s leadership, blamed ‘powerful vested interests, corporate leviathans and a financial behemoth spending unprecedented hundreds of millions of dollars advertising, telling lies, spreading fear’ that caused Labor’s shock election defeat.
What baloney, Bill. You lost because you underestimated your enemy (you knew all about Clive Palmer). Worse, you failed to sell your strategies (policies) to the Australian people.
‘A fairer Australia’ sounded good but the average punter could not work out whether they were going to be winners or losers because the message was too complicated and that’s your fault. And the fact that the enemy took advantage is again your fault not their fault. And blaming others is very pedestrian (which is why you lost). And, if Labor wants truth in political advertising, let it say so and put up a bill. It’s never done so before?
Meanwhile on the home front, Justine Elliot won Richmond for the sixth consecutive time increasing Labor’s vote in her electorate while it plummeted everywhere else (despite the hurdles), yet she didn’t score a Guernsey? The ALP factions instead gave Bill and his ‘puppet’ acolyte Senator Keneally, top slots with Keneally reaching the heights of the opposition front bench with less than two years in office. Remarkable, what has she ever done except to get Bill to parachute her into a Senate position a year or so ago on the back of a retirement and smile for the media when required. A ‘drover dog’ could get elected as number two on the ALP NSW Senate ticket.
As any coach will tell you Mr Albanese, if you want victory put your best, seasoned battle hardened players on the field; not ‘lipstick’ favourites, and watch your back because based on form to date the next Labor leader will be Kristina Keneally.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
