Le grand tour d'Albanese

I've always subscribed to George Orwell's definition that "Journalism is printing something that someone does not want printed. Everything else is public relations". 

In that spirit, there are two profiles of Australian political leaders that stand out in my memory. The first, published by The Australian in 2008, was John Lyons' lifting of the veil from prime minister Kevin Rudd's anarchic office seven months into his reign as prime minister. The second was Rob Harris' encapsulation of treasurer (and compulsive WhatsApper) Josh Frydenberg in 2020. Both of these pieces rendered a precious service to their readers by revealing to them what was really going on. 

On the opposite end of the scale was Chip Le Grand's profile of Anthony Albanese in The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday. It (yet again) tortured Albo's origin story – public housing, single mother on a disability pension – close to death. Almost without filter it perpetuated his risible self-image as a "careful reformer", so careful that his signature reform, universal early education, is being reserved for his third term! In 5,000 words, it quoted not a single critic, only a panel of glowing allies and confidants. "I think he will go down as one of the greats," effused one, apparently with a straight face.  

We've all been told 200 times that Albo grew up in a brown paper bag – often while we're watching him stuff his face with ice-cream in his $10,000 front row seats at the tennis. Le Grand is capable of so much more than this. Indeed, it sits in striking contrast to his clear-eyed scrutiny of the stricken state of Victoria. In 2023, he singularly convinced Qantas' then chairman Richard Goyder to share a fleeting glimpse of his cluelessness. Coaxing an interview subject to wear his brain on the outside is a special skill. If only Le Grand bothered to use it on the campaign trail.