Helping or haunting, past PMs pop up on campaign trail
Dominic Giannini |
While some former prime ministers like to keep a relatively low profile, others are front and centre on the hustings in a bid to sway votes.
Liberal and Labor stalwarts have campaigned in different capacities since the election was called, with appearances and political pleas set to ramp up in the final week.
All living former Liberal prime ministers attended the coalition campaign launch, with Tony Abbott and John Howard hitting the hustings alongside Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and local candidates in marginal seats and tight contests.
Mr Abbott was with Mr Dutton at the Anzac sunset tribute at the Opera House and has appeared on conservative media to attack the government and spruik his party’s policies.
He’s also hit the campaign trail in Queensland and South Australia, and at Penrith in Sydney’s outer west on Monday.
Mr Howard campaigned with Mr Dutton in Sydney’s northern beaches, appears on corflutes endorsing Bennelong candidate Scott Yung and made the trip to the new seat of Bullwinkel in outer Perth.
Mr Morrison has been active on social media, promoting Liberal MPs and candidates including Simon Kennedy in his former seat of Cook, and appeared with Mr Dutton at St Charbel’s Monastery in western Sydney on Good Friday.
Malcolm Turnbull, who has made no secret of his disdain for Mr Dutton after he challenged his prime ministership in 2018 and toppled his government, has been more of an agitator.
Mr Turnbull has been critical of the decision to acquire nuclear-powered submarines from the US, as well as leaders not standing up to President Donald Trump loudly enough and the coalition’s nuclear energy policy.
A former media adviser to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cast doubt on whether rolling out leaders from almost two decades ago would influence the contest.
“John Howard was once popular but he lost government and his own seat almost 20 years ago, there’s more than a generation of voters – particularly those under 30 – that would barely remember him at all,” Dean Sherr told AAP.
“These visits excite the party faithful and media but I’m not convinced it swings any votes.”
But the Liberal candidate for Bullwinkel Matt Moran disagreed, saying Mr Howard was “a highly respected, strong and pragmatic leader who knows what it’s like to do the hard yards in the campaign trail”.
“Mr Howard’s advice, support and endorsement, and his time in Bullwinkel, has been very much appreciated,” he told AAP.
Former Labor leaders have been more reserved, with only Julia Gillard appearing at the party’s campaign launch.
Kevin Rudd has his hands full as the US ambassador while Paul Keating, a controversial figure in his retirement for his pro-China stance and attacks on Labor’s defence policy, has been absent from the campaign.
While Ms Gillard hasn’t campaigned side-by-side with the prime minister, she has put her name to fundraising campaign emails and sent out a video asking supporters to donate.
AAP
