Alan Joyce, Mike Cannon-Brookes, Lindsay Fox, Sir Rod Eddington, Heather Ridout, Sam Mostyn, Ben Gray and John Mullen are among the business leaders who know and have worked withPrime Minister Scott Morrison has gone hard on the attack over Mr Albanese’s gaffe on the unemployment rate, the fact he has never held a financial portfolio, and claims he does not understand the economy or how to manage money.
Kevin Rudd’s former chief of staff David Epstein, who heads up the Chifley Research Centre, has been seconded to the campaign and Dee Madigan from Campaign Edge has been behind Labor’s ads and provided advice on Mr Albanese’s wardrobe and speech. Mr Albanese’s links are clearly the strongest to the transport, infrastructure and logistics sectors. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce worked closely with Mr Albanese in 2013 when he supported the airline’s alliance with Emirates.
“He was a very effective minister and has always had a good record of working with business in my view,” Mr Mullen said. “He is approachable and fair, and was always willing to listen to both sides of any discussion. If he committed to do something he was always true to his word and would follow through.”
Albanese helps pack groceries into boxes with Craig Foster and Sam Mostyn during a visit to a community centre in Sydney’s Marrickville on May 6.Sources close to Lindsay Fox – who also has a strong relationship with Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews – say the pair know each other “quite well” and struck up a friendship when Mr Albanese was transport minister, connecting over Avalon airport and a “safe rates” road safety campaign.