Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been called out for using the Pope’s death for political gain ahead of the May 3 federal election.
Mr Albanese said he would pause his election campaign following the death of Pope Francis on Monday night, but after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton followed suit, the Prime Minister gave two public statements and took questions at a press conference.
Mr Albanese gathered the press at Melbourne’s Commonwealth Parliament Office on Tuesday to deliver another tribute to the Pope following his Monday night statement.
Some voters were scathing of the Prime Minister for supposedly pausing a campaign then calling media events that gave him an opportunity to appear statesmanlike, and discuss his own beliefs.
‘What a liar he is and it’s just coming so natural to him. He needs to make an appointment with the next Pope and beg for forgiveness,’ one person wrote.
‘He just doesn’t want to give Dutton any airtime. Nothing to do with the Pope,’ another added.
Mr Albanese paid his respects to the Pope in an address on Monday night, describing him as a ‘great champion of the poor, St Francis of Assisi’.
Anthony Albanese said he would cancel planned election campaigning due to the Pope’s death but then hosted a press conference shortly after
Pope Francis died on Monday after battling health issues in the past few months
‘The Holy Father was one of the most consequential leaders of this century and of our lifetime. He was, indeed, the people’s Pope,’ he said in his Tuesday press conference.
‘I will pause my other campaign-related events this morning. Today, flags will fly at half-mast on Commonwealth buildings right around Australia.’
Mr Albanese then took questions from journalists who asked him about his Catholic faith.
‘I say I was raised with three great faiths. I’ve said that a number of times,’ Mr Albanese said, referring to the Catholic church, the Labor Party and the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL team.
‘What people do is they draw on who they are and certainly my Catholicism is just a part of me,’ he said.
While the discussion at his public appearances after the ‘pause’ were centred on the Pope’s passing, some accused the Prime Minister of making political capital from it.
‘Politicising the poor old Pope’s passing to reduce Dutton’s airtime and policy release. Nothing is off the table for this bloke,’ one person wrote.
Peter Dutton was at mass at St Mary’s Cathedral after the death of Pope Francis
‘Albo’s pause is really a campaign tactic designed to make him look good with the Catholics. Therefore it’s not really a pause, is it?’ another said.
Mr Dutton is not Catholic but also agreed to suspend his campaign, saying it was not a time for ‘over-the-top politics’.
‘Polling obviously opens today. There’s a leaders debate tonight. I understand the Prime Minister is happy to proceed with that,’ Mr Dutton said.
While he confirmed he would cancel scheduled events, other candidates have continued with their public appearances in the lead up to the election.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles all hosted press conferences on Tuesday.
Nationals Leader David Littleproud, shadow home affairs minister James Paterson and deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley also had planned campaign events.
The Albanese Government announced it would legislate to guarantee paid parental leave for parents dealing with stillbirth or early infant death.
Pre-polling opened for some seats on Tuesday, with voters across the country able to cast their votes ahead of the May 3 election.
