Pointed moment Albanese’s own former chief spin doctor calls PM out in public: ‘Are you afraid?’

One of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s most senior former advisers has called him out after he refused to release the full report into a major AI incident before fronting reporters to talk about it. 

Matthew Franklin, chief political correspondent at Capital Brief, lobbed a question at Albanese on Tuesday that was particularly pointed given he previously served as a media adviser for the PM for almost nine years. 

Franklin accused the government of routinely withholding key documents from journalists until after announcements were made – suggesting Albanese had done so again on this occasion by failing to give reporters a copy of a review into a hacking incident involving OpenAI and Medicare. 

‘Prime Minister, you’ve invited us here kindly to talk about the report, the rapid response report,’ Franklin said.

‘You’ve failed to furnish it to us before we’ve been able to come here and ask you questions about it, something your government does frequently.’

Franklin then challenged his former boss directly.

‘What is it? Are you afraid that if we’re better informed by reading stuff, we’ll ask harder questions? Why do you do this?’

Albanese rejected the suggestion the government was trying to avoid scrutiny.

‘Not at all. We’re protecting our national interest and our national security,’ he said.

‘As I foreshadowed, we are releasing the recommendations for you to see in full.’

The exchange came as Albanese unveiled new artificial intelligence safety measures and announced the government had accepted all 18 recommendations from a rapid review into the OpenAI incident. 

But the PM wouldn’t have missed that the criticism of his media strategy came from someone who helped craft it from 2013 until 2022, in roles including head of media and senior press secretary.  

At the press conference, Albanese explained the report had only recently completed the government’s approval process ‘about an hour ago through our processes’. 

The PM argued he was fronting the media at the ‘first possible opportunity’. ‘I’m doing it as Prime Minister. And that’s appropriate,’ he said. 

The clash comes amid ongoing frustration among members of the Canberra press gallery over the timing of government document releases.

Other journalists have made similar complaints regarding the release of reviews, reports and policy announcements under Labor without enough time to examine the underlying material. 

For instance, the government’s draft laws for its Digital Duty of Care were released mid-press conference while Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells were speaking in September. 

Another example was the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion Interim Report, released in April. The 154-page document, outlining 14 recommendations, was released just minutes before Albanese addressed journalists in Sydney.

Franklin managed the Labor leader’s media operations while Albanese served in opposition, but took a career break shortly after Albanese was elected PM in 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile.