ANDREW CARSWELL: Anthony Albanese’s Government is scrambling to achieve anything, panic reigns

It seemed presumptuous at the time, but history was undoubtedly on his side.

Here was Anthony Albanese, on the cusp of winning government, informing the media about his grand two-term strategy.

In a series of pre-election interviews, buoyed by favourable polls, he laid out his agenda.

It wasn’t the talk of a leader cautiously eyeing the immediate task of governing; it was the vague roadmap of someone who believed he had six uninterrupted years to work out his priorities, and then tick them off methodically — one at a time.

Time seemed infinite. Parliament appeared his to command. And with history showing that only one Federal government since federation had been ejected after a single term, the odds were squarely in his favour.

He could afford to take a laissez faire attitude to policy development. Let things percolate in the great debate hall of caucus. And then drop the hammer in the second term.

Governing always looks easy from the opposition benches.

The folly of that two-term mindset, that unadulterated hubris, is now writ large.

Just months from knowing whether the PM gets his second term, after wasting his first year gallivanting around the countryside basking in honeymoon glow, and squandering the second year by chasing the illusion of a referendum victory, the Albanese Government is now scrambling at the 11th hour to achieve things. Anything.

Knowing that a second term is now anything but assured. Panic reigns.

They now face the ignominy of rushing key legislation through the Parliament in what could very well be the final sitting week of the term; a frantic legislative blitz that reeks of disorganisation and desperation.

And not basic legislation. Nation-changing legislation, on critical issues, jammed into a Parliament at the death, with anyone standing in their way, or daring to offer amendments or sensible alternative points of view, lambasted as wreckers.

And not just any parliament. A Parliament marked by inertia, where bills sit and grow mould, rather than receive a speedy royal assent.

And now a Parliament that has 76 pieces of legislation to consider, and only a handful of days left. To give some perspective, last week the Parliament passed one Bill. One. And that was an uncontroversial piece of aged care legislation that had bipartisan support. Barely needed a debate.

One.

Just a lazy 76 to go, folks.

If the Government honestly thought its sudden attack of the urgencies would help garner support from the disillusioned masses, it demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of the public’s urgent need for clarity and coherence. And guidance.

Chaotic is hardly a term of endearment, and giving off busy vibes, amid a cost-of-living crisis, easily morphs into perceptions of having misaligned priorities. Busy doesn’t feel like it’s helping.

How did it come to this?

Everything rises and falls on leadership.

Albanese has made a virtue of his Cabinet-led Government, freely delegating leadership and responsibility to his ministers. He prides himself on keeping his distance, refraining from meddling in their affairs or negotiating policy. Everything is handled at arm’s length. On paper, this might sound egalitarian.

In practice, it has proven an abdication of leadership.

This hands-off approach has left him disconnected from the political narrative, and unable to articulate the direction of his Government. Each day feels like spinning a roulette wheel to decide the focus. Today, it’s Minister Rowland stepping up to discuss social media. Good on you, Michelle. Tomorrow, it’s Minister Wells’ turn to address aged care — brava, Anika. And so it continues, cycling through ministers to ensure everyone gets their moment, but leaving the broader strategy glaringly absent.

The public simply cannot follow along, heads darting around to follow the lead. They’ve given up trying to understand what the Government is saying or what the Government is about. All noise and no narrative. It’s nauseating. Far easier to switch it off.

Even the political pundits are confused.

The public needed a Prime Minister, at the microphone, flags in the background, staring down the barrel of the camera and providing clear and concise leadership. A narrative explained. A direction defined. A vision imparted.

Instead it got no-name ministers trying to explain complex legislation, before handballing to the next no-name minister, and then the next.

When the public do finally get their Prime Minister, they get meandering Albo. The master of the word salad. So disconnected from the individual policies that he can only talk in vague headlines and motherhood statements.

Policy was never his strong point. Throw 76 pieces of legislation his way, and it’s clean up on aisle three.

But it isn’t just the narrative that suffers from this abdication of leadership.

A Prime Minister who separates himself from the legislative process handicaps their ability to effectively progress reforms through the parliament, by either staring down those blocking the path, or negotiating a speedy outcome. And here we are.

Maybe this process will be smoother in the second term.

Oh, wait.