Anthony Albanese and his entourage will be very closely guarded from catching Covid-19 during the upcoming federal election campaign.
Any journalist who wants to travel on the Albanese bus must be triple vaccinated, wear an N95 mask most of the time, and take a rapid antigen test every three days.
The Labor leader has not yet had Covid, but Scott Morrison recently has, making the prime minister less likely to catch it again in the lead up to election day.
As Mr Albanese travels around the country in a campaign likely to be called in coming days, he will be in close contact with hundreds of people every day.
Anthony Albanese (right) with partner Jodie Haydon after speaking at the National Press Club on January 25, 2022 in Canberra
It is almost certain that some of them will have Covid, even if they were not showing symptoms and were not aware of it.
If Mr Albanese caught Covid and had to isolate for a week, it would give the Liberal-National Coalition a huge campaign advantage.
Mr Morrison would be able to meet people in person, while the Labor leader would be reduced to video appearances.
Some of Mr Albanese’s closest colleagues have caught the virus in recent weeks, including manager of opposition business Tony Burke.
His chief advancer – the staffer who scouts locations where Mr Albanese is due to make an appearance – also caught Covid.
Labor takes more visible precautions such as mask wearing than the government does. Its MPs and staff are also regularly tested for the virus.
After Mr Albanese’s Budget reply speech last Thursday, Labor staff were told to not go to bars, to lessen the chance of them catching Covid and passing it on to others, The Age reported.
The very strict rules for journalists on the Albanese bus during the campaign means anyone who tests positive is out.
The rules for the prime minister’s bus are more relaxed. Anyone travelling with the PM must follow the laws of the state or territory they are in, rather than the more extreme Labor precautions.
Anyone travelling with Anthony Albanese during the election campaign must be triple vaccinated and wear an N95 mask. Pictured is a woman getting a Covid-19 vaccination shot
Labor has contingency plans if Mr Albanese does contract the virus, including senior shadow ministers Richard Marles, Penny Wong, Jim Chalmers, and Mark Butler taking on the role of lead spokesperson.
Mr Marles, Labor’s deputy leader, would most likely travel by bus and plane to events instead of Mr Albanese.
If the Labor leader catches Covid but is not very ill, he could attend campaign events and press conferences virtually through video hook ups.
With Labor in an election-winning lead in all recent published opinion polls, Mr Morrison and the Coalition would look to take full advantage if Mr Albanese is forced off the campaign trail for a week or more with Covid.
Anyone travelling with Anthony Albanese during the election campaign will have to take a rapid antigen test (pictured) every three days
