Good luck, Albo, the stats are stacked against you


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The missing names in this chronology belong to those who grabbed the opposition leadership mid-term and went on to win government at their first attempt: Malcolm Fraser from Snedden (1975 victory), Hawke from Hayden (1983), Rudd from Beazley (winning in 2007), Abbott from Turnbull (2013).


Indeed, the number of first-time opposition leaders who never survived long enough to even contest an election nearly rivals the number who did but failed to win. Either way, the odds suggest an unhappy political fate awaits Anthony Albanese.


The only record that ranks with the gloomy maths confronting Albo is this: nobody who led their party from opposition into government ever lost the next election. Sadly, that also goes for Rudd and Abbott, whose parties denied them a second shot.


As they say, records are made to be broken, and statistics often lie. Albo will be hoping so.


Freelance writer Richard Whitington is a former executive recruiter, communications consultant and Whitlam government staffer.


Article source: https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/federal/turnbull-condemns-nazi-flag-on-army-vehicle-in-afghanistan-20180614-p4zlcw.html?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federal

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