The 2022 politician of the 12 months is Anthony Albanese, Mr Endurance

Writing Crikey’s annual politicians of the 12 months is often comparatively simple as soon as each three years: it’s arduous to keep away from handing it to whoever received the federal election that 12 months, though in 2016 I gave it to Pauline Hanson who, like a most cancers we thought we’d crushed, as soon as once more defiled the physique politic, and metastasises to this present day. Crikey readers had been outraged, believing the nomination of the simplest politician needs to be the one they like probably the most.

No such luck this 12 months. How can it not be Anthony Albanese, who developed a plan to beat Scott Morrison, caught to it when progressives had been angrily demanding he begin throwing the toys out of the cot, and received authorities?

Albanese was affected person, backed his political judgment, used the Rudd formulation of protecting a small-target technique the place he didn’t desire a battle and going giant the place he did need one, and when he stumbled, he admitted it, took guard once more and waited for the subsequent supply. It’s arduous for Labor to win elections from opposition in Australia in opposition to Information Corp and a typically hostile media, which is why it occurs so not often, however now Albanese’s identify’s on the checklist.