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

Résumé détaillé

Anthony Albanese has been grilled by one of his former most senior advisers, over claims the government is not transparent.

Published: 05:03 GMT, 11 November 2026 | Updated: 05:29 GMT, 11 November 2026

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.'

'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.

Matthew Franklin (pictured) questioned the speed documents were released to reporters

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