‘Centrelink is evil’ isn’t a call to slash welfare payments – it’s a sign people are frustrated about the ability to access government support

Albanese disputed the suggestion that Labor was vulnerable to One Nation. He argued that there was always a rightwing rump in Australia.

Tactically that may be true but real people are hurting and being egged on by dishonourable agents who sense their pain but have no capacity to address it.

Addressing inequity is the job of a progressive government, not treating the suffering like political playdough.