ANDREW GREENE: Why Albanese could learn a thing or two from Chris Minns as he faces toughest test

Anthony Albanese is facing his toughest political period since Labor’s resounding election win in May, or perhaps even since he first took office back in 2022.

Less than three weeks ago when Parliament rose for the year the Prime Minister was riding higher than ever, while the hapless Sussan Ley led opposition looked like an unelectable and divided rabble.

Now a horrific atrocity at Australia’s most famous beach has changed everything and it’s put Mr Albanese under a level of intense scrutiny he has not yet experienced as leader.

Australia’s worst mass shooting since the Port Arthur massacre three decades ago will be a defining chapter in this country’s history, and equally it will define the Prime Minister’s legacy.

After initially offering its support, the coalition has gradually stepped up its criticisms and attacks on the Albanese government and has been aided by its trusty old warhorse John Howard.

In the days since Sunday’s terrorist attack, the Prime Minister has at various times looked anxious, rattled and sometimes even flustered and agitated when questioned about whether his government has failed to keep the Jewish community safe.

On Tuesday at a joint press conference with New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, the contrast between the leaders was starkly visible.

As the NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon faced a barrage of questions about the numbers of officers deployed for the large Jewish gathering, Chris Minns decided to step in and tackle the criticisms.

“I feel it’s incredibly important of me, as the Premier of New South Wales, to respond to some of these questions,” Chris Minns declared.

“The New South Wales Police acted with bravery and integrity. They didn’t take a backward step. They engaged the gunmen on the footbridge with handguns.”

“Now there are two officers in critical care in New South Wales hospitals at the moment. They weren’t shot in the back as they were running away, they were shot in the front,” the Premier continued, as he took on the press pack.

“I’m sorry to be graphic about it, but if there’s any suggestion that New South Wales Police didn’t live up to their responsibilities to the people of this state, it should be rejected because it’s not consistent with the facts.”

The Premier ended his impassioned remarks by directly cautioning critics of the NSW police response: “I think this rush to conclusions before all the facts are known, in my view, is disrespectful to their actions on Sunday.”

It was a powerful performance, and privately federal Labor figures were also noticing how one leader was quickly rising to the occasion and managing to strike the tone required for such a solemn and testing occasion.

The older and far more experienced fellow Labor leader standing next to him surely noticed it as well.