The Guardian’s Political Editor Joins the Ranks of PM’s Spin Team

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia, Jan. 25, 2024. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has criticised the Labor government for granting an official position to a political editor from the left-leaning The Guardian Australia newspaper.

On Jan. 29, Katharine Murphy, a veteran journalist and a harsh critic of Mr. Dutton and the Coalition, made a surprising announcement when saying that she would quit her job at The Guardian to take up a new role in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office.

“I will be joining the office of @AlboMP. I want to say farewell by thanking Australians who support good journalism,” she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Jan. 29.

Ms. Murphy, whose nickname is “Murpharoo,” also appreciated the help of colleagues and the people with whom she had been working with during her 28-year career at the Canberra Press Gallery.

“I am deeply grateful to so many people for the opportunities I’ve had and for the generosity that has been extended to me by mentors, colleagues, and readers,” she said.

“Playing a part in establishing @GuardianAus with [editor] Lenore Taylor has been the greatest privilege of my professional life. But it’s time–after nearly three decades–for a new chapter.”

Nevertheless, Ms. Murphy did not explain what position she would be taking.

Following The Guardian editor’s announcement, Mr. Dutton went online to express his dissatisfaction with the decision.

“I am genuinely shocked to see Murpharoo take up a spot to now be officially running lines for Labor,” he said on social media.

The opposition leader also questioned why David Crowe, the chief political correspondent for The Age newspaper and a commentator on national affairs, did not receive the position.

“What more must he do to prove his credentials to formally be employed by the Labor Party?”

A Harsh Critic of the Coalition

Ms. Murphy is known for taking a strong stance against Mr. Dutton and the Coalition and its policies.

In her most recent opinion piece on Dec. 27, 2023,  the Guardian editor called Mr. Dutton a “polariser,” while claiming that the opposition leader divided the country during The Voice referendum.

At the same time, Ms. Murphy praised the Albanese government for launching The Voice referendum, saying it was “the right thing to do” despite its failure.

The Voice was an initiative by the Labor government to embed an advisory body into the Australian Constitution that would have the power to make representations on matters deemed relevant to Indigenous people.

Mr. Dutton and the Coalition strongly opposed the initiative, saying it was divisive.

The referendum took place on Oct. 14, 2023, with 60 percent of the voters rejecting the idea, a setback for Labor.

In October 2023, Ms. Murphy penned another opinion piece labelling Mr. Dutton as “Australia’s figurehead of fear and fake news.”

The then-editor claimed Mr. Dutton was similar to former U.S. President Donald Trump but lacked the charm.

This is not the first time that a journalist has quit his or her job and joined a Labor minister’s office.

In June 2019, James Jeffrey, a columnist and sketch writer at The Australian newspaper, resigned to become a speechwriter for the prime minister, who was the opposition leader at the time.

While recently retired Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been criticised for hiring a personal team of over 30 media and public relations advisors—at taxpayer’s expense—including Nine’s former Chief Political Editor Lane Calcutt.