Independent senator Jacqui Lambie,thecountry’s most popular politician according to this masthead’s Resolve Political Monitor,called the prime minister’s decision to start campaigning so early in the year “bizarre”.

“I think people want to have their holidays,” she toldSky News.

On Tuesday,Albanese continued his pre-election pitch as he was peppered with questions about the timing of the poll on breakfast television,radio and at a press conference in Rockhampton.

“We should have four-year fixed terms like they do in most states and territories to avoid these games,” Albanese told Seven’s Sunriseas the presenter attempted to guess the election date.

Historian Frank Bongiorno said it appeared Albanese wanted to have an image of working hard before an election,despite the long association between politicians and sport.

“They’re always vulnerable moments when politicians turn up at a sporting moment,” said Bongiorno,a professor at the Australian National University.

“Bob Hawke even at a time when he was quite popular went to a VFL grand final and was booed,so there are moments as a political leader that you’re vulnerable to the mood of the crowd.”

Last year,Albanese wasbooed at the Australian Open. Former prime ministers Scott Morrison,Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott were also booed at least once each at sporting matches.

Bongiorno said Albanese’s decision to skip the cricket could be to focus on his Bruce Highway announcement,which funds upgrades to the road that runs through a host of Queensland seats that could determine the election.

“My guess is it’s about very fine calculations about where the prime minister’s priorities are given the election is so near and the prime minister is trailing in the polls,” Bongiorno said.

The Resolve Political Monitor conducted for this masthead last monthshowed Labor was on track to lose its majority unless it could reverse its fortunes.

Bongiorno also noted summer could be a volatile time for politicians,citing Morrison’s decision to take afamily holiday to Hawaii during a bushfire crisis in 2019 that haunted him politically.

Howard also faced scrutiny when heattended a cricket match in November 2005 on the day of the scheduled execution of Australian citizen Nguyen Tuong Van,a convicted drug trafficker in Singapore.

Howard at the time defended his decision,saying he had a duty to attend the match as host.

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