Newspoll shows two parties neck and neck a fortnight from poll as ALP pushes health, education and infrastructure and Turnbull turns to the cities and climate change. All the day’s developments on the campaign trail with Katharine Murphy, live
7.29am BST
Unanswered questions notwithstanding, I’m going to have a brief rest now between today’s efforts and tonight. I will be back, live, this evening, to cover Malcolm Turnbull’s appearance on the Q&A program. Tonight’s special edition will kick off about 9pm eastern.
Here’s Monday in two pictures.
7.15am BST
Meanwhile.
Labor's @billshortenmp has cancelled a scheduled interview with Eddie McGuire on @TripleMMelb tomorrow - would be "inappropriate" #ausvotes
7.14am BST
I’ve had a couple of conversations with the prime minister’s office over the last little bit in an effort to get an answer about the apparent contradiction between Malcolm Turnbull saying this morning the outsourcing of the Medicare payments system had not been to cabinet and a journalist having his request for documents rejected on the basis they were cabinet in confidence. No clear answer at this time.
6.36am BST
Some nice pictures (which I’ve only just had time to get to) of the prime minister’s visit with the paralympians earlier today.
6.21am BST
Sorry for the lulling here. I’m trying to make some calls to get an answer to various questions so far without much success. Thanks to AAP for this update of the foreign minister Julie Bishop at the Lowy Institute earlier today, on the Brexit. We all need to brace ourselves for the Brexit, if that’s how it goes, later this week. It will be ugly, not to put too fine a point on it.
It would be in Australia’s best interests for the UK to remain in the European Union, foreign minister Julie Bishop believes.
Britons go to the polls on Thursday to vote for a “Brexit” or a “Bremain”. Bishop expects considerable economic volatility if the UK votes to leave the bloc, but acknowledges it is a decision for the British people.
5.46am BST
5.20am BST
Just while I’m listening to Shorten, Sean Parnell, who is a long time health reporter at The Australian newspaper, raises a salient point on Medicare and how advanced the government’s plans were to outsource the payments system.
This morning, I reported Malcolm Turnbull arguing that work inside the government on the outsourcing was not advanced enough to come to Cabinet. His purpose was to create the impression that this was a very low level thing.
If #Medicare project never went to Cabinet, why was Cabinet #FOI exemption used to protect this PM letter? #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/NOwpWVcDGM
5.12am BST
Right now, the Labor leader is speaking to a Catholic education conference in Perth. Bill Shorten has spoken about his own experiences in Catholic education (he’s Jesuit educated), he’s welcomed the end of sectarianism in Australian society and education, and he’s emphasised the importance of needs based funding. And there’s a big pat on the back for teachers and the work they do. That gets applause from the audience.
5.01am BST
The campaign is continuing to thunder around me, but let’s pause for a moment to assess the sum of the parts.
4.39am BST
It’s a wrap now at the press club. The prime minister is really quite unwell today. I’ll do the summary next.
PM Turnbull coughs during a press conference in Sydney #auspol #ausvotes #ausvotes2016 pic.twitter.com/7YaZ0AixHe
4.31am BST
Q: I know that Labor don’t want to be asked this question, but I will anyway. Will Bill Shorten be the opposition leader if he loses this election and if so, why?
I don’t know why you’d bowl up the question to Kim Carr in that way, given he will absolutely want to answer it. Some background. Kim Carr, a leading figure in the Victorian left, is a key backer of Bill Shorten’s. In fact, the stability pact between Carr and Stephen Conroy of the Victorian right, is the bedrock in a factional power sense, that sits underneath Shorten’s leadership. Carr will have a very strong, pro-Shorten view, that will not be shared in all quarters of the party, like, say NSW, where future challengers to Shorten will emerge in due season from both the right (Chris Bowen) and the left (Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek). So this is opportunity for Carr, and he takes it up with alacrity.
Let me just say I am a very strong supporter of Bill Shorten. I think he’s performed incredibly well since taking over as leader and many of you were unkind enough to suggest that we had no hope, but I don’t think you are able to sustain that view. The election is there to be won. I have every confidence that we will win that election. We are seeing, even today’s polls, the Labor party is neck and neck with the government. With all of the benefits in incumbency, we are still very much in this race. I take the view that Bill Shorten has been an extraordinarily effective leader of the Labor party and I have got no reason to believe he won’t continue in that role, whatever happens after the election.
4.22am BST
Christopher Pyne is asked the cynical person’s question: isn’t all this defence spending all about saving your electoral fortunes in Sturt?
Christopher Pyne:
Well, I am not a cynical person, you see, Eliza. That is where you and I are different. We chose different paths in life. You chose journalism and I chose public service.
4.19am BST
A question about businesses being annoyed by “crappy” internet. Christopher Pyne declares Malcolm Turnbull has “fixed” the NBN. (Politics tragics will remember that Christopher Pyne previously fixed the higher education sector, which, thus far, remains unfixed.) Kim Carr says the government says that somehow or another copper is better than fibre.
Kim Carr:
I don’t know anyone, anyone, that will tell you that is correct. We have got a fundamental problem with the government trying to do the NBN on the cheap and failing dismally.
4.16am BST
Both get a question about why Australia hasn’t been more successful at generating the big companies, one way or another, who drive the innovative process. Christopher Pyne says that’s unnecessarily pessimistic. Kim Carr thinks the value of the Australian dollar has been very difficult for Australian manufacturers.
4.12am BST
Q: To both of you, do you concede there has been missteps within your party’s time in government over the last decade within the industry portfolio that has driven the Nick Xenophon vote up – and can you maybe identify the most regrettable misstep?
Kim Carr:
Since I’ve had charge of this industry and innovation policy for some time I am not likely to quickly agree with that proposition. The fact remains there is a deep concern within this country about what is occurring within the economy. We have not had a real wage increase for some time. We, of course, have had numbers of people now that are very anxious about their futures.
So this talk about agility and innovation and the new economy in some quarters is actually quite worrying for people. There has been far too little attention paid to actually bring bringing the community with us in terms of changing the culture in regard to innovative businesses. Now, this is a pattern expressed around the world. That is why Trump does so well in the US. He’s actually responding to these deep fears within the American society.
I have only been in the portfolio for nine months and it is exciting. I am economically pragmatic and politically pragmatic and my view is if we have a leaver we can pull that supports Australian industry, then we should pull it.
That is why I was pleased to be part of the NSC and capital decisions around building our submarines, future frigates and offshore Pacific patrol vessels. We have in the last three years in this government, particularly in the last few months, we have committed to 54 surface vessels for our Australian Navy.
4.06am BST
I will keep you posted on the tradie in the event particulars come to hand. Back to the press club.
Q: Mr Pyne you started off by saying ideas are the new currency yet the campaign has committed eleven times more money to sporting grounds around the nation than start-ups. Are you sure you have got the right focus on the jobs of the future?
Absolutely. I mean, that is an extraordinary question.
I know there is a connection the between sporting fields and electoral behaviour. I am sure this is a matter that hasn’t passed people’s attention in the past, but this is what is driving the government’s attention here – electoral fear, preoccupation with the polls and not the substance about building the infrastructure we need for a scientific community.
3.53am BST
I need to break out of this momentarily because I’ve asked the Liberal campaign to settle this point once and for all – is the tradie in the #faketradie advertisement a real tradie or a fake tradie.
A Coalition campaign spokesman says #faketradie is a #realtradie. This is the statement I’ve been given, which you’ll note contains a reverse zinger.
We are very pleased that people are talking about this ad which highlights the risks of Bill Shorten’s war on business. The tradie is real, unlike Mr Shorten’s claims about Medicare.
3.47am BST
The two ministers have made their opening pitches. Christopher Pyne’s pitch is the Coalition is doing lots on innovation and it’s all good.
Kim Carr’s pitch can be summarised this way.
Now, in the Turnbull rhetoric, innovation talk is an attempt to persuade people that there has been some change in the policy of this government, that is meant to have changed again from Tony Abbott to Malcolm Turnbull, but the reality is there has been no change.
3.33am BST
I won’t get to a summary until I’m on the other side of the National Press Club debate, which, today, is on innovation. Christopher Pyne versus Kim Carr. That’s underway now.
3.27am BST
The final question is on the new Liberal party ad. Is the Labor leader worried that wealthy tradies don’t like Labor?
Bill Shorten:
The problem with the Liberal ad is exactly the same problem with Mr Turnbull - Australians can spot a fake when they see one.
3.24am BST
Bill Shorten’s delivery is aggressive this morning. “When you attack bulk billing you are attacking Medicare. The Liberals want to Americanise health care.” Then the line from yesterday’s campaign launch. He thinks its fair to give foreign aid to foreign companies but the prime minister won’t defend universal health care from cuts.
He’s then asked about Christian Kunde – the candidate who has now vanished. Shorten says as soon as he comprehended the issues he took action.
I intend to win the election. I intend to put forward legislation within the first 100 days.
3.14am BST
The Labor leader has bobbed up now on the hustings. Bill Shorten says the prime minister has a problem. No-one believes him when he says he won’t privatise Medicare.
Q: The government says you are lying about the Medicare privatisation? What’s your response?
Well we’ve seen this film before haven’t we? When the Liberals tell you ‘never ever’, get very nervous indeed.
Mr Turnbull’s cuts contradict his words.
3.11am BST
2GB should do a series, they could podcast it. Nightmares, with Ray Hadley. This is from this morning. Would go off, I reckon.
Q: Do you sometimes find yourself waking up in the middle of the night in a muck lather and sort of shake your head from that nightmare that you are sitting in Parliament and listening to Rob Oakeshott or Tony Windsor discuss what they will do in a hung Parliament – is that some nightmare that you relive occasionally?
Well, I remember it too well from when they were there and that whole caravan of chaos with Labor, the Greens and the Independents with Oakeshott and Windsor. Look, I heard what you said earlier about the polling up in Cowper. Look, this is a very real prospect. The choice at this election is fairly clear; the Coalition can form a stable government and govern in its own right – that is one choice. The other choice, and I don’t think there is anyone suggesting any differently, if Labor were to form a government on the other side of July 2 it would be with Independents and the Greens. In particular, with where Oakeshott is said to be polling, well, we could have Rob Oakeshott back in the Parliament and Tony Windsor, the whole gang. It’s just chaos. That is the alternative.
3.01am BST
A new record for rapid response?
New signage? Pretty quick on the Medicare draw @LiberalAus? #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/CXsIKYiVPM
2.52am BST
It might be time to get Mr Bowers off the campaign trail.
6 weeks into the campaign and @mpbowers starting to look a little thin pic.twitter.com/1DLfYnUKQm
2.33am BST
Just slightly off hustings today, it’s running very prominently on our website so I can’t imagine you’ve missed it but in the event you have missed it my colleagues Ben Doherty and David Marr have published a significant piece on Australia’s offshore immigration detention regime. Here’s s short excerpt.
Paul Stevenson has had a life in trauma. The psychologist and traumatologist has spent 40 years helping people make sense of their lives in the aftermath of disaster, of terrorist attacks, bombings and mass murders, of landslides, fires and tsunamis.
He’s written a book about his experiences, Postcards from Ground Zero, and for his efforts in assisting the victims of the Bali Bombings, the Australian government pinned an Order of Australia Medal to his chest.
2.30am BST
. @TurnbullMalcolm says Rio Paralympic team is an inspiration to all #ausvotes #afronthetrail pic.twitter.com/t6MufKup6g
2.27am BST
Speaking of the prime minister, he’s speaking now at a Paralympic Committee event in Sydney.
Malcolm Turnbull:
We are with you, we are with you all the way, we back you all the way, all the way to Rio. Thank you and congratulations on your extraordinary example of courage, of determination, of the human spirit triumphing over adversity.
You inspire every one of us.
2.25am BST
Just coming back to Medicare for a bit, Malcolm Turnbull this morning was at pains to say that the government’s plans for outsourcing the payments system were highly preliminary. Nothing had ever come to Cabinet. This is, doubtless, true. But the preparatory work wasn’t nothing either. Officials gave evidence in Senate estimates that a taskforce had been established to investigate the options, with a budget of $5m for six months work. The staffing plan for the task force was 20 people from various departments. This evidence was given on February 10 of this year. The description for the taskforce was looking at the commercial possibilities around the payment system around Medicare.
2.08am BST
This was the shadow health minister Catherine King on Christian Kunde. We can summarise it as don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out.
Catherine King:
Well, he’s obviously not been honest during the pre-selection process and he is right to resign. He should have been honest in that pre-selection process. I understand he’s now gone and that is exactly the right thing for him to have done. You are supposed to disclose all matters before you go for pre-selection. He hasn’t done that and he’s now gone.
2.03am BST
Earlier today Helen mentioned Labor’s candidate for Farrer had resigned over comments defending Uthman Badar, the spokesman for extreme Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir. Christian Kunde, who befriended Badar before he joined Hizb ut-Tahrir, praised him as “a husband, father, [and] trusted friend” who he would trust with the guardianship of his own child. “He is also a deeply religious Muslim,” Kunde said.
Kunde also delivered a lecture at Sydney University in which he said gay marriage was not permitted under Islam.
I was speaking about the Islamic view of same sex marriage, yes. I actually quoted the Roman Catholic church in Britain too, this was around about the time the government over there was doing community consultation, I don’t agree with their views either. I quoted various statements from Christian Democrats here [in Australia]. I presented a religious view which is not my own personal view. Anyone who bothered to ask me “do I support same-sex marriage” - yes, of course I do, otherwise I would not have stood for a party that has as one of its platforms.
1.23am BST
The treasurer Scott Morrison is speaking now to reporters in Sydney.
Q: The prime minister has promised Medicare operations won’t be outsourced. What if the Productivity Commission that comes in after the election does recommend outsourcing, will the government reconsider its position?
The prime minister has made it crystal clear. The report to which you refer is principally looking at state and territory government recommendations. That was the recommendation of the Harper report. That was the Productivity Commission terms of reference developed and supported by the states and territories. This is a process we are working through with COAG.
This was another lame attempt by the Labor party to try and trump up some big lie they’re running in this campaign about Medicare. What’s next? He is going to chain himself to the Opera House or say we will sell the Harbour Bridge?
1.19am BST
Another moving part in the campaign news cycle this morning is whether or not Labor is toughening its stance against the same-sex marriage plebiscite – whether it might block the enabling bill.
Penny Wong gets a few questions about this, which she attempts to deflect by saying no one has seen the plebiscite bill.
A plebiscite was proposed because the Liberal party decided they couldn’t progress this issue because members of the hard right of the Liberal party were too angry about it and Malcolm Turnbull tapped the mat. After saying to everybody he didn’t support a plebiscite, he’s tapped the mat and given in to [Eric] Abetz, [Cory] Bernardi and [George] Christensen.
I have seen the Liberal party trying to make this the focus. If marriage equality is your focus, vote Labor because what we are saying to people is we will do what needs to be done. A Labor prime minister, Mr Bill Shorten, will present a bill to the House of Representatives to make marriage equality law.
Have you seen the bill?
No one has seen the bill. No one has seen the bill. This has been a proposition that the Liberal party have been trying to use to take attention off Malcolm Turnbull’s capitulation to the right, his capitulation on this important issue. LGBTI Australians everywhere are so disappointed he has capitulated on this issue because we understand what it means. They are trying to get attention away from his capitulation by trying to talk about what happens after the election on a bill they haven’t even drafted.
1.12am BST
One of Labor’s campaign spokespeople, Penny Wong is in the Mural Hall.
One of the groups who have expressed an interest in the privatisation of [Medicare] payments are the big banks. I guess I want to ask this of Mr Turnbull: Mr Turnbull, which aspect of the Medicare payment system did your government look at giving to the big banks?
The best guide to future behaviour is past behaviour. Under the Liberal party, there will be $4bn - they’ve made decisions to take $4bn out of Medicare and medicines over the budget period. That’s what Mr Turnbull’s plan for Medicare is. Privatisation and $4bn taken out of Medicare over the forward estimates period.
1.04am BST
Meanwhile, in Perth, the jog has turned into a sprint. Mike Bowers says he hired a bike this morning to keep up with the opposition leader.
12.56am BST
Mathias Cormann again, this time on the ABC.
Q: The opposition leader has cited as evidence for his claim [about Medicare privatisation] that Productivity Commission inquiry launched by the treasurer Scott Morrison earlier this year exploring ways to more efficiently deliver all human services including health and education. What can we expect from that?
And Chris Bowen when he was the human services minister went out and said that he was looking at delivering government services in a better, more efficient way. Governments of course will always look at how government services can be delivered in a better, more user-friendly way. But let me be very clear again. There is no truth at all to the dishonest and desperate Labor scare campaign that a Coalition government would privatise Medicare. We will not privatise Medicare. We will not privatise any aspect of Medicare. Medicare will remain in public hands, but of course we will continue to ensure that the services provided by Medicare are the best possible, most user-friendly services for patients around Australia taking advantage of digital technology in the best possible way.
12.53am BST
12.48am BST
Q: There’s leaked internal polling showing, with the help of preferences, Rob Oakeshott is actually in with a chance to secure Cowper. Do you consider him an actual threat? What do you make of remarks that he’s only just back in the game to raise money?
Cue clear plans versus caravans of chaos.
The clear choice on 2 July, or indeed the clear choice right up to 2 July because people are voting now, is between my government, a stable Coalition government with a clear national economic plan that will deliver stronger growth and more and better jobs. We have that clear plan ..
12.47am BST
Q: Can you explain for us in a policy sense what is wrong with outsourcing the Medicare payment system? Do you apologise to the private operators who thought you were going down that path before you reversed that decision?
Malcolm Turnbull:
Can I make this clear: What the Labor Party has done is run an extraordinarily dishonest scare campaign. They have been ringing older Australians in the evening frightening them and saying Medicare is going to be sold off, Medicare will be privatised. This is the biggest lie of the campaign. It is extraordinary. It’s not the only one of Mr Shorten’s lies, I must say but it is the most outrageous and the way they have sought to frighten people, particularly older Australians, is really shameful. I want to be very clear. Medicare will never ever be privatised. Medicare will never be sold. Every element of Medicare services that is currently being delivered by government will continue to be delivered by government full stop.
Can I say to you there has been no decision taken to outsource any part of Medicare. Some work has been done by the department, so I gather, but it has never been a decision of the government to outsource any part of Medicare services. It’s never come to the Cabinet to be considered to outsource any part of Medicare services. I know Chris Bowen spoke glowingly of doing something like this in the past but I can tell you this is the fact, this is the case: Medicare will never ever be privatised. It is a core government service. It will never be sold. Every element of Medicare’s services that is currently being delivered by government will continue to be delivered by government. Full stop.
This is absolutely clear. This is a question of whether services of Medicare continue to be delivered by government, entirely by government, or not. I am making a solemn commitment, an unequivocal commitment, that ... Medicare’s services will continue to be delivered by government. Full stop. We will use the digital transformation office and all of the talents at our disposal to make those services more user-friendly, to enable people to transact with Medicare better through their smartphones, to enable doctors to transact more effectively. We’ll do all of that but it will all be done within government. I want to be very clear about this. This is a shocking scare campaign. It shows the desperation of the Labor Party that they would tell such a shocking falsehood as this. Every element of Medicare that is being delivered by government will continue to be delivered by government. Medicare never ever be privatised.
12.40am BST
Questions now.
Q: A question on something Bill Shorten said yesterday about the same-sex plebiscite. He is hardening his language against holding a plebiscite. There is no indication from Labor on whether they would vote for one in parliament in the event you win the election. What’s your message to Labor about whether they should vote for that plebiscite? Will there be a mandate for holding a plebiscite if you win the election? Would you be willing to consider a conscience vote in parliament if Labor absolutely refuses to vote for a plebiscite?
I’m not going to deal in hypotheticals. We have a very clear policy which is that everyAustralian will get a vote on the subject. Everyone knows about that. Of course, if we are successful on July 2nd, then I have every expectation that the parliament will swiftly legislate for a plebiscite and a plebiscite will be held shortly after parliament resumes, which I would assume to be in August, so I would hope that the plebiscite could be held before the end of the year.
12.38am BST
Angus Taylor, who assists the prime minister on cities notes there is a sustainable cities investment fund which will be administered by the CEFC. “There are great opportunities as we’ve seen right here in Oran Park for more sustainable cities and suburbs.”
Boy, the CEFC has been handy for the Coalition this election. Just as well the government didn’t succeed in abolishing it.
12.34am BST
Malcolm Turnbull is on a roll with liveable cities.
They are vital economic assets. Believe me. Sometimes people talk about these issues of liveability and environment as though it’s just a touchy-feely thing. Well, it is touchy-feely, too, it’s where you live but, above all else, it is a vital economic asset. Liveable cities. Cities which you can get around with good mass transit, good recognition, clean air, green spaces.
12.32am BST
Malcolm Turnbull addresses the subject of housing affordability.
More housing, more affordable housing, housing affordability is a huge issue but the answer is more housing. The answer is supply. The reason housing has been unaffordable or ... less affordable in Sydney than it should be, is because we have not been building enough houses.
12.31am BST
On 2GB, Scott Morrison is wondering whether Bill Shorten is going to chain himself to the Opera House to stop the government privatising it.
12.30am BST
The prime minister is holding his daily press conference, and he sounds dreadful. The voice is really struggling. And he’s got to get through Q&A tonight. Malcolm Turnbull is talking about the thirty minute city.
Today we are announcing with Mike Baird a city deal for western Sydney. This will see for the first time systematic coordination between the federal government, the state government, local governments, coordinating with stakeholders, developers such as here at Oran Park, but also the University of Western Sydney, for example.
12.27am BST
The treasurer Scott Morrison is coming up on the Ray Hadley program and we expect the prime minister to address reporters in Oran Park very shortly.
12.17am BST
Coalition campaign spokesman Mathias Cormann has been on Sky News.
Q: First of all on the issue of Medicare. It was the focus of Labor’s campaign launch yesterday and already it’s forced a retreat from the Government in terms of outsourcing the processing of payments.
That whole campaign by Bill Shorten is based on a lie. There never was a plan to privatise Medicare. Bill Shorten knows that. He is seeking to deceive the Australian people in the same way that he’s deceived Bob Hawke.
What we have planned to look at and what we continue to look at is how we can improve the service delivery in relation to Medicare and other parts of government ...
The prime minister has not ruled out improving the service delivery and making service delivery more user friendly. What the prime minister has ruled out and what all of us have ruled out is the privatisation of Medicare. What we have ruled out is contracting out services provided by Medicare. And that most certainly will not happen. But what the government will continue to do is to ensure that patients around Australia get the best possible service in a way that is as user friendly as possible.
12.12am BST
Labor’s deputy leader Tanya Plibersek has been on ABC television.
Q: The PM over the weekend said in his words a re-elected Coalition would never ever privatise Medicare. That sort of kills Labor’s claims stone-dead, doesn’t it?
That’s like they said before the election that there would be no cuts to health and no cuts to education and no change to pensions and no new taxes and no cuts to the ABC. They broke all those promises.
For 40 years Labor has been fighting to establish and protect Medicare and since coming to government, the Abbott/Turnbull government have tried to introduce a GP copayment, they’ve cut tens of billions of dollars of hospitals, they’ve slashed Medicare so that doctors can’t bulk-bill anymore. They’ve cut support for diagnostic imaging and pathology, hundreds of millions of dollars again. They’ve cut funding for preventative health.
It says to me that we need to work really hard over the next two weeks to tell people that if they want to keep Medicare they have to vote Labor.
12.08am BST
The prime minister is up and about in Sydney, bad flu notwithstanding.
Hearing about extraordinary growth for #OranPark, Swest Sydney with @TurnbullMalcolm @FionaScottMP @RussellMatheson pic.twitter.com/5mHKZT3jcV
12.01am BST
A couple of things you’ll already know if you tuned in for the live coverage yesterday: Labor is flicking the switch to Medicare in the final push, and the opposition is pretty much past the policy announcements now – it will be pure politics for the final fortnight.
Helen mentioned before the shadow health minister, Catherine King, was on AM this morning. In that interview she acknowledged that Medicare’s computer networks will have to be upgraded “at some point” and that might involve some input from the private sector. “But under no circumstances would you flog it off,” King told the program.
11.38pm BST
Good morning everyone and welcome to the final sprint. We are in the final two weeks, and we will be sprinting, right to the finish.
I want to open this morning with the Liberal party’s new political ad, the one that Helen has already shared this morning, the one Twitter has dubbed #faketradie. Enormously good sport #faketradie – but let’s stow the wisecracks and try and unpick what this ad is telling us about the contest.
This isn't a criticism of anybody - but if the ad isn't about persuading you, chances are you won't like it. Even if it's your team.
11.28pm BST
With friends like these...
News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt is begrudgingly throwing his support behind the PM, in a column titled I admit it: Turnbull is better than Shorten. But let’s look long-term.
11.24pm BST
Day of the Tripods.
What the media conference room looks like before @TurnbullMalcolm arrives #ausvotes @abcnews @abcnewsSydney pic.twitter.com/QQVgB9PNt1
11.20pm BST
Senator Matt Canavan is in the Top End today, and has made a few hundred million dollars of announcements before breakfast.
So far we’ve had about $130m for Northern Territory roads, including an extra $28m for the Outback Way, and $985,000 to fast-track a feasibility study into irrigated agriculture.
11.16pm BST
I promise it wasn’t deliberate but it appears I missed Pauline Hanson’s hot take on Maguire.
Pauline Hanson wants to drown journalists and thinks everyone should get over McGuire's remarks. #sun7 https://t.co/DnytEF4xAH
11.14pm BST
Something I haven’t addressed in the blog today because it wasn’t (yet) in the political realm.
In a shock development, Eddie Maguire has said something offensive, for which he is sorry (that you were offended).
11.09pm BST
If you were looking for a new refrain for the last two weeks, then you’re about to be disappointed.
Mathias Cormann is on ABC to tell us “the prime minister will continue to promote the national economic plan for jobs and growth”.
10.49pm BST
The Coalition wasn’t the only ones to release a slightly awkward video.
Evidently there aren’t enough journalists on the campaign trail, and Shorten’s wife, Chloe, was forced to step in and do the interviewing.
10.42pm BST
Coalition campaign spokesman, Mathias Cormann is on Sky News, getting asked about the Coalition shelving its plan to outsource the Medicare payments system.
Cormann denies the Coalition has been rattled.
10.35pm BST
Some more on that shock Labor resignation by Christian Kunde in the NSW seat of Farrer.
He’s already gone from the Labor party website, but it’s not going to be so easy to scrub him from the news cycle today.
He has been variously branded a “supporter of terrorism”, as well as an “extremist” and a “fundamentalist.” Disappointingly, there have been few calls – if any, aside from this one – to support Uthman against this barrage of modern ad hominem.
At this point, I should say that I know Uthman Badar personally. He is a brilliant economics graduate, who won the Premier’s Award for all round achievement in his Higher School Certificate. Moreover, he is a husband, father, trusted friend and cricket enthusiast. I would trust him with the guardianship of my own child. He is also deeply religious Muslim. But these are not the reasons why I believe Uthman deserves support against this modern ad hominem; the real reason is more complex and illustrates something more sinister.
Ultimately, it concerns the price that society and individuals pay for the justification of opinions that should stay suppressed. The justification-suppression model of prejudice, first proposed by Crandall and Eshleman, suggests that prejudices are repressed until they can be justified by means of stereotypes, ideologies or personal characteristics. It is an uncomfortable model for many, as it concludes that all individuals carry prejudices of some description.
10.21pm BST
“No I don’t think a plebiscite would go ahead and I don’t support a plebiscite at all,” King says on the issue of marriage equality, when asked if Labor would vote for the public vote if the Turnbull government was returned.
10.19pm BST
Catherine King, Labor’s shadow health minister, is on Radio National hitting the Coalition on Medicare.
The federal government’s taskforce has been set up to look at Medicare, among other things, she’s telling AM.
10.10pm BST
Before we get completely overrun with the morning media appearances, here’s something from the weekend.
On Saturday the ABC revealed the Coalition was given research in a Treasury briefing months ago which found negative gearing tax benefits favour high income earners. Despite this, the Coalition has continued to say negative gearing overwhelmingly favours the average Aussie, and Labor’s plan to restrict it will bring on an economic apocalypse.
9.48pm BST
The Coalition released a new election ad last night and it sure is … something.
Lest the party sound too overconfident, a friendly looking tradie has urged voters to “stick with the current mob for a while”.
Also, why is his saw-stool set up in a lane outside the fencing? And who has a ceramic cup on a building site? pic.twitter.com/pZEs7TPk0T
Has to be the same agency that did Stoner Sloth #faketradie https://t.co/F2HMD2FRSv
9.37pm BST
Hello, good morning, happy Monday, and welcome to the beginning of this week’s election live blog. There is less than a fortnight to go.
Yesterday saw the Labor party officially launch its campaign and the Liberals will follow on next week, which might be confusing if you’ve been following it all since 9 May.
You will not read a more glorious five pars today. from AAP. https://t.co/CWMXFC6KE1 pic.twitter.com/Xjqlvo1AYg
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