Federal Election 2022: Five highlights from day one of the campaign

One day almost down – 40 to go until Australians vote for their next government. Here’s five highlights from the first day of campaigning.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called the election and both major party leaders have given the nation their first official spiel of the six-week campaign.

Aside from drawing the battle lines on which the election will be fought – namely the economy, cost-of-living and national security —- the leaders also revealed a few other facts.

Here’s five things that have come out from day one of the election campaign.

DATE THE ELECTION WILL BE HELD

The election will be held on May 21, with the Prime Minister opting for the longer six-week campaign option.

SCOTT MORRISON WANTS TO BE PM FOR ALL OF THE NEXT TERM IF THE COALITION IS RE-ELECTED

The Prime Minister confirmed he planned to stay on in the top job for the entirety of the next term if the Coalition is re-elected, saying “there’s a lot to do” — ruling out a succession plan where he hands the reins over.

But whether or not Mr Morrison actually gets to carry out that commitment – should the government be elected – depends on Coalition members opting to keep him there.

EDUCATION MINISTER ALAN TUDGE TO REMAIN IN FRONTBENCH

Mr Tudge stood aside from his ministerial role in December last year following claims from former government staffer Rachelle Miller he had been emotionally, and on one occasion physically, abusive to her while they were in a relationship in 2017.

Mr Tudge denies the allegations, and a report released on March found there was insufficient evidence he had breached ministerial standards.

But he remains “on leave”, with fellow frontbencher Stuart Robert taking on acting responsibilities for the education portfolio.

The Prime Minister signalled Mr Tudge would feature in his next cabinet should the Coalition win.

“Alan Tudge is still in my Cabinet,” Mr Morrison said.

HEIR TO THE HEALTH PORTFOLIO TO BE REVEALED

Australia’s health minister Greg Hunt, who steered the nation through all of Covid-19, is retiring at this election — leaving a critical and gaping hole in the Morrison government’s top ranks while the pandemic is still raging on.

Mr Morrison confirmed he would reveal the next health minister “in the next week or so”.

LABOR’S FRONTBENCH TO LOOK THE SAME AS IT DOES NOW

Mr Albanese said it was his “expectation” that people on his frontbench would “serve in the same position that they are in now.”

Mr Albanese said no-one on his frontbench was “disappearing” and no-one “withdrawing” and that Labor was putting forward a constructive alternative plan for the nation.

“I would expect that the starting point would be that they would maintain the same positions that they hold now,” he said.

He conceded the decision would ultimately be up to Labor caucus.

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Originally published as Federal Election 2022: Five highlights from day one of the campaign