Government and Opposition go on all-out attack in fiery preview of federal election face-off

In a preview of what looks likely to be a firey election campaign, the major parties have tested out their attack lines as the Opposition zeros in on the leaked texts scandal dogging the PM, and the Government focuses on Anthony Albanese’s record.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton said Australians concerned about Russia or China “wouldn’t vote Labor” at the next election, while the Opposition zeroed in on the leaked texts scandal that has dogged the Prime Minister, in a preview of what will be a firey election campaign.

The major parties tested out campaign attack lines in a heated question time in Parliament on Wednesday.

In what is expected to be the start of an increased focus on Opposition leader Anthony Albanese’s record, the Coalition made frequent comments on a potential “Labor-Greens power sharing” arrangement after the election.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Labor leader had previously “stood for carbon taxes, has stood for a mining tax, has advocated a congestion tax” and saying he was “too weak to stand up to the Greens and the unions”.

Peter Dutton says Australians concerned about Russia or China “wouldn’t vote Labor” at the next election. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gary Ramage

Mr Dutton said Labor “cut defence spending” when it was last in government.

“If you’re worried about whether China is and where Russia is … you wouldn’t vote for Labor at the next election,” he said.

The Opposition focused its attacks on a leaked text message from Barnaby Joyce, prior to becoming Deputy Prime Minister, describing Prime Minister Scott Morrison as a “liar and a hypocrite”.

Targeting the government on its policies on women’s safety, Lilley MP Anika Wells questioned why the government had not implemented a recommendation from the Jenkins Respect@Work review “that employers have a positive duty to protect workers from sexual harassment in the workplace”.

Originally published as Government and Opposition go on all-out attack in fiery preview of federal election face-off