Miranda Devine: Leaders debate starts hot and heavy as PM plays to strengths

The second leaders debate got hot and heavy tonight when Opposition Leader Bill Shorten objected to the Prime Minister moving into his space on the stage.

The second leaders debate got hot and heavy tonight when Opposition Leader Bill Shorten objected to the Prime Minister moving into his space on the stage.

“You’re a classic space invader,” snarled Shorten, as Morrison looked on bemused.

The audience laughed, but there was a nasty edge to the exchange.

“A little light-heartedness never hurt a debate,” said Shorten, trying to lighten the mood halfway through the hour-long program.

Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten and Prime Minister Scott Morrison during the Sky News/Courier-Mail People's Forum debate in Brisbane tonight. Picture: Kym Smith/News Corp Australia

The Sky News-Courier Mail people’s forum in Brisbane in front of 109 undecided voters was a much more robust affair than Monday’s Perth debate. From the start we saw a divide between the two leaders of head versus heart.

The theme for Morrison was his continuing stewardship of a strong economy, pointing to his announcement in the latest Budget of the first surplus in 12 years.

“Australia is the best country in the world and I have a plan to keep it that way.”

He also promised “direct and honest answers to your questions”.

Bill Shorten got the first laugh in his opening statement.

He began with his stump speech about “the economy is not working” for working and middle class people.

He then cracked his favourite well-worn campaign joke: “You voted for Mr Abbott and you got Mr Turnbull. You voted for Mr Turnbull and you got Mr Morrison. You vote for Mr Morrison you might get Clive Palmer, who knows?”

Boom boom.

Labor leader Bill Shorten and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: Gary Ramage/News Corp Australia

It was a win for Morrison just two questions in when audience member Phil asked the cracker question about the cost of Labor’s policies that journalists have been trying in vain to get answered by the Opposition Leader.

Phil said Labor governments have make big promises before and all we’re left with is “higher taxes and ­bigger deficits without all these plans eventuating”.

“How much more (will) the Australian people be paying in tax to make that happen?”

Shorten’s “thanks, Phil”, sounded slightly strangled.

“We’re going to release our costings at the end of next week,” he said, before reaching into his former union leader reservoir of pastoral responses and asked for Phil’s details so he could personally send him a copy of those costings when they are ready.

It came across as slightly phony but was an effective way of neutralising the question. It was also Shorten’s way of ingratiating himself with each questioner, using their names, inquiring about their private circumstances, feeling their pain, as someone who “represented workers”, “I want to hear what the real problem is”.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was again pressed to reveal the cost of his policies. Picture: Gary Ramage/News Corp Australia

The question also allowed Morrison to use his favourite campaign attack line: “There’s $387 billion of individual higher taxes. They are spending more and they’re taxing more.”

There was a long to-and-fro on franking credits, aka a loophole or the “retirees’ tax”, which Shorten was ­anxious to nail, with a long detailed answer.

Morrison got a laugh from the audience when he said: “I’m happy for him to talk longer because he’s got a lot more taxes to explain … he’s got a lot to explain”.

Both men became testy during the exchange.

“Why are you paying a gift?” said Shorten.

“They’ve worked hard all their lives and you’re telling them it’s a gift?” said Morrison.

“Everyone works hard, mate,” Shorten retorted.

“I think self funded retirees have worked pretty hard and they don’t deserve the rules being changed on them” said Morrison, winning the exchange.

“The point is that Labor is changing the rules for retirees.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison continued to argue the Coalition would deliver a stronger economy.

On a question about education, Shorten went personal: “My mum was a teacher … the smartest woman I’ve ever met was my mum. She was a teacher. I get it … no country ever went backwards by investing more in education.”

Morrison pointed out his government plans “over the next ten years to increase (education spending) by 60 per cent … you’ve got to make a return from the investment you make.”

The PM also went personal on a question about domestic violence: “I’m the son of a police officer. We need to ensure there are the proper resources for our law enforcement authorities (and) address the disrespect of women.”

It got testy again when the discussion turned to income tax.

“The other day when you met a worker in Gladstone … and you sidled up to him … you couldn’t look him in the eye and say you were going to ­increase his taxes by 2 per cent on July 1.”

At another point Shorten tried another snipe, saying: “Some people say we look the same but I don’t see it myself.”

In the end, Shorten came across as a bit cocky and nasty. Morrison didn’t smash any question out of the park, but he was on top of his brief and seemed more good-natured and in command.