Election 2022: Nothing ‘wrong’ but was debate enough to save PM?

Nothing went ‘wrong’ for Scott Morrison or Anthony Albanese during the third leaders’ debate, the PM was strong but it may not be enough, writes Clare Armstrong.

What’s gone wrong?

A blunt question was posed to Scott Morrison midway through the final leaders’ debate as a raft of his own Liberal MPs fight for their political life against climate independents.

But the Prime Minister wasn’t ruffled as he warned a vote for the independent candidates may be “well meaning”, but would “weaken” the parliament and the nation.

It was Mr Morrison’s best performance of the three debates, and it needed to be with the latest polls showing inner-city moderate Liberals aren’t the only political careers at stake.

Linking his answers to key Coalition talking points throughout his answers, Mr Morrison was strong when connecting with the fears of small business owners in relation to wage rises, and in attacking Labor’s lack of publicly available costings at this stage in the election campaign.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison during the debate (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

By comparison, Mr Albanese was at his best when he sought to connect with the emotive effects of cost-of-living pressures, such as struggling families choosing to buy mincemeat instead of steak at the grocery store.

Channel 7 political editor Mark Riley delivered on his promise to reign in both leaders, providing a stark contrast to the unwieldy debate three nights earlier.

But like Sunday night’s shouting match on the Nine Network, it was again the issue of integrity that sparked the most animated clash of the final debate.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese reacts during the third leaders' debate at Seven Network Studios. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

The leaders were drawn in with questions about respective issues of internal bullying and alleged inappropriate conduct – both strongly denied by the relevant parties.

But with the follow up asking why not have an integrity commission to deal with such allegations at arms length of politicians, Mr Albanese had the stronger response.

Mr Morrison’s argument he would only introduce his own integrity legislation once he knew it would pass parliament was not as compelling as Mr Albanese’s own version with “teeth” to hold those in power to account.

Nothing went seriously “wrong” for either side during the debate, but in such a close contest that may not be enough for Mr Morrison.

Originally published as Election 2022: Nothing ‘wrong’ but was debate enough to save PM?