PM Scott Morrison declares he’s a ‘full termer’ who won’t go to an early federal election
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has denied speculation he may take advantage of the government’s good polling and go to an early poll.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- AFP probe potential fraud over airport $27m overspend
- Home Affairs assisting ICAC with Daryl Maguire’s cash for visas ‘scam’
Australians will not be sent to an early federal election with Prime Minister Scott Morrison declaring he is a “full termer” who will go the distance to 2022.
Mr Morrison gave his strongest indication yet his government will not seek an early re-election during a joint party room meeting with his colleagues in Canberra on Tuesday.
“I’m a full termer,” he said.
“Elections are too hard to win, I cherish every day. We’ll do it for the time we said we would.”
The latest a joint lower house and half senate federal election can be held in Australia is 21 May 2022, but a vote can be held up to 10 months before then.
MORE NEWS
HSC disgrace: 1000 students can’t read exam papers
Maguire’s son got $3k birthday gift from Chinese businessman
Embattled Burgess’ first post since explosive claims
Mr Morrison cautioned his colleagues that in political cycles there was always “good times and bad times”.
“When things are going well (politically) that’s when there’s a risk of complacency, disunity of the work rate dropping up, so that’s bad for governance but more importantly it’s bad for the community, the people we’re (here) to serve,” he said.
“So we need to maintain our discipline and unity and our focus, that’s more important than ever.”
Mr Morrison recalled being asked about the impact of coronavirus on the timing of the election.
“It was the furthest thing from my mind then and it still is,” he said.
Mr Morrison said the advice he had received from former prime minister John Howard in years past was “stay focused on the job you’re doing, and you’ll do it well”.
Some political commentators have speculated the government may want to go to an early election, either to seek a mandate for their COVID-19 recovery plan or avoid sending voters to the polls at a particularly deep point in the recession.
However Mr Morrison’s comments appeared to contradict that theory, as he insisted to colleagues he would go the full distance.
During the joint party room meeting, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg spoke to his colleagues about the lasting mental health impact of the tough coronavirus restrictions in his home state of Victoria.
Mr Frydenberg talked about a chilling text he had received from a friend in lockdown on Monday.
“He said the children of some of his friends had started to self harm, a friend of the friend who sent the text had committed suicide,” Mr Frydenberg told colleagues.
“The mental health statistics for Victoria are damning, yet businesses still can’t open.
Mr Frydenberg contrasted the “leadership” of the NSW government under Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who has allowed the economy to reopen while managing outbreaks of COVID-19 compared to the tough stance taken by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
“We’re for every Australian, and we’re speaking up for them,” Mr Frydenberg said.
Lifeline: 13 11 14