Federal Election 2019: Day 29 of the campaign

A Liberal candidate has been sacked for claiming a man who allegedly raped his wife was the “real victim”. RECAP DAY 29 OF THE CAMPAIGN

A Liberal candidate has been sacked for claiming a man who allegedly raped his wife was the “real victim”.

 

 

Gurpal Singh, contesting the Victorian seat of Scullin, was already in strife for linking same-sex marriage to paedophilia.

The Liberal Party yielded to pressure and dumped Mr Singh tonight after his comments about the alleged rape were revealed.

“Based on new information that has come to light, Mr Gurpal Singh has been asked to resign as the candidate for Scullin,” a party spokesman said.

Meanwhile Scott Morrison will be without Liberal greats at the party's official campaign launch on Sunday.

No former Liberal prime ministers will attend the Melbourne campaign launch. John Howard will be travelling back from London, and Malcolm Turnbull will be in New York Tony Abbott will be stuck in Warringah, fighting to retain his seat.

The news comes as Liberal state treasurers claim Australians will face falling property prices, higher rents, potential job losses and reduced state revenue under federal Labor’s economic agenda.

They have also sought assurances their states would be compensated for any loss of GST revenue.

Earlier, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull spoke out against both sides of politics as election day draws closer. 

“The UK’s political challenges are not enviable, but at least there is longstanding bipartisan support for tackling climate change and moving to net zero emissions and, in particular, away from burning fossil fuels," he wrote.

Closer to home, Clive Palmer spoke on 2GB, calling Bill Shorten a “bastard” while speaking furiously about Labor policy.

And Bill Shorten, asked about a one million dollar bet on Sportsbet placed on him to win the election, told Triple M's Moonman it wasn't him.

“I don’t have a million dollars”. But he jokingly wondered if Malcolm Turnbull did.

“I wonder if it was Malcolm Turnbull. He did give $1.5m to Liberal Party last time and they thanked him by giving him the boot,” he said.

RECAP DAY 29 OF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL BELOW: 

Originally published as Federal Election 2019: Day 29 of the campaign

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