Federal election 2022 live: Reporter who stumped Anthony Albanese denies ‘gotcha moment’
The reporter whose question about interest rates to Anthony Albanese kicked off today’s events has spoken out about the “shock” afterwards.
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The election campaign is officially underway, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday calling for Australians to head to the polls on May 21.
Today marks the first full day of the marathon 41-day campaign for both Mr Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese.
We will bring you all the latest updates from the election trail throughout the day.
‘Shock’: Reporter who stumped Albo speaks out
The reporter whose question about interest rates to Anthony Albanese kicked off today’s events has spoken out, saying it wasn’t intended to be “a gotcha moment”.
Ten News political reporter Stela Todorovic twice asked the Labor leader this morning if he knew the Reserve Bank cash rate – which has been at a record low of 0.1 per cent since November 2020.
“Oh look, we can do the old Q&A stuff over 50 different figures,” Mr Albanese replied. “We can do the 20 questions stuff...”
Mr Albanese was then asked by another reporter at the press conference in Devonport, Tasmania if he knew the national unemployment rate – which he did not.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese couldn't recall the RBA cash rate -- when asked by 10 News First's @Stela_Todorovic#auspol#ausvotespic.twitter.com/mfdZ7W6ccY
— 10 News First (@10NewsFirst) April 11, 2022
Speaking to The Project on Monday night, Todorovic said she thought it was a “pretty straightforward” question.
“The cash rate hasn’t changed since 2020 and for someone who is campaigning to be the alternative Prime Minister, I feel like Anthony Albanese should have had this on a cheat card in his notes,” she said, adding she thinks it “does matter” to voters.
“You could say it was a gotcha moment, but it wasn’t intended to be. At the end of the day when the interest rate hikes up in June, that will affect millions and millions of Australians, so I’m pretty sure that a lot of them would like to know that the Prime Minister of the country, if that’s Anthony Albanese, Scott Morrison or whoever else, has these answers and he certainly isn’t the first leader of a political party to not get these figures right.”
10 News First political reporter @Stela_Todorovic had Anthony Albanese stumped with her question about the cash rate, so did she expect it to cause a chain reaction? #TheProjectTVpic.twitter.com/b1GqhZ6lX9
— The Project (@theprojecttv) April 11, 2022
Todorovic said there was “a little bit of shock” after the press conference.
“He came in quite chipper, was very chipper this morning when he was at the playground playing with the children,” she said.
“He was very excited about his hearing impairment announcement and his whole campaign is very much focusing on health as well, and that Labor cares about childcare and health care, so I don‘t think he was expecting what happened just a few short minutes after that announcement.”
She addded, “Look, he did bounce back, I have to give him credit. If he does get asked these questions or similar questions, he will have learnt from today and maybe have the answers right up his sleeve.”
Albanese denies today he ‘lost the election’
A well prepared Anthony Albanese has been grilled on more key economic numbers by Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell this afternoon, as he laughed off suggestions today’s gaffe had cost him the election.
“You know my next question – what’s the inflation rate?” Clennell opened the interview.
“The inflation rate is 3.5 and the wages rate is 2.3, which is why inflation is much higher than the cost of living, that’s why people are under pressure,” Mr Albanese said.
The Labor leader denied it was a “gaffe”, calling it a “mistake”.
Asked how it happened, Mr Albanese said, “Look, you can come up with a whole range of reasons... a whole lot of figures around, of course the average unemployment rate under this government is 5.7, under us it was 5.1... that was a question that I thought ... when people are firing questions at you ... but it was a mistake, I accept it, I own up to it, that’s what leaders do.”
Clennell pressed, “I mean, I don’t want too melodramatic here, but is this the day you lost the election?”
“You are being melodramatic, Andrew,” Mr Albanese replied.
“People make mistakes, and when it comes to the figures quite often, I don’t want to get into the Prime Minister’s mistakes that have been made, but they have been, and recently there was a beauty with regard to how many years four plus three make up. People make mistakes, that happens, I’ve fessed up to it, I’m accepting responsibility for it and that’s it.”
Mr Albanese then shifted his attack back to the government‘s cost-of-living agenda, saying the budget failed to address key problems such as wages growth.
“They don’t have an economic plan for the future,” he said.
‘Won’t be easy’: Libs release Albo attack ad
The Liberal Party has wasted no time seizing on Anthony Albanese’s trainwreck press conference today, rolling out a new campaign ad this evening.
The ad features the clip of the Labor leader struggling to state the unemployment rate and ends with the tagline, “It won’t be easy under Albanese.”
It’s no “Kevin O’Lemon” but it’s not bad – although “easy-peasy, Albanese” may have been catchier.
Don't risk our economy with Labor. pic.twitter.com/oKPXygjN8s
— Liberal Party (@LiberalAus) April 11, 2022
PM forced to flee as protesters ambush presser
Prime Minister Scott Morrison made a hasty exit from his first event of the election campaign as protesters tried to ambush him.
The group of about a dozen protesters, some of whom were Labor Party members, waited outside for Mr Morrison and local Liberal candidate Andrew Constance as the pair toured a canning business in the marginal electorate Gilmore, held by Labor MP Fiona Phillips.
They wore Hawaiian shirts, held hoses and brandished signs of Mr Morrison in the same get-up, bearing the words “doesn’t hold a hose”.
That was, of course, a reference to the Prime Minister’s infamous remark that he “doesn’t hold a hose, mate” during the uproar over his trip to Hawaii during the bushfire crisis in early 2020.
Some of the protesters sang April Sun in Cuba, echoing Mr Morrison’s ukulele performance on 60 Minutes.
Bob, a self-funded retiree who didn’t wish to give his surname, was heavily critical of Mr Constance, a former NSW state minister who has reconciled with the Prime Minister after initially blasting his bushfire response.
“It’s a joke. Now he wants to come here. It was only 18 months ago that he was rubbishing Morrison,” Bob said.
“The reason he didn’t stand in Bega (Mr Constance’s old state seat) again is that he knew he wasn’t going to win.”
He then turned his attention to Mr Morrison.
“He failed at helping us during the bushfires. He failed us in the floods,” he said.
“Be fair dinkum. If you want to stand there and take credit for things, then start to do action.”
During a press conference moments earlier, Mr Constance indicated he would not shy away from criticising his own side of politics if necessary.
“I am going to be fierce in my representation of the people of Gilmore. I’m not going to sit there as a wallflower. I’ll call it how it is,” he pledged.
Protest aside, the Prime Minister at least managed to complete his visit to the canning business without copping any jokes about him getting “canned” at the election.
East Coast Canning was founded five years ago, and employs 35 staff. It provides mobile can printing services to breweries and distillers.
The Morrison campaign presumably chose it as a suitable event site because it received a million-dollar grant through the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund to help it buy a super expensive printing machine from Germany, the first of its kind in this country. And that has led to the business hiring more staff.
Jobs and growth! Oh wait, that was the Turnbull campaign’s slogan. Watch enough of these elections and the themes start to blend together.
Anyway Mr Morrison toured the business before witnessing the printing of an election-edition label, called “Scomo’s Strong Economy”.
“A full strength brew on the economy,” the Prime Minister remarked. Yes, election campaigns are lame, so brace yourself for more of this.
Mr Morrison also used his visit to spruik a $40 million roads package for the local area, which we mentioned earlier in the blog.
– Samuel Clench
Albanese also confronted by protester
The Labor leader’s second stop on Monday was Devonport, which is within the marginal seat of Braddon which Labor will be desperately hoping to wrest back from the Coalition.
It is currently held by Liberal MP Gavin Pearce with a margin of just 3.1 per cent.
Mr Albanese was in town to meet with aged care nurses, but his visit was interrupted by Devonport local Gillian Windler, who called out “Kimberley Kitching lives on in Tasmania”.
She was referring to the tragic recent death of the 52-year old first-term Labor Senator from Victoria.
There have been suggestions stress over her uncertain pre-election may have contributed to her premature death from a heart attack, and also sparked allegations of so-called “mean girl” behaviour from colleagues including Penny Wong and Kristina Keneally.
Ms Windler told reporters she believed Mr Albanese had mishandled the crisis by failing to hold a thorough investigation.
“He cant just brush it off,” she said.
“ … it doesn’t work like that- it might in politics, but not in real life.”
She said the lack of investigation was an “absolute travesty” which would have been examined in any other workplace.
– Alexis Carey
Albo fesses up to cash rate, unemployment ‘mistake’
Anthony Albanese has addressed reporters in Tasmania’s Devonport, owning up to not knowing the cash rate or unemployment rate.
“Earlier today I made a mistake. I am human. But when I make a mistake, I’ll fess up to it and I will set about correcting that mistake,” he said.
“I won’t blame someone else, I’ll accept responsibility. That’s what leaders do.”
Mr Albanese was then asked: “Do you know what the figures are?”
This time, it appeared the Labor Leader had done his research.
“Yes, 0.1 per cent is the cash rate, which is very different to the interest rate. And, of course, four per cent is the unemployment rate,” he said.
Albanese fronts press in Devonport to fess up to his earlier “mistake†about not knowing the cash and unemployment rates #AusVotes2022 via @canberratimespic.twitter.com/72SaLkQuf7
— Sarah Basford Canales (@sbasfordcanales) April 11, 2022
ScoMo’s next stop after protester ambush
Scott Morrison’s second stop of the day was a brief one, at Air Affairs Australia’s advanced manufacturing centre in South Nowra.
Air Affairs Australia manufactures and operates drone targeting systems, which the Australian Defence Force uses for training operations.
Mr Morrison met several workers and apprentices, asking each how they started off on their career paths.
“I’ll let you focus on your job. You look like you know what you’re doing,” he told one apprentice, who seemed to appreciate the compliment, before moving behind closed doors, where we humble journalists could not follow.
– Samuel Clench
‘Brave’: PM supports trans sports ban
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has thrown his support behind banning transgender women from competing in female sports, praising a senator who has spoken out about the issue as “brave”.
“This morning on 2GB you endorsed the campaign from your Warringah candidate … which was opposing trans women competing in female sports. You said something similar about Claire Chandler’s bill?” a reporter asked the PM, to which he responded “I did”.
Tasmanian Senator Claire Chandler wants the Sex Discrimination Act to be amended so it would not be unlawful for a sporting club to ban a person from a team based on their biological sex.
The reporter then asked if the PM shared this position and if he would introduce legislation to effectively ban transgender women from competing in female sports.
“I think I conveyed my own personal view on these matters. I welcome Catherine’s selection, pleased to play a role in that. I think she’s raised very important issues,” Mr Morrison said.
“I think Claire Chandler’s also been outspoken and brave on these issues. I share their views. We will have more to say about that at another time, if I do, I will. We will deal with that another time.”
Question Albo couldn’t answer
Labor Leader Anthony Albanese failed three times to answer questions about the current Reserve Bank of Australia cash rate.
For reference, the official cash rate target is 0.1 per cent.
When first asked for the cash rate, Mr Albanese said: “We can do the old Q and answer over 50 different figures. The truth is they are absurd.”
“The Reserve Bank have said that there will be multiple interest rate increases regardless of who is in government. Regardless of who is in government.”
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has now refused twice to state the RBA cash rate for interest rates. Yes it’s a “gotcha†question. However, he should know it. pic.twitter.com/D1ecWKLLME
— Samantha Maiden (@samanthamaiden) April 11, 2022
When asked a second and third time the Labor leader again didn’t answer. He was also unable to say the current unemployment rate.
“The national unemployment rate at the moment is, I think it’s 5.4,” Mr Albanese said, before adding that he was “not sure what it is”.
“At the start of the year when the Prime Minister couldn’t say what the cost of petrol or the price of a loaf of bread was, he was ridiculed for being out of touch of Australians,” one reporter noted, adding the RBA cash rate hasn’t changed since November 2020 and unemployment rates are widely available.
“Is it your expectation then that leaders don’t have to be across these kinds of details that directly impact voters lives, are you not going to answer those kinds of specific questions for this campaign?”
“Not at all. What I was not going to enter into, as an auction in terms of the Tasmanian unemployment rate and the various rates that are put forward,” Mr Albanese said.
“I’m happy to know that the last time I filled out petrol was $2.2 a litre. I know how much the price of bread is, I know how much a litre of milk is. I know about those things that affect ordinary people.
“I’m happy to engage with you, but I’m not – up to people to ask whatever questions they want.”
After Mr Albanese’s failure to answer these questions, it came as no surprise that these were the very first questions off the bat for Prime Minister Scott Morrison in his own press conference.
The PM had no trouble answering, saying with confidence that the said the cash rate was 0.1 per cent and has “been there for some time”.
“The unemployment rate I’m happy to say is 4 per cent, falling to a 50 year low. It came down from 5.7 per cent when we were first elected,” he said.
“More importantly, as we went into the pandemic, we were facing unemployment rates up around 15 per cent. Now it’s 4 per cent.”
Mr Morrison said there were 375,000 more people in work today than before the pandemic hit.
“The reason that’s been able to be achieved which puts us ahead of all the advanced economies in the world, not just on growth and our through the year growth to end of September was 4.2 per cent, but also on jobs,” he said.
“We are ahead of all those major advanced economies.”
PM grilled over ‘secret’ $500k payout
Scott Morrison has revealed there’s “nothing to prevent” Education Minister Alan Tudge returning to cabinet despite the negotiation of a “private” taxpayer-funded payout of over $500,000 to his ex-lover and staffer.
News.com.au revealed on Monday that the secret payout is being negotiated by the Department of Finance but the Prime Minister has told Channel 9 Today show host Karl Stefanovic that this was a “private” employment matter.
“Is Alan Tudge still a Cabinet minister? I’m a little confused,’’ Channel 9’s Karl Stefanovic asked.
“He is. He stood aside and we had that inquiry and it was found there was nothing there which would prevent him continuing on as a minister,’’ Mr Morrison said.
“He’s decided to stay aside for health … reasons until the next election and if he wishes to rejoin the Cabinet he will be welcome. He’s technically still part of the Cabinet.”
Asked about News.com.au’s story, the Prime Minister said he had not been briefed on the payout negotiations.
“I have no knowledge of that. That’s a private matter between her and the department and so that is not a matter I have any involvement in or oversight or visibility on,’’ he said.
– Samantha Maiden
PM: Albo ‘sledging’ his way to top job
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has accused Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese of trying to “sledge” his way into becoming the leader of Australia
Speaking to Today, Mr Morrison claimed his opponent had spent the last three years “fighting me while I’ve been fighting the pandemic and standing up for Australia”.
“Just sledging a Prime Minister for three years is no application for the job,” he said.
“I have been getting on with keeping our economy strong and keeping Australians safe. This guy, no-one knows really what he’s about, what he stands for or what his plans are.”
Mr Morrison conceded that not everyone had agreed with his choices during the past three years, but he has worked hard to keep the economy going, “save lives” and stand up to “threats” from places like China.
Albo’s message to Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese has wished Scott Morrison well when asked if he had a message for the PM this morning.
Speaking to the Today show, Mr Albanese offered some kind words for his opponent.
“I wish him well in the campaign. It is a great thing that people are prepared to put themselves forward and the Prime Minister has been Prime Minister now for a full term,” he said.
“He has put himself forward during this campaign and I wish him well. I hope that we stick to the policy agenda during the campaign. That is what I will be doing, putting forward a positive agenda for Australia’s future.”
Mr Albanese also offered a piece of fashion advice to Mr Morrison if he chooses to visit Launceston, telling him to “bring a big coat”.
“It is a bit chilly,” he said.
Co-host Allison Langdon claimed his message was “kinder” than Mr Morrison’s this morning.
“You are so caring, Albo. His message to you was good morning. I think think on the desk we have decided that your message was kinder,” she said.
However, Mr Albanese couldn’t resist taking a slight jab at the Liberal Party, saying: “I am from the Labor Party, we are the party that care about people”.
‘Can’t run from it’: PM grilled on ‘character’
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has copped a grilling on his first morning TV interview of the election trail.
Mr Morrison appeared on Today on Monday morning, with co-host Karl Stefanovic immediately firing questions about the PM's “character”.
“If this election is based on character which is are a pretty easy task for Labor, you lose don’t you?” Stefanovic asked.
Mr Morrison claimed the character of his government has been “proven in the results we have achieved”, noting how the government has worked to keep people safe and keep the economy going during the pandemic.
But Stefanovic wasn’t letting him get off easily, turning the conversation back to the PM’s “own character”.
He added: “You can’t run from it, can you?”
“My character, I’m happy to stand by every single day. Every single day because it’s the strength that we’ve needed to get through this pandemic,” Mr Morrison responded.
“Not everybody agrees with everything I’ve done and not everybody will necessarily like me but what they will know is that when we face this crisis we ploughed through with the right plan to keep our economy strong, to save lives, to stand up to the threats in our region.”
‘That’s nonsense’: Albo fires back at question
Anthony Albanese has hit back at claims many voters don’t understand his values, calling the suggestion “nonsense”.
ABC New Breakfast host Michael Rowland pointed out that recent polls showed 38 per cent of voters “still don’t have a view on you”, noting a lot of voters aren’t aware of his values.
“Well, that’s nonsense, Michael, with respect. I’m someone who is standing for Prime Minister. I had a biography published on me many years ago outlining my life story. No-one knew who Scott Morrison was when he became Prime Minister, when he knocked off a sitting prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull,” Mr Albanese said.
He added that he was not going to “stab someone in the back” to become Prime Minister.
“I’m asking the Australian people to elect me as prime minister. And I’ll be putting forward a positive alternative to the current Government’s inertia and inaction,” he said.
Election pitches summarised
If you are wondering about the driving forces behind Mr Morrison and Mr Albanese’s campaigns, then you are in luck.
Both have helpfully condensed their election pitches, after being asked to explain what they are campaigning for in 30 seconds or less on Sunrise this morning.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison:
“This election is between the proven financial management of my government, surviving the worst economic crisis since the Second World War, and that untested and unknown Labor opposition.
“We have retained our credit rating, 700,000 people in jobs and we have an economic plan to keep that going in the future. To ensure that we can keep pressures down on cost of living and ensure Australians can keep more of what they earn and plan for the future with confidence.”
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese:
“I want a better future for Australia with more secure work, with higher paid jobs.
“I want to take pressure off the cost of living by having cheaper electricity prices, by having cheaper childcare, and I want to make more things here in Australia.”
ScoMo’s ‘loving’ message to Albanese
Scott Morrison has delivered a surprisingly pleasant message to Anthony Albanese this morning, capping off his first morning TV interview on day one of the campaign.
Today’s Karl Stefanovic asked Mr Morrison if he had anything to say to Mr Albanese on Monday morning.
“Good morning” the PM replied.
This prompted laughter from Stefanovic, who said: “That’s loving. That’s it?”.
“It’s a beautiful morning here in Nowra,” Mr Morrison added.
Real reason PM rejected Sales’ ABC demand
The real reason Scott Morrison has dodged ABC’s Leigh Sales’ interview demands ahead of the election has finally been revealed.
During the Prime Minister’s 7.30 interview last week, Sales pressed Mr Morrison on whether he would appear on the program at least twice ahead of the May 21 election, noting Anthony Albanese had already agreed.
This prompted a heated response from Mr Morrison, who said the election is “not all about 7.30”, noting he will make himself available all programs throughout the campaign.
Now, a senior government source told The Australian some in Mr Morrison’s camp believe two interviews with Sales could be overkill.
“We like Leigh, but we were never going to commit to two interviews with 7.30 in the campaign. We wouldn’t commit two interviews to Paul Murray on Sky now either. That’s not to say we won’t do it, but we can’t commit just yet,” the source said.
Another source told the publication that the PM had to do a variety of different interviews to ensure his message reached key swinging voters.
“The people watching 7.30 aren’t generally changing their vote, whether Labor or Liberal. They’re rusted on,” the source said.
Day ahead for PM
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is starting his first full day of the election campaign in Nowra, on the NSW South Coast.
Mr Morrison, presumably joined by the local Liberal candidate Andrew Constance, will be talking up a $40 million package to upgrade local roads across the Shoalhaven region.
“Backing the Shoalhaven has always been a key priority for my government and with Andrew Constance on my team, we can keep getting things done for this important region,” Mr Morrison said.
“Andrew’s work as NSW transport minister ensured the South Coast got the local upgrades they needed at a state level, and his advocacy has ensured this $40 million investment will be delivered if our government is re-elected.
“Investments like this help build a strong economy, which means a stronger future.”
Mr Constance made a high profile switch from state to federal politics to contest the marginal seat of Gilmore, which is held by first-term Labor MP Fiona Phillips.
There is a slightly awkward undertone here: Mr Constance was critical of Mr Morrison’s performance during the bushfire crisis a couple of years ago, saying then-premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons were the “only two people providing leadership”.
When the Prime Minister received a famously hostile reception in the town of Cobargo – situated in Mr Constance’s state electorate – Mr Constance suggested local residents had given him “the welcome he probably deserved”.
Of course, the Shoalhaven region also fell victim to the recent floods. The Coalition says its roads package is meant to prioritise upgrades which improve safety, and which address the maintenance backlog created by that extreme weather.
Before we get to the full-on campaigning, however, the Prime Minister has a blitz of morning media appearances to blast through. We’ll bring you the key details from those interviews when they happen.
– Samuel Clench
Day ahead for Albanese
Anthony Albanese is kicking off day one of his campaign in Launceston – which falls within the potentially crucial seat of Bass.
The electorate, in Tasmania’s northeast, is currently held by Liberal MP Bridget Archer, with a margin of just 0.4 per cent.
Mr Albanese will be joined by Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler for the surprisingly specific announcement of Labor’s $1.5 million funding boost for Aussie kids living with hearing loss.
That pile of cash will do towards the development of the digital HearHub platform, run by Shepherd Centres – an organisation providing support service for hearing-impaired children.
The ALP will also fund new Shepherd Centre facilities in areas that have “previously gone without”, with two new centres to be established in Launceston and Hobart with $2.5 million in funding, and an extra $2.5 million going towards a new Shepherd Centre in Oran Park in Sydney’s south west.
“Kids with hearing loss deserve the best possible start in life and the best possible care and support – no matter where they live,” Mr Albanese said.
“A Labor government will ensure our kids are looked after, whether through digital or on-the-ground support services. No child will be left behind.”
Mr Albanese will front the media at 9.30am on Monday ahead of his first full official day of campaigning.
– Alexis Carey
Originally published as Federal election 2022 live: Reporter who stumped Anthony Albanese denies ‘gotcha moment’
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