Scott Morrison calls for third leaders’ debate on prime-time TV
Scott Morrison wants the third leaders’ debate hosted in Sydney on prime-time TV after Bill Shorten was criticised for avoiding eyeballs by suggesting a lunchtime spot.
Federal Election
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants the third leaders’ debate to be hosted in Sydney on prime-time television.
The PM wants the debate to air on the ABC.
It comes after the Liberals criticised Opposition Leader Bill Shorten for supposedly avoiding prime-time eyes by suggesting to host the debate at the National Press Club’s lunchtime spot.
Mr Morrison released a letter on Sunday evening seeking a third debate to be moderated by ABC journalist Leigh Sales and held in the evening of May 7, 8 or 9.
“A prime-time debate would provide as many Australians as possible, including those who work during the day, the best opportunity to scrutinise the very clear choice on offer at this election,” the letter said.
The letter also says the third debate wouldn’t prevent the two leaders going head-to-head again and doesn’t rule out the Nine Network’s proposal to host a debate.
Mr Shorten, who faced questions about his lunchtime debate proposal, said the public has the opportunity to replay the debate if they miss it on platforms such as ABC’s iview.
“It’s possible to do an interview at one point in the day and replay it,” he told the Nine Network on Sunday.
Both leaders are due to go head-to-head in Perth on Monday, televised by the Seven Network, and Brisbane on Friday on Sky News.
HOWARD’S SHOT AT SHORTEN
Meanwhile, John Howard mocked Bill Shorten at a Liberal campaign rally in Sydney today, as the opposition came face-to-face with a fiery protester in Melbourne.
Mr Howard and Mr Morrison joined the who’s who of Liberals at Sydney Olympic Park today, including NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and party president Philip Ruddock.
Mr Morrison used the rally to spruik his party’s track record with stopping asylum seeker boats and managing the economy.
If re-elected the Morrison Government would also prioritise female asylum seekers.
Mr Howard stole the show party faithfuls the Labor leader thought the election campaign would be his “coronation” as Prime Minister.
“He thought all he had to do was turn up,” Mr Howard said.
“But something has happened on the way to polling day … People have started to ask him questions and he is getting very irritated.”
“That was not meant to happen; you can imagine the ear bashing Albo gets.”
Labor went into the election as the strong favourite to form Government after May and remain ahead 52 to 48 in the latest YouGov Galaxy poll taken for News Corp.
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Announcing a freeze on refugees if re-elected, Mr Morrison joined the jibes telling Liberal supporters he knows Labor’s policies better than Mr Shorten.
“I know Bill Shorten’s policies better than he does, I think. That is why I don’t think you should vote for them,” he said. “And if he doesn’t understand his policies, then you certainly shouldn’t vote for them.”
SHORTEN’S PITCH TO PARENTS
In Melbourne Mr Shorten pledged to make childcare more affordable and expand Medicare to cover the dental care of three million pensioners and seniors.
Childcare centres that jack up their fees to gouge families who receive a bigger rebate under Labor’s new $4 billion child care package will be “named and shamed” online.
Mr Shorten also threatened centres with price control as he unveiled the plan today at a Labor rally in Box Hill in the marginal seat of Chisholm.
While Mr Shorten was giving his speech, a climate change protester stormed the stage.
Mr Shorten brushed off the incident, saying: “If you want action on climate change, don’t protest against Labor — vote the government out.”
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The Labor leader also pledged to give childcare workers a pay rise of 20 per cent or $11,300 on average over the next eight years.
Labor refused to outline the detail of how it would directly fund a wage increase for child care workers or if it would be subsidised by taxpayers.
Labor’s early education spokeswoman Amanda Rishworth would only say that Labor would work with the sector to find the best mechanism to fund the pay rise.
In a separate policy, Mr Shorten also revealed three million pensioners and seniors would get $1000 worth of free dental care every two years under a new Medicare package if Labor was elected.
“Under a Labor government after May 18, if you are a pensioner or a seniors healthcare card holder, your dental care will be free for the rest of your life,” Mr Shorten told the 500-strong crowd.
Mr Shorten declared Labor’s $4 billion child care package the biggest saving for families in a generation.
More than 880,000 families will be an average of $1200 a year better off per child under the ALP’s childcare plan.
And almost 372,000 low income families would receive 50 hours a week of free child care.
The plan will increase the existing government subsidy for families earning up to $69,000 a year from 85 per cent to 100 per cent of their
childcare costs.
Families with a combined income of between $69,000 and $100,000 would get a rebate covering 85 per cent of fees, which amounts to an extra $27 a week.
Mr Shorten started the rally by taking aim at the Liberal’s “threadbare” policy agenda and dysfunction.
“All they offer is a smug, arrogant, business-as-usual standstill,” he said.
“After six years of chaos, disjunction, cuts, all they’re really offering is two policies,” he said, highlighting the Liberal’s tax cuts and “trickle down economics”.
But Mr Shorten has been dogged by a number of slip ups during the first fortnight of the campaign including promising that Labor wouldn’t increase taxes on superannuation when it has announced a policy to do so. The Labor leader also refused to outline the cost his climate change policy and came under fire for telling a Gladstone man Labor would consider more tax relief for high income earners.
PM JOINS LIBERALS IN SYDNEY
The Prime Minister was at the Hall of Legends at Olympic Park with wife Jenny and daughters Abbey and Lily.
Liberal candidates Dr Fiona Martin, Melissa McIntosh and Sarah Richards addressed supporters and introduced Mr Howard who has hit the hustings in western Sydney during the campaign. The Liberal Party is desperate to hold onto the marginal electorate following the resignation of Craig Laundy.
The party only selected a candidate, Dr Martin, six weeks out from the federal election. Labor is running McKell Institute director Sam Crosby who has been campaigning for over a year.
While Western Sydney has traditionally been an election battleground for both parties, Scott Morrison is focused on winning back just one seat — Lindsay near Penrith which Labor holds by a margin of about one per cent.
MORRISON’S SPEEDOS PLAN
Scott Morrision says Australians don’t want to see him in the famous Speedos favoured by Tony Abbott.
Speaking on ABC radio’s Australia All Over program with Ian “Macca” McNamara, the Prime Minister he is staying fit on the election campaign with daily swims.
“I swim and no one wants to see me in my speedos,” he said.
“I am going to spare the country from that sight. Physical exertion by politicians is best done away from the cameras.”
Giving details of his campaign fitness routine, Mr Morrison said he tries to swim one kilometre each day.
“It’s actually a good way to meet people too,” he said.
ACTION TAKEN OVER CAMPAIGN SIGNS
The renewable-energy advocate challenging Josh Frydenberg for the plum seat of Kooyong could face court action after illegally displaying campaign signs.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Oliver Yates, a former member of the Liberal Party, has been issued with a formal warning from Boroondara council after failing to apply for permits to display campaign material.
It is understood Mr Yates was given 24-hours to remove his signs before further action would be taken.
The council’s chief executive Phillip Storer confirmed that Mr Yates had received warnings from council about the breach before being issues with a letter of Friday.
According to the council, anyone in breach of the rules could face a hefty fine or even prosecution.
“He (Yates) does need permits and he does not have them,” Mr Storer said.
“Council has two options, it can issue a fine or it can prosecute.”
Mr Storer said prosecution “remains an option” if Mr Yates continue to flout the council’s laws.
Liberal senator Jane Hume, who lives in the area, tweeted that “Kooyong deserves better”.
“If this is how contemptuous @_Oliver_Yates is of the most basic of community expectations, what on earth would he be like in parliament?” Senator Hume said.
Mr Yates was approached for comment
MYSTERIOUS PALMER CANDIDATE
Meanwhile, questions are being asked about United Australia Party candidate, Christine Bernier.
The would-be politician is the second candidate on its NSW Senate ticket for Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party (UAP) but very little is known about Ms Bernier.
The Weekend Australian reports that Ms Bernier hung up on them when she was asked questioned about her experience and work history.
When pressed about her past employment, Ms Bernier reportedly said “Brisbane” before saying she couldn’t speak and abruptly ended the call.
Her profile on the UAP website says she “has lived and worked in Sydney for most of her life as an accountant”.
The site said she had “also worked in sales and investments” and had “volunteered with Mission Australia teaching English to migrants and as a branch treasurer with the CWA”.
Ms Bernier is second on the NSW Senate ticket for the UAP behind Brian Burston, who was elected to parliament in 2016. She is unlikely to win a Senate spot.
Originally published as Scott Morrison calls for third leaders’ debate on prime-time TV
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