Federal election 2022 live: Liberal candidate Allison Bluck apologises after ‘bizarre’ blunder
A Liberal candidate has apologised after sending thousands of letters to residents that quickly turned into a nightmare.
Welcome to day three of the federal election campaign, with Australians set to head to the polls on May 21.
Yesterday, Labor Leader Anthony Albanese was grilled over his gaffe on Monday when he was unable to provide the unemployment figures and cash rate.
His press conference was dominated by one word on Tuesday, with the Opposition Leader using the word “mistake” at least 15 times. He also repeatedly insisted he had already “fessed up” and “owned” the error.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited Western Sydney yesterday, shrugging off a suggestion from a reporter that he is “damaged goods”, prompting the PM to claim the election is “not a popularity test”.
Follow along below for all the latest updates from the election trail.
Liberal candidate sorry after bizarre letter
A Liberal candidate has apologised after sending thousands of letters claiming credit for the work of a woman with a similar name in a bizarre incident in South Australia.
Allison Bluck, the Liberal candidate for Mayo in the Adelaide Hills, sent thousands of residents a letter that incorrectly claimed she worked as the manager of the Kangaroo Island Nature Trail, The Advertiser revealed.
The real manager of the trail is named Alison Buck.
“As the manager of the Kangaroo Island Nature Trail, I am passionate about the environment,” Ms Bluck says in the letter.
It then continues to promote “improving bushfire resilience on Kangaroo Island”.
Ms Bluck’s website claims she is finance professional and a former public servant.
Taking to Facebook, Ms Bluck apologised for the error and “wanted to clear up any confusion”.
“There was a mistake in the production of the letter you may have recently received from me. It incorrectly stated my occupation,” she said.
“I’m sorry about the error and I wanted to clear up any confusion straight away.
“I love all parts of Mayo and care about our local environment. However, I’m also passionate about our economy and I work in the financial sector.”
The real manager of the nature trail, Alison Buck, told The Advertiser she had never heard of Ms Bluck.
“If she wants to come and help, I’ll take any help available, but I’m not aware of her,” she said.
Morrison cops falcon at basketball stadium
Scott Morrison copped a basketball to the face during a lighthearted visit to a basketball arena this afternoon.
The Prime Minister showed up at Wurdi Baiier Stadium in Torquay, situated in the marginal seat Corangamite, to announce $500,000 in funding for seating and a new scoreboard at the venue.
He met two under-12 teams, and invited them to show off their skills. Mr Morrison stood under a hoop and passed balls to the children to shoot.
It all proceeded smoothly enough until a slightly wayward shot rebounded off the rim and landed on the Prime Minister’s head, knocking his glasses to the ground for the second time this week (the other, less amusing incident occurred as he was trying to put on safety goggles).
Mr Morrison took the “falcon” in good humour.
FALCON. One of the basketball kids (accidentally) knocks off Scott Morrison’s glasses. Second time they’ve hit the floor this week #auspolpic.twitter.com/So78vqHxnJ
— Sam Clench (@SamClench) April 13, 2022
Later, he asked the kids whether they were excited about the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which will be hosted by Victoria.
“What do you guys think about the Commonwealth Games?”
One of the kids replied “epic”.
“Epic! That is good,” said Mr Morrison.
“You going?” another kid replied.
“Am I going to go? Yeah! Yeah, I think I’ll come down and see how it’s going,” he said.
“We’ve got an Olympics coming up in Brisbane too. So by about the time the 2032 Olympics are on, some of you guys could very well be playing in them. What do you think about that? How would you like to play at the Olympics? That would be pretty awesome, wouldn’t it.”
He signed basketballs for the kids, along with the odd croc shoe, before heading off.
— Sam Clench
Albo accused of exaggerating credentials
Anthony Albanese has been accused of exaggerating his economic credentials in the wake of Monday’s awkward cash rate gaffe.
In a press conference this week, Mr Albanese claimed he “became an economic policy adviser to the Hawke government” after completing his Sydney University degree – but Mr Albanese actually served as a research officer under Tom Uren, the minister for territories and local government under the Hawke government.
During today’s brief press conference, he was asked whether that earlier claim “really constitutes an economic adviser to the government”, and was also asked how he reconciled his “opposition to major economic reforms at the time with your attempts to align yourself with them now”.
That was a reference to the fact Mr Uren was a vocal critic of a number of Hawke reforms such as privatisation, HECS and financial deregulation.
“I was employed as an economic policy adviser to a minister in the Hawke government. That’s not a surprise. That’s just a fact,” Mr Albanese insisted today.
Sky News reporter Andrew Clennell then asked if his response was “a bit disingenuous” given Mr Uren was “very much on the left” and “would have been against” major reforms.
“If you if you actually go and have a look at the relationship with Paul Keating and Tom Uren. I assure you they had seats next to each other. They had a fantastic (relationship),” he replied, before walking out on the presser shortly after.
– Alexis Carey
‘What are you scared of?’ PM confronted over hard questions
The Prime Minister Scott Morrison defended the “very heavily controlled” campaign tour to date, one that reporters have suggested has seen him avoid engaging with members of the public.
The PM was speaking with reporters in the marginal Victorian seat of Corangamite on Wednesday afternoon to announce a $250 million package to strengthen Australia’s energy industry.
A journalist asked whether Mr Morrison was “worried about the reaction of punters”.
“There has now been at least three times in the past week where angry punters have ambushed you to trick you into believing that they are supporters, and clearly, they are very angry with your leadership,” the journalist said.
“And so far on the campaign trail, it has been heavily controlled. There hasn’t been a street walk to meet everyday Australians. Are you concerned for your safety? Are you worried about the reaction of these punters? And do you do you think you might lose the election?”
Mr Morrison laughed off the suggestion before calling “gatecrashers” out for their behaviour.
He made a point of not being critical of Ray, a pensioner who ambushed him at the Edgeworth Tavern in Lake Macquarie over the weekend, who told him he had “better f***ing do something” and that he was “sick of your bulls**t”.
But the PM was not a fan of the stunt pulled last night by an activist who crashed the PM’s private campaign event and told him he was a “disgrace” in a TikTok video.
“Throughout my parliamentary career, I have always been pleased to sit down and listen to people, understand what their problems are, and where I can, seek to solve them,” the PM said.
“On the other cases, the Labor Party have effectively apologised for what we saw last night. It was the equivalent of a pitch invasion.”
He said Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese had “set the tone for the last three years” by “basically (saying) it’s OK to sledge and attack and engage in personal (attacks)”.
As the press conference ended and Mr Morrison turned to leave, one frustrated reporter shouted after him.
“Why won’t you take questions about fuel security? What are you scared of, Prime Minister?”
If the Morrison campaign continues to avoid riskier settings where voters might be hostile, that question might start popping up more often.
PM forced to face candidate’s deleted social media posts
There are a couple more points to note regarding the Liberal candidate for Warringah, Katherine Deves, who we discussed below.
If you’ve missed the context here, today news.com.au revealed the content of deleted social media posts from Ms Deves, in which she described transgender children as “surgically mutilated and sterilised”.
She issued an apology for the “language” she had used after the story was published.
We asked about Ms Deves’ views during the media conference, noting that Scott Morrison had previously praised her for her opinions on transgender issues, such as her support for banning girls and women from playing women’s sport.
“She’s withdrawn and apologised for those views,” Mr Morrison said.
We pointed out that she had only apologised after her posts were exposed, having previously deleted them quietly.
The other thing to note about that apology is how narrow it was.
Scott Morrison's captain's pick for Warringah is very troubling. People here want their leaders to focus on the real issues, not to stoke needless division. #auspolpic.twitter.com/ThJM1IKeBF
— 🌠Zali Steggall MP (@zalisteggall) April 13, 2022
“The language I used was not acceptable, and for that I apologise,” Ms Deves said.
So she has apologised for her choice of words, sure. But Ms Deves has not renounced the views underpinning those words.
Mr Morrison has been telling the people of Warringah Ms Deves is a suitable candidate to represent them in parliament. Can he really stand by that assessment when she has been calling trans kids “mutilated”?
He moved on before we could ask that.
First, though, he clarified that his praise for Ms Deves was in relation to a bill from Senator Claire Chandler, titled “Save Women’s Sports”, for which she has been campaigning.
“It’s a private member’s bill. The government doesn’t have any plans for that to be a government bill. And I’ve told you very clearly what my views on that bill are,” the PM said.
In her deleted posts, Ms Deves also said she was “triggered” by the rainbow pride flag. It is worth noting that Warringah voted in favour of same-sex marriage in 2017, by an overwhelming margin of 75 per cent to 25 per cent.
The PM’s comments came before the Independent Member for Warringah, Zali Stagall, launched in on Twitter.
She called the comments “appalling and divisive” and asked: “What did (Mr Morrison) already know?”
Fury over Albo’s eight-minute presser
Reporters following Anthony Albanese’s election campaign erupted this morning after the Labor leader walked out of a press conference after just eight minutes.
Only a handful of reporters were able to grill Mr Albanese, despite his previous insistence that he was “not Scott Morrison” and that he would answer every question thrown his way.
He fronted the press soon after a gushing Medicare rally in Melbourne, in which he announced plans to fund Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in at least 50 locations across Australia, and spruiked his aged care reforms.
Mr Albanese’s staff were confronted by angry reporters, who claimed he had broken a commitment to answer all inquiries.
Having pledged to take all questions, Anthony Albanese pulled the ripcord after 8min today, facing tough questions about his claimed experience, how he could pay for his health policy, ditching a rise to the dole, and a potential Labor greens alliance. #auspol âœˆï¸ ðŸšŒ 🚘
— Jonathan Lea (@JonathanLea10) April 13, 2022
Anthony Albanese has broken his campaign promise to answer all questions from travelling media, ending today’s presser after just 8 minutes & fuelling reports of a tactics shift. We were asking why Labor won’t commit to raising the Jobseeker rate if elected. @10NewsFirst#Auspol
— Stela Todorovic (@Stela_Todorovic) April 13, 2022
His departure came amid questioning over the policy’s costings and Labor’s dumping of a review of the JobSeeker rate.
“You still haven’t answered those JobSeeker questions,” one reporter yelled out to a retreating Mr Albanese.
“So you’re not taking those questions now Mr Albanese?” another asked.
– Alexis Carey
‘Google it mate!’: Greens leader fires up at reporter
Greens Leader Adam Bandt has clashed with a reporter after they asked about the current wage price index.
Mr Bandt was answering questions after his national press club address when a reporter sought to “fact-check” the Greens Leader.
“Talking about fact-checking. You said in the speech that wages growth wasn’t going particularly well. What’s the current WPI?,” the reporter asked.
This prompted Mr Bandt to immediately fire up, saying: “Google it, mate!If you to know … If you want to know why people are turning off politics, it’s because …”
The reporter then cut in, saying: “This is about wages”.
Greens leader Adam Bandt has had enough of "gotcha" questions at #NPC. #AusVotes@SBSNewspic.twitter.com/e9pFzXcXKK
— Naveen Razik (@naveenjrazik) April 13, 2022
“It’s about what happens when you have an election that increasingly becomes this basic fact-checking exercise between a government that deserves to be turfed out and an Opposition that’s got no vision. This is what happens,” Mr Bandt said.
“Elections should be about a contest of ideas. Politics should be about reaching for the stars and offering a better society.
“Instead, there’s these questions that are asked about – can you tell us this particular stat or can you tell us that particular stat?”
The Greens Leader claimed those kinds of question swere designed to show that politicians are “out of touch and not representative of every day people”.
“News flash! Most of the people in Canberra are on six figure salaries just passing time until they go out and work for the coal and gas corporations and get a 6 or 7-figure lobbying job,” he said.
“You know what would be a better way of showing that politicians are in touch with the need of everyday people? It would be passing laws that lift the minimum wage. It would be making dental and mental into Medicare. It would be making sure that we wipe student debt and build affordable houses.”
Albo condemns Labor supporter over PM confrontation
Earlier in Anthony Albanese’s press conference he condemned the actions of a male Labor supporter who crashed a private event organised by Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday evening.
“I’ve seen footage of it and I think that gentleman, I don’t know who he was, his actions were entirely inappropriate,” Mr Albanese said.
“We need to have civil discourse. And … in circumstances whereby you don’t know where they’re from. There are security concerns, you’ll note you’ll note that I have substantial security.
“That’s the moment and there’s a reason for that. People should behave civilly.”
‘Big strife’: Albo’s latest move put on blast
Ray Hadley has exposed a problem Anthony Albanese’s $135m emergency clinics election promise, claiming it signals the Labor Leader is in “big strife”.
Mr Albanese has pledged to fund Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in at least 50 locations across Australia.
The move has prompted a fiery response from 2GB’s Ray Hadley, who claimed the Labor Leader was copying the same plan used by Kevin Rudd in 2007.
“I’ve got twenty or thirty emails saying the same thing that I seized upon at 4.30 this morning. Wasn’t this something Kevin Rudd tried to do back in 2007?,” Hadley said.
“Yes, yes it was!”
“Now if the best Anthony Albanese can do … is toss up this idea that was put forward first of all by Kevin Rudd and failed Labor miserably while they were in government, he’s in big strife.”
Mr Rudd promised to over $200 million to create 35 “GP super clinics” but by 2009 just one clinic was in operation.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison also noticed the similarities, telling Bay 93.9 that it was the “same policy” presented by Mr Rudd.
“They never built them, they never came through,” he said.
Osher’s weird election move
Osher Gunsberg has thrown his support by a growing political movement just days into the federal election campaign.
The Bachelor host has released a video spruiking a group called Change Politics, which is pushing for citizens assemblies to be used more regularly in Australia to make decisions on big issues.
The most bizarre thing about the video isn’t what Osher is saying, but the fact that he is delivering the message from a bath tub.
“There is a reason why politics can leave a bitter taste in your mouth. The need to win elections is what makes politicians act like, well, politicians,” he said while soaking in the tub.
“The system rewards those that create doubt, division and fear, rather than bringing us together. But there is a way to shift some of the power back to the people and rebuild trust in our political system. They are called citizens assemblies.”
Citizen’s assemblies take a mix of people chosen by a lottery and bring them together to address a specific challenge posed to them by the government.
They have access to a wide range of information, sources and experts and are asked to find an agreed upon solution and present it to the government.
Citizens assemblies have been successfully used in Ireland and France to make decisions on major topics such as gay marriage, climate change and abortion laws.
“And it can happen here too,” Osher said.
“But we need your help. Politicians think you don’t care, show them you do. Go to Change Politics and join the movement.”
Odd detail in Albo’s foreign nurses claim
Is Labor leader Anthony Albanese’s claim that foreign nurses were “part of the mix” of his aged care pledge at odds with his own team?
Last week, when Labor’s aged care spokeswoman Clare O’Neil appeared on the ABC’s Q&A program, she insisted that foreign workers would not be necessary to deliver on a pledge of a trained nurse in every aged care facility.
TRIOLI: [Interrupts] So, several thousand nurses will have to be brought in from overseas.
O’NEIL: No, no, no, no, no. They’re nurses who are in Australia. So firstly, there are nurses already working in the sector, so underemployment is absolutely rife through aged care. But the biggest thing that we need to do is stop nurses from leaving the sector as they’re doing today and bring nurses who have already left the sector back in.”
Sounds clear enough? Not so fast.
On the campaign trail this week, the Labor leader said foreign workers may be required.
JOURNALIST: “Yesterday you said skilled migration would be key in terms of implementing your aged care plan and recruiting nurses. New Zealand’s now chimed in saying it would have a negative impact on their country and essentially don’t steal our nurses. What do you make of that rare intervention in our policy? And, you know, how will you fill these shortages if some skilled migration is no longer in the mix?”
“Skilled migration is in the mix,’’ he said.
“New Zealand’s comments confirm that. They confirm that Australia is an attractive destination to come.”
So that’s weird. And we’re hearing there’s some rumblings in the ranks over the Labor leader’s comments.
They also wrankled New Zealand, which basically urged Australia to get their grubby mitts off their nurses.
Meanwhile, the nurses’ union is polling members on whether they would consider re-entering the aged care sector in light of Labor’s promise and you will be shocked to learn the answer is yes.
– Samantha Maiden
Morrison tours another Western Sydney business
The Prime Minister started his day with another event in the Western Sydney electorate Lindsay, touring a business called SpanSet Australia.
Scott Morrison observed workers making a range of products – harnesses and belts, for example – and had a go at doing some tasks himself.
In short, it was much the same as most of his other campaign events so far: a warm welcome, some idle chit chat, information about the business, and an exit without incident, which is exactly the sort of gaffe-free, confrontation-free event political campaigns want.
We have yet to see the Prime Minister brave a less controlled, higher risk setting, like a shopping centre, for example. Even last night’s heckling incident happened at an event that was meant to be private.
The most suspenseful moment this morning, and I use the word “suspenseful” very, very lightly, came when Mr Morrison had to descend a steepish staircase.
Consider that moment an encapsulation of the farce that is an election campaign: every time a politician approaches a set of stairs, there is pressure. What if they stack it in front of the cameras? The embarrassment, the humiliation, the infamy, would haunt them for at least a good 20 seconds.
And so, on this pleasantly breezy morning in Western Sydney, every camera in the media pack waited at the foot of these unremarkable stairs, fixated on Mr Morrison, ready to capture any hint of a slip-up.
But wait, there’s more, because Mr Morrison added to the farce! The Prime Minister PAUSED at the top of the stairs for a good 20 seconds, making idle chit chat with his host, as though he was trolling the waiting cameras.
Eventually, and very carefully, he began to descend. The PM made it halfway down the flight without incident, at which point he paused AGAIN, apparently fascinated by the drab vista in front of him.
More seconds passed. And at last, Mr Morrison made his final descent to ground level, sure-footed as ever.
Someone is going to lightly trip, at some point in this campaign. It might be Mr Morrison. It might be Anthony Albanese. It might be some no name local candidate no one cares about. But it did not happen this day, friend.
The staircase saga took about a minute. Sixty precious seconds of life that you and I shall never recover.
– Samuel Clench
Albo makes major tax cut promise
Anthony Albanese has made a major tax promise, vowing not to scrap the 2024-25 tax cuts.
In an interview with News Corp Australia, the Labor Leader said his party would not seek to roll back stage three tax cuts.
He also said Labor’s tax policy position would be released “well before the election”.
Mr Albanese’s current position on tax cuts is very different to the one he held in 2019.
“Well we’ve said very clearly that it‘s economically irresponsible … to pass legislation now for (tax cuts) which won’t occur until not just the next election but potentially the one after that,” he said in June 2019.
Home Affairs Minister positive for Covid
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has tested positive for Covid-19, pulling her off the election campaign trail.
The Liberal MP posted on Twitter that she had been experiencing “mild symptoms” and decided to get tested on Tuesday afternoon.
“Yesterday afternoon, after experiencing mild symptoms, I tested positive for Covid-19. I began isolating immediately,” she wrote on Wednesday morning.
“I’ll be working from home and will be back on the campaign trail in person as soon as I can.”
PM’s next destination revealed
The Prime Minister’s travelling media pack hasn’t been formally told where Scott Morrison will be going after a morning event in Western Sydney, but his morning media commitments have revealed the answer.
(This is normal, by the way. The media pack is generally not told which city or state they’ll be in next until the plane lands.)
Mr Morrison spoke to two radio stations this morning: Bay FM Geelong and K Rock Geelong. During his interview with the former, it was revealed that he’d be visiting an oil refinery in Geelong.~
“Prime Minister, you’re coming to Victoria for the first time. We’ll be seeing you a few times, particularly with Corangamite being a marginal seat,” the host said.
“The reason for the visit this time though is an announcement at Viva energy?”
“Yeah,” Mr Morrison confirmed.
He’ll be spruiking a $250 million announcement of support for multiple Australian oil refineries to “ensure they can be sustained”, the goal being to protect several hundred jobs.
One of those refineries is located in Geelong.
“We want to keep our traditional industries going, particularly our refineries,” he said.
“It’s about keeping those refineries going. We need them in Australia.”
– Samuel Clench
Bad look for ScoMo after job loss revelation
Scott Morrison’s tour of the Rheem Australia complex in Western Sydney yesterday to spruik his job creation plan has backfired for the PM, after it was revealed the site is facing significant job cuts.
The Canberra Times reported that the 500-person workforce at the Rydalmere site are facing job cuts.
The union representing manufacturing workers said that more than 100 local jobs are on the line with a third of the factory’s workforce to be shifted to the Rheem site in Vietnam, the publication revealed.
Rheem Australia’s managing director in Australia and New Zealand Chris Taylor said the company expected up to 50 voluntary factory worker redundancies as part of a restructure announced to employees last year.
This news is in stark contrast to Mr Morrison boasts about his government’s job creation success.
“Western Sydney’s a jobs machine!” the PM remarked as he arrived at the complex on Tuesday.
Mr Morrison is pledging to create 1.3 million more jobs over the next five years as part of his economy-focused election campaign.
Sneaky message left for ScoMo
It appears some weren’t too pleased about Scott Morrison visiting the Rheem factory in Parramatta yesterday, with one worker leaving a message to make his feelings known.
As the Prime Minister toured around the factory he noticed a glove had been set up to give him the rude finger as he walked past.
Mr Morrison didn’t seem to be too upset about the stunt and was pictured laughing with one of the workers.
The PM was joined by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Foreign Minister Marise Payne and local candidate Maria Kovacic.
“There’s a choice not just between me and Anthony Albanese. There’s a choice between Josh Frydenberg and his opponent. There’s a choice between Peter Dutton and his opponent. There’s a choice between Marise Payne and (Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman) Penny Wong,” he said.
“My point is, we’ve got a strong team. It’s a strong economic team, it’s a strong national security team, and that is the team that has brought Australia through one of the most challenging periods this country has seen since the Second World War.
“As we come out of that, you can’t risk it on an inexperienced and unproven team that doesn’t have a plan for the economy and doesn’t know how to manage money.”
Albanese’s Medicare clinics pledge on day three
It’s another day, another healthcare announcement from Anthony Albanese, with the Labor leader kicking off day three of his campaign by pledging to fund Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in at least 50 locations across Australia.
Mr Albanese is in Victoria this morning after leaving Tasmania for Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon – a day somewhat overshadowed by his cash and unemployment rate blunder a day prior.
According to the ALP leader, the new clinics would take the pressure off hospital emergency departments by providing an alternative option for families needing urgent care for a range of ailments such as sprains and broken bones, stitches and glue for cuts, wound care, insect bites, minor ear and eye problems and minor burns.
Clinics will be bulk billed and open seven days a week from at least 8am to 10pm, with an Albanese government to invest more than $135 million over four years for the trial.
“Labor’s Medicare Urgent Care Clinics will mean more families will get top quality care from a nurse or a doctor without having to wait in a hospital emergency department,” Mr Albanese said.
“These clinics are a key part of Labor’s plan to strengthen Medicare by making it easier to see a doctor.
“Medicare Urgent Care Clinics will take the pressure off emergency departments, so they can concentrate on saving lives.”
– Alexis Carey
ScoMo clashes with protester in wild video
Scott Morrison has been confronted by an angry resident at a private event this evening.
The Prime Minister was enjoying drinks with the media in western Sydney when the event was gatecrashed by a man, who later shared a video of the incident on TikTok.
The man – who is a strong supporter of the Labor Party on his social media accounts – is at first polite with the Prime Minister, and asks him if he may ask him a question.
The PM seems sceptical, asking if he is a member of the press pack.
He admits that he is not a journalist and says he is a local whose friend works on the bar, but the Prime Minister still agrees to take his question.
However, when Mr Morrison notices that he is recording the conversation on the sly, things take a turn.
“Why are you recording?” the Prime Minister asks, telling the man it is a “private event”.
As Mr Morrison walks away, the man starts shouting.
“Across the river here, people lost their houses. People lost their houses and they were burned.
“You are a disgrace. You are a disgrace,” he screams.
Rogue MP reveals shock next move
Maverick Queensland MP George Christensen has staged the ultimate reverse ferret by quitting politics only to announce his candidacy for One Nation.
In a curveball the LNP didn’t see coming, Mr Christensen has abandoned his plan to retire from parliament at the May 21 election.
He will instead run as a One Nation candidate in a decision that’s set to shake up the federal election.
One Nation will announce which seat he is running for today.
He could make a switch to the Senate or run in his seat of Dawson against the Liberals.
If he wins a seat in the House of Representatives, Mr Christensen could even end up as a powerful crossbench MP.
Mr Christensen told The Courier Mail he should have joined One Nation “a long time ago”.
“The more I queried One Nation’s policies and looked at their constitution, their core beliefs, the things that Pauline has been campaigning on recently, just about everything aligned with my views,” he told the Courier-Mail.
“Bizarrely, the question really didn’t float into my mind as to why am I doing this, the question that floated into my mind was, ‘why hadn’t I done this a long time ago?’”
– Samantha Maiden
Fresh poll paints grim future for Albo
A fresh poll is spelling trouble for Anthony Albanese ahead of next year’s federal election as Australians put the PM on notice.
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‘No deal:’ Albo rules out Greens bargain
The prime minister has adamantly ruled out making a deal with the Greens in order to secure Labor a second term in power.
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Big Greens move ramps up pressure on Labor
The Greens are pledging to be a thorn in Labor’s in a bid to push a new key part of their agenda.
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