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Federal election live: Bill Shorten’s bizarre sausage eating technique on display

Former Labor Leader Bill Shorten has once again put his bizarre sausage sandwich eating technique on display while voting earlier today.

Rohan Smith and Ally Foster
17 min read
May 21, 2022 - 6:25PM
Labor maintains lead in latest Newspoll

Welcome to our live coverage of the 2022 Federal Election.

Today Australia decides if Scott Morrison or Anthony Albanese will be our Prime Minister.

Both leaders started the day in Melbourne with a round of TV interviews, including one where the PM was challenged about being “absent” during bushfires, floods and the pandemic.

Polls are now closed (for some states). Check out our results live blog for seat-by-seat updates as the votes are counted.

Follow along below for all the latest election updates throughout the night.

Shorten’s bizarre sausage eating technique on show

Bill Shorten has once again been pictured displaying his odd sausage sandwich eating technique while casting his election vote earlier today.

Who can forget the infamous 2016 photo showing the then-Labor Leader biting into the middle of the sausage sandwich, rather than from the end.

And it appears his technique hasn’t improved in the years since, with Mr Shorten being snapped today tucking into a democracy sausage in the same fashion.

He then took to Twitter to clear things up, claiming he was “vamping it up” for the cameras.

First batch of likely seats called as polls close

Polls have now closed on the east coast and we have the first batch of seats called by our experts at The Australian. Follow our results blog.

So far we have three likely for Labor and two likely for the Coalition.

Calwell, VIC – ALP likely (Maria Vamvakinou)

Groom, QLD – LNP likely (Garth Hamilton)

Maranoa, QLD – LNP likely (David Littleproud)

Scullin, VIC – ALP likely (Andrew Giles)

Sydney, NSW – ALP likely (Tanya Plibersek)

Polling station resorts to handwritten ballots

A Sydney polling station has had to resort to handwritten ballot papers are running out of the printed versions.

Workers at a polling station in Warringah were forced to write the candidates down by hand, 7 News reports.

AEC spokesperson, Evan Ekin-Smyth, told the publication that is was “very uncommon” but still counted as a legitimate vote.

“We have processes in place to top up ballot papers across polling venues – this covers the vast majority of unanticipated shortfalls,” he said.

“This includes with ballot papers for absent votes, which is where this tends to happen typically if there has been an unexpected quantity of travellers from a particular region.

“In terms of integrity of the process, each ballot paper is signed off by a polling official.”

‘How low can they go?’: Liberals slammed for last-minute text

A last-ditch effort by the Liberal Party to secure votes in key marginal seats has been blasted as a “last minute scare campaign”.

The texts, which are being sent as a “News alert” refer to the “illegal” boat that was intercepted by Border Force officials allegedly trying to enter Australia.

“BREAKING: Australian Border Force has intercepted an illegal boat trying to reach Australia. Keep our borders secure by voting Liberal today,” the text read.

It is understood the texts are being received by residents in key marginal seats, including Bennelong, Gilmore and Corangamite

The tactic has not been received well, with many Aussies taking to Twitter to vent about the unsolicited messages.

The Australian Electoral Commission has said they are “aware” of the messages but said they are not prohibited under the Electoral Act and “parties are exempt from privacy and spam laws”.

Court ruling on ‘deceptive’ sign

The Federal Court has ordered the removal of “misleading” campaign signs that appeared in the inner Melbourne seat of Higgins.

The signs, which read “Put Labor Last”, used a green background traditionally seen in campaign material from the Greens Party.

The signs were branded “deceptive” by the Labor Party, with a Federal Court injunction ordering the removal of the signs.

The Labor Party has accused the Victorian Liberals of being behind the materials.

“In a co-ordinated effort last night and this morning the Victorian Liberals put misleading and deceptive material on booths across Victoria,” a Victorian Labor spokesperson told The Australian.

“Thankfully the Federal Court granted Labor an injunction, authorising the removal of this material by the Australian Electoral Commission.

“We urge the AEC to remove the deceptive and misleading materials from polling booths immediately.

Labor claimed the signs were 'deceptive'. Picture: @TreeofKnowled14/Twitter
Labor claimed the signs were 'deceptive'. Picture: @TreeofKnowled14/Twitter

Awkward moment as leaders accidentally cross paths

The two leaders have managed to avoid one-another for six weeks (except at leaders’ debates) but today, the planes carrying Albanese and Morrison crossed paths at Sydney.

Albanese’s plane landed first carrying the press pack from Melbourne to Sydney.

Moments after it landed, Morrison’s plane jetted in and landed right beside it.

The decision by Morrison to leave Melbourne early meant he abandoned a visit to the ultra-marginal seat of Chisolm where incumbent Gladys Liu is in a fight for her political life.

If she loses, it could cost Morrison the chance at being voted back in.

More on that below.

Dutton weighs in as boat intercepted en route to Australia

Defence Minister Peter Dutton has taken to Twitter to suggest people smugglers are watching the election and preparing to try their luck with a new leader.

“People smugglers have obviously decided who is going to win the election and the boats have already started,” Dutton tweeted on Saturday.

He shared a link to a Border Force media release saying a vessel was “intercepted in a likely attempt to illegally enter Australia from Sri Lanka”.

“The Australian Government’s policy remains unchanged,” the update said.

“We will intercept any vessel seeking to reach Australia illegally and to safely return those on board to their point of departure or country of origin.

“Measures and safeguards are in place to enable actions and activities to be undertaken in accordance with Australian domestic law and Australia’s obligations under international law.”

Albanese said during the final days of the election campaign that “boat turnbacks have worked” and Labor will implement them if elected.

Scott Morrison confirmed the boat had been intercepted — but the PM commenting on the matter is in itself a breach of the protocol he established as immigration minister not to discuss boats heading for Australia.

“I can confirm that there’s been an interception of a vessel en route to Australia,” Mr Morrison told reporters.

“That vessel has been intercepted in accordance with the policies of the government and they’re following those normal protocols.

“And I can simply say this. I’ve been here to stop this boat, but in order for me to be there to stop those that may come from here, you need to vote Liberal and Nationals today.

“In the interests of full transparency, in the middle of an election campaign, the Labor Party was advised of this and a statement has been issued by the border protection authorities.”

It is understood about 15 people were on board the vessel that was intercepted by Australian authorities off the west coast of Christmas Island after almost making it to land.

The Australian’s southeast Asia correspondent Amanda Hodge questioned the timing of the boat’s journey and the PM’s comments.

“No asylum boats for month and suddenly one almost reaches Xmas island?,” she tweeted.

“Asked why he was moving to discuss on-water matters on Election Day when these matters would ordinarily remain top secret, Morrison said it was in the spirit of full transparency.”

Morrison’s risky election day decision

The Morrison camp started the day in Melbourne — without the majority of the press pack — with plans to head to the ultra-marginal seat of Chisolm, held by Liberal Gladys Liu and key to the PM’s chances of re-election.

The seat, which encompasses Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, is held by the Coalition by a margin of just .5 per cent.

But in a decision that could have real consequences for the way today’s vote plays out, the PM bailed on plans to visit Chisolm and instead flew to Sydney to vote in the electorate of Cook — a safe seat for the Coalition.

Liberal member of parliament Gladys Liu hold Chisolm by the slimmest of margins. Picture: William WEST / AFP
Liberal member of parliament Gladys Liu hold Chisolm by the slimmest of margins. Picture: William WEST / AFP

Chisolm will be especially important given there are very real concerns the Coalition could concede other key Victorian seats in Goldstein (currently held by Tim Wilson) and Kooyong (currently held by Josh Frydenberg) to independents.

Liu won the seat by just 1100 votes at the last election in a vote that was shrouded in controversy after signs were erected in Chinese telling voters how to preference the Liberal Party.

The signs were made to look like Electoral Commission signage.

The Morrison team blamed the decision to change plans on time constraints.

Protester led away as Morrison votes

The PM’s arrival to cast his vote at Lilli Pilli Public School was briefly disrupted by a protester this afternoon.

As Mr Morrison headed towards the polling booths, security was seen physically blocking a young female protester who said she wanted to speak to the leader about climate change.

The security guard managed to keep the pair separated and Mr Morrison went on to vote, accompanied by his wife Jenny and their daughters.

His arrival at the school was met by enthusiastic chants of “ScoMo, ScoMo” by a group of overexcited school kids.

Morrison, Albanese cast their votes

Wild scenes have followed both Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese to polling centres in NSW as the two leaders are escorted by family (plus police and media).

Morrison is voting at Lilli Pilly Public School and Albanese is voting at Marrickville Town Hall.

Morrison and Jenny voted side-by-side.

Albanese voted with partner Jodie Haydon while his dog Toto waited outside for his owner to finish the democratic process.

“It feels good,” Albanese said after the vote.

“It is always good to vote at Marrickville Town Hall. “This has been my home for a long period of time.”

Asked who he voted for, Albanese laughed and said: “Who did I vote for? It’s a secret ballot.”

Campaign getting murky in key seat

The fight for the key Victorian seat of Goldstein has been marred by some questionable tactics throughout the campaign and even saw the Liberals’ Tim Wilson and independent Zoe Daniel in court over signs erected in constituents’ yards.

Daniel, the ex-ABC journalist who is fancied to steal the seat away from Wilson, shared a video this morning showing the lengths her opponents have gone to — even today.

Posters erected outside her home this morning read: “Voting independent means a hung parliament, weak economy and gridlock”.

“So this is what it’s come to,” Daniel wrote on Twitter. “Outside my house this morning. Intimidation and bullying will not work. Let’s do this, Goldstein. Vote 1 Zoe Daniel and number every box.”

Voters in Goldstein were also peppered with text messages from the Liberal Party as recently as today suggesting a vote for Daniel means higher taxes.

“For a strong economy vote Liberal. Australia’s recovery is leading the world, don’t risk a hung parliament and Zoe Daniel’s higher taxes on your home,” the text read.

Daniel’s campaign includes calls for a tax review because there “has been no comprehensive tax review since Ken Henry reported over a decade ago” but she has said outright that she is not advocating for higher taxes.

What voters are saying at polling booths

Our reporters are out and about at polling booths today to take the pulse of the nation.

Jessica Wang has pulled together some of the best comments and reactions so far as Australians carry out their diplomatic duty.

“Election day. Might be a pain in the arse but we have got to do it,” one voter was overheard saying in Sydney’s inner west.

They continued: “It’s good because once I vote I can go have some beers.”

A voter in Blue Mountains, who rejected a how-to-vote card from a Labor volunteer, quipped: “I’m not voting for Anthony Albanese, he’s not like Harry Potter, he can’t cast a spell over me.”

Voters in Prahran, on the outskirts of Melbourne’s CBD, let their thoughts be known in a different way.

The brought a statue of Scott Morrison’s head made from what appears to be coal.

In Bondi, voter Jim Finn cast his vote while carrying his daughter and wearing speedos.

If you’ve heard some cracking one-liners or bizarre comments tweet us @newscomauHQ or send us a message on Facebook.

Will ‘teal independents’ fizz out on election day?

One of the biggest stories of the campaign is the “teals” but will it all prove a fizzer on election day?

Our political editor Samantha Maiden weighs in below on the latest rundown of how seats contested by independents are most likely to fall.

In order of likely wins, news.com.au understands the list in order is now Goldstein where Zoe Daniel is challenging Tim Wilson, Curtin in WA where Kate Chaney is trying to take the seat off the Libs and Wentworth where Allegra Spender is challenging Liberal David Sharma.

After that it is North Sydney where Trent Zimmerman is under challenge and Kooyong held by Josh Frydenberg and then Mackellar. The last three are unlikely to go to independents — we reckon Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has had a scare but will be OK.

Independent candidate for Goldstein Zoe Daniel is trying to oust Lib Tim Wilson. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Independent candidate for Goldstein Zoe Daniel is trying to oust Lib Tim Wilson. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

So in other words there could be six and there could be none. Stay tuned for the verdict tonight.

The Greens are worth checking in with after all the focus on indies. Labor thinks they may pick up a second seat in Queensland — the seat of Ryan off the Liberals.

If that’s the case Labor might be able to form a government with just 72 seats if there were two Greens – one in Queensland and Greens leader Adam Bandt in Melbourne plus the Tasmanian Independent Andrew Wilkie.

Chaos breaks out at Albanese appearance

Chaos broke out at a polling place in the Melbourne seat Higgins this morning, as Anthony Albanese popped up to meet voters and Labor volunteers before heading to Sydney.

There was already a significant line outside the booth when Mr Albanese showed up at 8.30am, half an hour after polls opened.

Friendly volunteers were waiting with some dogs (and one human baby) for him to meet – fodder for the media cameras, obviously, but to be fair they were all adorable, well chosen fodder.

The cutest of the pups in my unbiased opinion was eight-month-old Cooper, a fluffy chocolate-coloured shoodle.

“Is this a bunny!? Are you sure? It’s a dog!” Mr Albanese said to the nine-year-old girl holding Cooper, with a suitable level of enthusiasm.

He joked about stealing Cooper and taking him home.

“We’ve got the AFP with us – you won’t see anything, will you?” he quipped at an officer.

After meeting Cooper, Mr Albanese strolled down the line of voters, thanking them for showing up and taking a few selfies.

It wasn’t easy though. The Labor leader was surrounded not just by the media pack, but by volunteers, who jostled to walk behind him while hoisting Labor placards in the air (the idea being to get them in the TV camera shots).

Mr Albanese managed to get away without being heckled by anyone. A couple of voters said they supported him and wished him good luck.

My favourite reaction, though, was from a gentleman who looked back at the seething mass of people as Mr Albanese left and remarked, “Huh, that was Albo,” with the same degree of interest as someone remarking on the sun being in the sky.

Sadly, no democracy sausages were consumed. Too early in the day, I guess.

— Sam Clench

Blunt message on cards handed out by Morrison

Scott Morrison has handed out how-to-vote cards with candidate Richard Welch at Laurimar Primary School in the Victorian electorate of McEwen with a blunt message for Premier Daniel Andrews.

The Prime Minister and his wife received a stems of eucalyptus leaves from traditional elder Ian Hunter, who played the didgeridoo as the pair walked towards the polling booth entrance.

Mr Morrison congratulated Mr Welch for standing up for the community.

“If you get that opportunity today, I think you’ll be an outstanding member of parliament,” he said.

“This community needs someone who understands how it’s growing.”

Mr Welch said he was ready to roll up his sleeves.

Mr Morrison thanked supporters handing out how-to-vote cards and posed for selfies with voters.

He was heckled by minor party supporters with yelling about conspiracies such as “don’t sign the WHO pandemic treaty”.

“Keep our bodies away from the WHO,” one UAP supporter yelled.

Mr Morrison was quick to reply “we’re not”.

“That’s a complete lie,” he said.

“You’re just making stuff up.”

One Greens supporter also yelled about bushfire survivors saying some were still without houses.

One couple that walked past didn’t appear to notice it was the Prime Minister, taking his flyer and walking inside.

The back of the how to vote cards were red with bold font stating: “Send Daniel Andrews a message! Put Labor last”.

— Benjamin Graham

Morrison fires up: ‘I don’t agree at all’

Scott Morrison came out swinging in an interview this morning when he was challenged over whether voters know him and told he was “absent” when it matters — during bushfires, floods and the pandemic.

Speaking to the ABC, he was referred back to his comments about being “a bulldozer”. Hosts suggested Australia’s didn’t know what they were getting because he had promised to change.

“I don’t agree with that at all,” he said. “The strength that I have described in the way that I did, that remains. But we will be going into a different gear. That is the point I’ve been trying to make.”

The ABC News Breakfast team went in again.

“You said, ‘the Morrison men just go in there and fix things’, but you were absent when the bushfires were raging, the government response to the floods was slow. The vaccine rollout was plagued with problems and terribly slow,” hosts told him.

“I know they are Labor’s criticisms, that they made along the way,” the PM offered before being told “I think a lot of voters share those criticisms”.

“I am sorry, that is what Labor has been saying,” Mr Morrison fired back.

“What we have done is ensure that Australia has had one of the lowest death rates in the world, one of the strongest economies, with more than 400,000 people in jobs after the pandemic compared to before, more hours worked, and we have ensured that Australia has the highest — one of the highest vaccination rates in the world.

“Despite the early setbacks, we got in there and we turned it around. Turned around and ensured that we were able to hit those marks within weeks when we said we would.

“There’s always plenty of critics when things are tough, but there are those of us who just have to step up, make decisions and get things done.

“And that’s the experience we have had. And we apply the lessons of those experiences we secure the opportunities that are ahead of us. Critics criticise, leaders just lead.”

Mr Morrison apologised during a leaders’ debate for saying early in the pandemic that it was “not a race” to obtain vaccines.

Where to vote today

Millions of Australians are heading to the polls today to make a choice about who runs the country.

People can vote at any one of the more than 7000 polling places in their state or territory and plenty will be open at local schools, churches, community halls and public buildings.

Voting opens at 8am on election day and closes at 6pm sharp. Make sure you vote to avoid a fine.

Below is a list of all the polling places near you, searchable by postcode, locality or electorate. Or you can look specifically at your state or territory in these lists for NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania.

Millions of Aussies sent fake text

Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party, which has poured more money into the election campaign than any other party, hit voters with a fake text message on the eve of the election.

“Australia transferring all AU hospital & health to World Health (Organisation) immediately. Stop them. Vote 1 United Australia Party,” the texts read.

It follows the running of full-page print ads along the same lines earlier in the week that declared: “All our health assets and hospitals to the Chinese-controlled WHO”.

Millions of Aussies were sent a fake election test as Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese prepare to battle it out.
Millions of Aussies were sent a fake election test as Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese prepare to battle it out.

The claims are baseless and appear to have emerged from a joint statement of world leaders around improving pandemic response preparedness.

The WHO has been planning to discuss how the world could better respond to global pandemics at the 75th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, starting tomorrow.

Countries would look at “greatly enhancing international co-operation to improve, for example, alert systems, data-sharing, research and local, regional and global production and distribution of medical and public health counter-measures such as vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and personal protective equipment,” the statement said.

But the joint statement was not even signed by Australia.

Albanese makes final pitch: ‘Give Labor a crack’

Anthony Albanese is doing the rounds on morning TV, urging voters “who are struggling to pay their rent, who are struggling to buy food and groceries” to turn their backs on Scott Morrison.

Speaking to the ABC, the Labor leader said Australians should vote for “cheaper childcare, they should for action on climate change, they should vote to make more things here, they should vote for dealing with cost-of-living challenges”.

“We will make childcare easier, energy easier, medicines cheaper and we won’t have this Government’s policy of deliberately keeping wages low.”

Albanese told viewers to “give Labor a crack”. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
Albanese told viewers to “give Labor a crack”. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

He then fired off a football analogy from the home of Australian sport at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“I’ve said throughout my time as Labor leader for three years that we’d be kicking with the wind at our back in the fourth quarter,” he said.

“I’m here at the MCG. The fourth quarter is what matters and I hope to finish ahead when the siren sounds at 6pm.”

“He told voters to “give Labor a crack”.

“Mr Morrison always looks for conflict, always looks for an argument. I want to look for solutions.”

Morrison tells breakfast TV why they need him

Scott Morrison was on Sunrise just before 8am, telling hosts that Australians have “had enough” of governments “telling them what to do”.

The interview turned personal when Mr Morrison was asked if he has an election day ritual or is superstitious.

“People know about my faith and my beliefs and I start the day the same way as I do every

day,” he said.

“With a prayer and a reading and it’s always great waking up with Jenny every morning, we been doing that for more than 30 years and it’s wonderful to have her with me on the trail.”

He said Aussies should vote for who is “best able to manage our economy, manage our finances, continue to lead Australia strongly into the future as we are coming out of this pandemic”.

The PM talked about how he wakes up on election day. Picture: Mick Tsikas/Getty Images
The PM talked about how he wakes up on election day. Picture: Mick Tsikas/Getty Images

“It’s a choice between a government that you know and an opposition leader in Anthony Albanese, that you don’t. A choice between a strong economy and a weaker one, a more certain future or an uncertain one in a very uncertain world and today Australians have a very big choice to make and I trust Australians”.

He finished the interview with a very forced compliment to Mr Albanese, one the hosts urged him to give that was “not backhanded”.

“He is someone who came from very humble beginnings to rise to be the leader of the oldest political party in this country and that’s quite an achievement,” Mr Morrison said.

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