Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten get election campaigning under way in western Sydney

The candidate hoping to topple Tony Abbott says she won’t support some of Bill Shorten’s biggest policies if Labor wins.

Tony Abbott has accused his high-profile rival of being a Labor candidate disguised as an independent.

But Zali Steggall made it clear today she will not be doing Labor Leader Bill Shorten any favours if she wins a seat in parliament.

The former Olympian and lawyer, who now hopes to topple Mr Abbott in his usually safe seat of Warringah, has condemned Labor’s key taxation policies.

Speaking to Sky News reporter Laura Jayes today, Ms Steggall said she “absolutely did not” support what was described as “Bill Shorten’s higher taxing plan”.

“I don’t support his investment tax changes,” Ms Steggall said.

“I think he’s moving the goalpost and impacting retirees and people who’ve relied on government policy for a long time.”

Zali Steggall appearing on Sky News today.

When asked if she supported Labor’s plan to scrap franking credits — tax rebates to shareholders who receive dividends — Ms Steggall said she did not.

“No, I don’t support that and I will oppose that,” she said.

And on Mr Shorten’s plan to significantly change negative gearing allowances for property investors, she said: “I will oppose those too.”

Ms Steggall, who is gaining ground in the electorate and has the backing of left-wing activist group GetUp!, said she believed taxes were too high.

“We have to lower our taxes. We need to support small business, working families. We need to make it more affordable and encourage competition. We need to get innovation happening in Australian business.”

Zali Steggall said she will oppose Labor’s key taxation policies if elected. Picture: AAP

SHORTEN COPS FLORIST’S FURORE

Mr Shorten was given a rough start to the day after a fired-up florist took him to task on proposed changes to negative gearing.

The Opposition wants to scale back the generous tax perks, saying it would make property more affordable for first-time buyers and boost the construction of new housing.

However, experts have warned that Australia’s property markets face a “day of reckoning” if Labor is voted in and the Real Estate Institute has even launched a four-week campaign against Labor because of the proposed changes.

Mr Shorten has stood defiant in defence of the policy, telling reporters this afternoon about the “real reason” behind the scare stories.

“I’m telling you what’s really going on,” he said. “You’ve gotta ask yourself, why are they campaigning?

“They’re campaigning because they like to have people bidding for houses who are getting a taxpayer handout. Because the more people they have bidding for houses, the more they can charge their percentage on the sale.

“But this is what’s really cute about what the real estate agents aren’t telling people, or the institute — I don’t hold each real estate agent responsible. This negative gearing relies on a principle that you invest in property, make a loss and the Government subsidises you.”

Voter Rick Mileto took on a highly-visible Bill Shorten this morning. Picture: Sam Clench

The contentious policy raised its head this morning as Mr Shorten enjoyed an amiable stroll around Sydney Markets, while wearing a fluorescent jacket for some reason.

Rick Mileto, who took a break from selling flowers to chat to the Labor leader, grilled Mr Shorten on his housing policies — specifically, his promise to limit negative gearing.

“I guess a lot of people are wondering if, at this time in the cycle, should you delay it a few more years?” Mr Mileto asked.

Mr Shorten responded by emphasising Labor’s policies on health and education.

“I don’t know if anyone in your family has ever had a diagnosis of a serious illness, or if you have kids who go to school,” he said.

“We want to have the best health care, the best school system. And what we also want is confidence.”

Mr Mileto kept pressing, saying changes to negative gearing could be a significant risk in the current economic climate.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is launching his campaign in western Sydney today. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Everything is going against it. Chinese money has come out of the system. We’ve got the banking situation. It’s just a question of timing. There’s talk of a recession in 2020. Can’t we delay it a couple of years?” he asked.

“Well I want to actually fund our schools and our hospitals,” Mr Shorten said.

Speaking to news.com.au afterwards, Mr Mileto said Mr Shorten had not convinced him.

“I guess I’ve just noticed as a businessperson that the environment’s really been correcting. We’ve had a good cycle of growth, particularly in Sydney, thanks to property infrastructure, immigration, all these things have been terrific in stimulating spending in the city,” he said.

“Now things have come off the boil, and I was just questioning the timing of negative gearing. He’s talking about negative gearing in 2020. It’s bottoming out. It doesn’t seem to be the best idea to introduce it in 2020.

Mr Shorten was confronted about the effect Labor’s proposed negative gearing changes would have on the property market.

“I get it’s a Labor policy, but the economic cycle now is not ideal and most people would like to see these kinds of policies delayed for a while, perhaps in perpetuity but at the very least over the next few years.”

Mr Mileto once again praised Mr Shorten’s health policies, but said Labor should be able to introduce them without tinkering with negative gearing.

The debate comes as estate agents across Australia are beginning a four-week campaign to attack Mr Shorten’s planned negative gearing overhaul.

The push is being led by the Real Estate Institute of Australia, which represents about 95 per cent of the 36,000 businesses that employ about 120,000 and will use a range of social media platforms to attack the policy.

It argues it would send house prices plummeting and wreak havoc with the Australian economy.

MICRO-CAMPAIGNS COULD SWING ELECTION

It’s the campaigning you don’t see, that is only whispered about, which could settle a tight election result.

Big-picture tax and spending issues dominate the attack points from major parties but below this is a network of micro campaigns which will influence the election outcome.

They don’t always have official endorsement from a major party, and are said to cover a range of matters and special interests, from the provision of abortion to the sanctity of the rev head’s petrol guzzler.

Some of the micro campaigns are overt and with familiar political figures speaking on them.

But there are others which are so precisely targeted and anonymous the average voter would not be aware of them.

One is an effort to raise the question of abortion among migrant communities, many of whose members are highly religious, news.com.au has learned.

The villain in this campaign is deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek.

Early last month she announced a Labor government would fund and facilitate terminations in public hospitals.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek is being targeted in an anti-abortion micro-campaign. Picture: Kym Smith

News.com.au has been told this “free abortions” policy is being quietly highlighted within migrant communities, particularly in western Sydney, to rouse hostility towards Labor.

On another front, Australian business also is quietly running a micro campaign separate to the headline effort.

Peak bodies, such as the Business Council of Australia, the Council of Small Business Australia, and the Australian Industry Group have not been shy in making demands on the major parties.

But in addition, it is understood there is a comparatively subterranean and separate effort by business elements to drive hard at Labor and its trade unions as the advance elements of a takeover of the finance system.

In the other direction, there is considerable unheralded attention being paid to the business dealings of Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, in his seat of Dickson.

And, as a counter to attacks on Labor’s policy removing franking credits from self-managed superannuation funds, there is a bid to undermine provision of home care services within the retiree community.

STUMBLE OVER $387 BILLION TAX CLAIM

A stumble over crucial detail today blunted the Coalition’s big hit on Labor policies with a claim it would add $387 billion to taxes.

National’s leader and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack could not explain how the tax jump over 10 years was calculated.

As he attempted to explain on ABC radio he added costs not yet established, and unrelated expenses.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison used the Treasury calculation of tax rises over a decade under Labor to start his first full day of election campaigning.

“It’s a choice between a government that has been reducing taxes on families and small business and making life that little bit easier, versus a Labor government under Bill Shorten, that will increase taxes by — as shown by Treasury costings — $387 billion, which will only drag and hold all Australians back, by holding the economy down,” Mr Morrison told Seven’s Sunrise.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack could not explain how the tax jump over 10 years was calculated. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

However, the detail wasn’t clear to Mr McCormack who appeared to be searching desperately for it when asked on ABC radio.

“When you, when you actually give a tax cut you shouldn’t be penalising another section of the economy, you shouldn’t be in costing businesses where the thoughts of things that Labor are going to charge people for,” Mr McCormack said, struggling for a line.

“The fact is Labor are going to hike up taxes as far as businesses are concerned, they’re going to hike up taxes as far as households are concerned, they are going to hike up taxes as far as electricity is concerned and their 50 per cent renewables target is unrealistic.”

However, the impost of an emissions target has not been calculated.

And electricity prices were not part of the Treasury accounting.

SCOMO SNAPS ON SUNRISE

Scott Morrison snapped at Sunrise host Natalie Barr this morning — saying “I know my policy” — after she asked him to explain the difference between the Coalition and Labor on electric cars.

The criticism of the Coalition has been that its electric car policy is almost the same as Labor’s — yet the Government appears to demonising the Opposition over its position.

Ms Barr asked him to explain the difference on Sunrise this morning.

Labor has set a 50 per cent target for electric cars as a share of new passenger vehicle sales by 2030.

“You guys have stood there and said you’re going to save the ute, you’re going to be responsible for that,” Ms Barr said. “Whereas your electric vehicle policy is really the same as Labor’s.”

Scott Morrison said Bill Shorten is confused about his electric car policy, not him. Picture: Sunrise

Mr Morrison, responded: “No, not at all.”

He said Labor’s policy “rules out 17 of the top 20 selling cars in Australia today”.

“We support people getting electric vehicles and have a policy to help them achieve that, but what we’re not going to do is set a mandatory target that has to be 50 per cent (for EVs as a share of new passenger vehicle sales by 2030,” he said. “Now, 50 per cent within the next 10 years, that would wipe out half of the petrol and diesel fuel excise that is earned in this country.

“My problem with Bill Shorten is that he won’t explain his policy and he won’t tell people what the impact is and that’s why you can’t trust him.”

However, Ms Barr kept pushing, saying his policy sounded the same as Labor’s.

“I know what my policy is, Nat,” he snapped. “That is the problem with Bill Shorten, he doesn’t know what his policy is.”

SCOMO TARGETS WESTERN SYDNEY

Expect to see a lot more politicians in high-vis jackets and kissing babies on the head, because the campaigning for this year’s federal election is officially kicking off this morning.

The Prime Minister has landed in one of the election’s key battlegrounds to launch his campaign — heading for the banks of the Nepean River last night before doing live interviews from Penrith this morning.

He’s chosen to visit an oil refinery as his first official event and is expected to tour the facility with Foreign Affairs Minister Maurice Payne and local Lindsay candidate Melissa McIntosh.

The family-owned and operated business employs 180 people and produces oils and lubricants for commercial, and agricultural use.

It’s unclear how Tony Abbott will be involved in the Coalition’s campaigning. Picture: Monique Harmer

There, he was asked whether he planned on campaigning with former prime minister Tony Abbott and whether he would consider bringing the MP back on his front bench.

“They’re decisions I hope to be able to make but I’m not going to presume upon them, on the Australian people,” he said.

Labor only holds Lindsay by a margin of 1.1 per cent and the Liberals are hoping to reclaim what was a bellwether seat until Emma Husar won it for Labor in 2016.

Ms Husar announced last year that she would retire after allegations of workplace misconduct, although an investigation later cleared her of bullying and sexual harassment.

Scott Morrison says hello to a few voters at a Penrith cafe. For the record he drinks a regular skim flat white #AusVotes19 pic.twitter.com/WHWzf4eHqn

— Charis Chang (@CharisChang2) April 11, 2019

Now it’s up to the new candidate, former NSW Labor minister Diane Beamer, to reclaim it for Labor.

Despite the controversy surrounding Ms Husar, she did not seem to be front of mind for the voters news.com.au spoke to in Penrith on Thursday afternoon.

Many seemed disenchanted with politics in general and not impressed by the Liberal leadership struggle. Several young men in particular said they only voted because they had to and didn’t think about it.

One 22-year-old Cambridge Park man said he would probably not vote for anyone, and most of his friends would do the same.

Ms Husar announced last year that she would retire. Picture: AAP Image/Peter Rae

“They’re all the same,” he said. “No matter what they say, everyone thinks they are lying.”

Another 31-year-old, Alicia Johnstone of Cranebrook also admitted to being disinterested in politics.

“I usually vote Liberals because my parents have,” she said. “I’m open but I definitely need to put more effort into figuring out what each side is offering.”

Interestingly, some residents who had voted Labor in the past, were intending to switch to the Liberal Party. While Liberal voters planned to switch to Labor.

In contrast, Sheila Hamm of Leonay, said she would most likely vote Liberal, even though she mainly voted Labor. One of the biggest reasons she nominated was that she didn’t like leader Bill Shorten — something that is seen as a problem for the party.

“I think honesty is a big thing,” the 61-year-old said. “I don’t think Bill Shorten is honest, he seems less trustworthy, which may not be fair but we can only go on perception.”

Ms Hamm said she could still change her mind and nominated health and education as being the issues that would influence her vote because she works in the health industry and her daughter works in education.

Some in Sydney's western suburbs say they feel let down by both major parties. Picture: Adam Taylor

SHORTEN HEADS TO SYDNEY TO KICK-OFF CAMPAIGN

Bill Shorten is also campaigning in Sydney today and he spoke to the Today show about the choice Australians face on May 18.

“I think Australians are sick of politics as usual, I don’t view Australia as Liberal or Labor, I just view it as Australia and we have all got the same challenges. Everything is going up except your wages,” he said.

“We have had six years of massive instability in the Government and people just want to see proper investment in their kids’ education, making sure when you are sick it’s your Medicare card, not your credit card that determines your level of health.

“They want action on climate change. We are about cost of living. That’s why I started (campaigning) in a suburban backyard because that’s where Australia is.

“It’s the families around the dinner table wondering what the future is going to hold and how Labor can help them look after their family and their health.”

Mr Shorten starting with a visit to Sydney Markets in Flemington alongside Labor’s high profile candidate for Reid, Sam Crosby.

Mr Shorten and Labor Candidate for Reid Sam Crosby during a street walk at Burwood in Sydney. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Reid is the electorate of retiring Liberal MP Craig Laundy, a Turnbull loyalist whose decision to quit has left the government deeply worried it could lose the seat.

Scott Morrison’s attempts to recruit a well known replacement for Mr Laundy fell flat. His advances were rejected by both former NSW Police deputy commissioner Nick Kaldas and broadcaster Stan Grant.

Later this morning Mr Shorten will swing by PRP Diagnostic Imaging in Eastwood, where you can expect him to spruik Labor’s policies for fighting cancer.

Today we learned of a new addition to that plan. Should he win government, Mr Shorten will invest a further $125 million in funding for cancer research.

A big chunk of that — $20 million — will go towards researching pancreatic cancer, which kills almost as many people each year as breast cancer.

There are no clear systems and no early detection tests, and pancreatic cancer is resistant to conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy.