Awkward Scott Morrison debate moment ‘lacked grace’

Scott Morrison claimed he misunderstood the question but turned off viewers and allowed Anthony Albanese to shine with a major mis-step in the debate.

The final question of Wednesday night’s Leaders Debate was an unconventional one, with both Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese asked to pay the other a compliment.

Seven’s Mark Riley asked both leaders about “one redeeming feature” and something they “admire” about the other person.

“Surely everybody has one redeeming feature. What is one strength, Mr Prime Minister, that you find in this gentleman that you admire, but also worries you?” Riley asked.

Mr Morrison kicked things off, and it was as awkward as you might imagine.

He said he admired how Mr Albanese had grown up in public housing and that he has “never forgotten where he came from”.

“He has shown a great deal of determination over that period of time to rise from very humble beginnings. I admire that in Australians and I admire that in Anthony. That’s great,” he said.

The Prime Minister also said Mr Albanese “should be commended” for rising to be the leader of one of the oldest parties in Australia.

But there was a “but”.

Scott Morrison had to admit what he likes about his rival.

“That’s great. But you know, to do this job you need to know your stuff. You need to be across the detail. You need to not make things up on the run and you can’t be loose on the economy. Because too many Australian livelihoods depend on it,” Mr Morrison said.

“As much as I respect what he has been able to achieve, I just don’t believe that he has been able to demonstrate that he is able to get across the detail to do this job.”

Riley branded Mr Morrison’s response a “compliment sandwich”, before turning to the Labor Leader for his response.

Mr Albanese swallowed his pride, too, telling the PM he admired that he was “absolutely committed to his nation”.

He also mentioned the government’s increased commitment to mental health.

“We have seen increased funding for mental health but in particular increased funding for Headspace and those issues,” Mr Albanese said.

“Mental health is something that when we were all a bit younger wasn’t spoken about. It’s a good thing it’s being spoken about, it’s a good thing the Prime Minister speaks about it as well.”

It was an awkward final question for the debate.

Mr Albanese then added that he “had no barbs” for the Prime Minister, to which Mr Morrison said that he “must have misunderstood the question”.

If that was the case, the misunderstanding was costly because it painted Mr Albanese as the nice guy and turned some viewers off Mr Morrison.

“Sinking the boot at that moment lacked grace,” noted ABC host David Speers.

I know this has nothing to do with who is a better PM but as human beings I think it's telling that Albo could give a genuine compliment and Scomo just couldn't without getting in a dig. It says so much about what they're like as people. #auspol#ausvotes#LeadersDebate

— tmmisson (@tmmisson) May 11, 2022

Watching Albo politely compliment Scomo after copping that lowly insult has reaffirmed his character and leadership for me. What a man.#LeadersDebate

— Jamie Cevallo (@CevalloJamie) May 11, 2022

The exchange of kind words was short lived, with both leaders going right back to taking digs at the other in their closing statements.

Mr Morrison pushed his strong economy line, which has been a constant throughout his campaign.

“We believe in you, we believe a strong economy is based on you. We don’t believe the Government is the answer, we believe you are the answer and that’s why our policies are designed to do,” he said.

The Prime Minister also reiterated that a vote for Mr Albanese was a “risk”.

“This election is a choice about who can manage and deliver that strong economy, because that’s what your future depends on. And now is not a time to risk that on an unproven Opposition and Labor Leader who don’t have a plan for our economy and haven’t got the experience with the challenges that we face,” he said.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Australian Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese shake hands during the third leaders' debate. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

In his closing statement, Mr Albanese claimed he has a “better plan for the future” than the Liberal Party.

“We can do better. We have a range of challenges facing us as a nation. We have childcare costs that are spiralling, that stop women working that fourth or fifth day. We can do better than that. We have had 22 attempts at climate policy and we have issues, floods and bushfires, we have seen the impact,” he said.

Mr Albanese claimed this election was a choice between seizing new opportunities or a government asking for “three more years of more of the same”.

“They don’t really have a plan or a policy for the future, because they struggle with the present,” he said.

“If we don’t elect a new government we will miss out on the opportunity to increase women’s economic participation through cheaper childcare. We will miss out on the opportunity to end the climate wars. We will miss out on the opportunity to deal with cost of living and stop everything going up except for people’s wages.

“If we can’t even get consensus here about a $1 increase for the minimum wage then I think that this country isn’t able to go forward.”