Prime Minister Scott Morrison allows cameras inside church for the first time

For the first time, PM Scott Morrisson has allowed media inside his church, which he has attended for about a decade. See the pics.

Scott Morrison has celebrated joy, hope and grace on Resurrection Sunday surrounded by family and fellow congregants at his Pentecostal church in Sutherland in Sydney’s south.

Church elders greeted the nearly 1000 faithful with hugs, compliments and “Happy Easter! Happy Resurrection Sunday” as they arrived at Horizon Church’s communion service.

Inside, three rows from the front and with wife Jenny by his side, the prime minister sang and clapped to the opening number celebrating a glorious day.

“Today is a reminder of the great hope and the reason for that hope is the reason we celebrate today,” Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney.

“It’s a very special time for me and my family but I know for people around the country and frankly all around the world.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny sing during an Easter Sunday service at his Horizon Church at Sutherland in Sydney. Picture: Mick Tsikas

Picture: Mick Tsikas

It’s the first time media has been allowed to see Mr Morrison practising his faith at his own church, which he has attended for about a decade, although only cameras were let inside.

Pastor Brad Bonhomme said the church sees the Morrisons as family and aims to provide them with a space to express their faith.

“We just treat them like every other family,” he said.

Mr Morrison said the church had been “a bedrock of our family” since they moved to the Shire.

“They’re a wonderful community and they reach out all across the Shire and further beyond that and always have,” he said.

“They’ve just been such a tremendous support for us personally and it’s a very important part of our lives.”

Picture: Mick Tsikas

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with his wife Jenny on Easter Sunday at the Horizon Church in Sutherland. Picture Gary Ramage

The prime minister has spent the bulk of the Easter weekend in his home town of Sydney.

It’s been a stop-start campaign with Mr Morrison and opponent Bill Shorten calling a truce to electioneering on Good Friday and again on Sunday - although that has been stretchedwith both making public appearances.

Scomo allowed cameras inside his church for the first time. Picture: Mick Tsikas

MALCOLM TURNBULL FIRES UP

Malcolm Turnbull has fired up on Twitter about one of the Liberal Party’s biggest weaknesses - climate policy - and his comments are likely to cause a headache for Scott Morrison on the campaign trail.

In a series of tweets yesterday, the former prime minister called out the Coalition for its attack on Labor over its climate and energy policies - and took a shot at the Liberals’ right-wing, which was responsible for him losing the country’s top job last year.

He blamed indecision and infighting in the Coalition over the past five years for hurting households and businesses.

The fiery comments came in reaction to a column by Sky News presenter David Speers in The Daily Telegraph on electricity prices. Mr Turnbull particularly took issue with five key words - Speers’ characterisation of a proposed energy policy as “Malcolm Turnbull’s National Energy Guarantee”.

“I see (Speers) is referring to the national energy guarantee as ‘Malcolm Turnbull’s NEG’,” Mr Turnbull tweeted.

“In fact the NEG had the support of the entire Cabinet, including and especially the current PM and Treasurer. It was approved by the Party Room on several occasions.

“It had the support of the business community and energy sector in a way that no previous energy policy had.

“However a right wing minority in the Party Room refused to accept the majority position and threatened to cross the floor and defeat their own government.

“That is the only reason it has been abandoned by the Government. The consequence is no integration of energy and climate policy, uncertainty continues to discourage investment with the consequence, as I have often warned, of both higher emissions and higher electricity prices.”

Malcolm Turnbull has reacted sharply to a column by David Speers. File photo by: Saeed Khan/AFP

He also rejected suggestions he was attacking the Coalition.

“I am simply stating the truth: the NEG was designed and demonstrated to reduce electricity prices. So dumping it means prices will be higher than if it had been retained,” he wrote.

The policy, proposed in late 2017, would have imposed a reliability obligation and emissions reduction on energy retailers.

Retailers unable to meet their obligations would face penalties under the scheme.

Mr Turnbull’s spray came as Labor leader Bill Shorten pledged to legislate the NEG if elected.

Previously Labor had said it would only enact the scheme with bipartisan support.

MONEY FOR VETS

Labor is planning a cash splash to help veterans and their families, announcing it would invest $188 million today.

In a press release, the Mr Shorten announced the money would help pay for funeral expenses, helping more than 84,000 veterans by increasing the amount they receive by more than $10,000 — an overall investment of $90.4 million.

Labor also pledged $20 million for the Their Enduring Legacy grants program.

That money will go towards upgrading memorials across Australia.

The new funding will also be spent on the Kokoda Trail, to support carers and for expanded therapy support.

Labor also pledged money to improve veterans’ mental health.

Originally published as Prime Minister Scott Morrison allows cameras inside church for the first time