One Nation’s new preference deal

Campaign Confidential: One Nation’s latest preference deal revealed, Albo’s secret campaign weapon, and why South Australia doesn’t ‘swing’.

Got a hot tip for Campaign Confidential? Email [e-mail]

Albo’s secret weapon

Anthony Albanese with Labor’s education spokesperson Tanya Plibersek on Wednesday. Picture: Liam Kidston

Anthony Albanese has revealed he is relying on Hydralyte as he battles the lingering effects of Covid-19 while electioneering. The Labor leader, who left seven-day isolation last Friday after contracting Covid, said he was experiencing “ongoing tiredness” which “comes in waves”. Albo said he was relying on Hydralyte to stay fit on the campaign trail, which has been particularly arduous since he left isolation. “I did Perth and Brisbane and then a walk through the heat (on the Labour Day march),” he said. There was no sign of Covid brain fog when Albo was asked about the new Reserve Bank cash rate on Wednesday, quickly and correctly replying it was 0.35 per cent. And a good thing too: if he had got it wrong after his much-reported stumble on day one, there would have been hell to pay.

A solid state

Prime Minister Scott Morrison visitied a retirement village in the SA seat of Boothby on Wenesday. Picture: Jason Edwards

South Australia has so much going for it - incredible tourism destinations, great wine and restauarants, unequivocally the nation’s best arts festival, a very fit premier - but politically speaking, what a massive bore. A quick look at history shows just how infrequently SA seats actually move. Mayo and Hindmarsh have not changed hands since 2016, Kingston and Makin have stayed steady since 2007, and Adelaide has been a Labor domain since 2004. But those seats can be considered mad swingers compared to some of the real SA stalwarts: the Liberals have held Grey since 1993, Sturt since 1972 and Barker since 1945. They’ve also held Boothby since 1949, which makes its drift into marginal territory this election pretty seismic indeed.

Values deal

Australian Values Party founder Heston Russell is running for a Queensland Senate seat. Picture: Shae Beplate

The Australian Values Party, led by former Special Forces major Heston Russell, has secured a preference deal with One Nation in both its Senate and Lower House bids in four states. Mr Russell told Campaign Confidential the deal was struck more than a year ago, when he campaigned with Pauline Hanson for the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. “The last 18 months I have maintained good working relationships with politicians from all parties, and now we are finally seeing what can be achieved when we focus on purpose and policies in politics, not the infighting and personal baggage issues that otherwise occupy the margins either side of centre,” Mr Russell said. He revealed the AVP had 400 applications for just 16 candidate positions - 12 in the Senate and four in the Lower House. “They are people who have served their communities and have been willing to sign up to our workforce policy that requires higher levels of conduct and accountability,” he said. There’s no telling how the AVP will fare, but there’s no doubt the Queensland Senate race - where Russell is standing - is set to be an absolute ripsnorter, with Clive Palmer, Campbell Newman, Pauline Hanson and George Christensen all vying for votes.

Stats all, folks

Tuesday’s announcement by the Reserve Bank that it was bumping up the cash rate by 25 percentage points was undoubtedly not great for the Coalition’s re-election prospects, but it’s worth remembering another important set of stats will lob on the Thursday before election day. On May 19 the ABS will release its monthly update of unemployment statistics, and if the unemployment dips as low as 3.5 per cent (as Scott Morrison has predicted) it will give the government a powerful talking point in the final 48 hours of the campaign.

Birmo and Plibo have a chat

Mr Nice Guy. Simon Birmingham rides the media bus to an event in Adelaide. Picture: Jason Edwards

Dear old Aunty is obviously keen to avoid too much drama during its election night telecast, opting for the extremely pleasant Simon Birmingham and the very congenial Tanya Plibersek as the political guests for its coverage. The Mr Nice and Ms Lovely of Aussie politics will be joining Leigh Sales, Antony Green, Annabel Crabb and David Speers during the live count on the ABC. Channel Nine meanwhile is clearly hoping for fireworks, adding Queensland megamaverick Matt Canavan to their coverage. Campaign Confidential notes some of Australia’s mouthiest pollies, including Jacqui Lambie, Pauline Hansone, Kristina Keneally and Peter Dutton, are all still free for an election night gig.

Got a hot tip for Campaign Confidential? Email [e-mail]

Originally published as One Nation’s new preference deal