Scott Morrison wears a skullcap at Melbourne synagogue service
Scott Morrison has ended the day by attending a Passover service at a Melbourne synagogue – and he even wore a traditional cap for the occasion. SEE PHOTOS
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Scott Morrison is a “genuine friend” of Israel and has helped fight anti-Semitism, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says.
The prime minister joined the Treasurer for a Passover service at a synagogue in Hawthorn East on Friday afternoon.
Mr Frydenberg addressed the congregation, joking: “Prime Minister, you are the only thing standing between a room full of Jews and a very big meal, so I will be brief”.
The Treasurer went on to praise Mr Morrison for his understanding “the importance of religion and faith in our community”.
“Whether it is your steadfast support for Israel … or whether it is standing firm in the face of rising anti-Semitism here and abroad, you have been a genuine friend of Israel and the Jewish people,” Mr Frydenberg said.
Mr Morrison also addressed his “Jewish friends” at the service, saying he “loves the community of faith”.
“(In Judaism) there is a deeply held belief in the dignity of every single human being,” he said.
Earlier in the day the prime minister declared Easter was not about politics — but it became just that after his wife Jenny and Tony Abbott appeared at the same Good Friday church service as Anthony Albanese.
Mrs Morrison arrived at a service at the St Charbel Maronite Church in Punchbowl in Sydney where Mr Albanese’s campaign made its pit stop on Good Friday.
She and their daughters Abbey and Lily, were also sitting in the front row, near Mr Abbott.
She also shook Mr Albanese’s hand.
Mr Albanese, who did a reading at the service, sat at the front of the congregation with his frontbench colleagues Tony Burke and Jason Clare, as well as NSW Governor Margaret Beazley. Liberal Reid MP Fiona Martin was also in attendance.
Mr Morrison went to a Good Friday church service in the ultra marginal seat of Chisholm in Victoria with Liberal MP Gladys Liu.
The Prime Minister was at the Syndal Baptist Church in Glen Waverley in Melbourne, where he mingled with church community members before taking a front-row seat at 9am.
He joined about 150 other worshippers in the service.
Mr Morrison did not speak or have any formal role in the service.
Ms Liu holds Chisholm with just a 0.5 per cent margin.
Hong Kong-born Ms Liu has courted controversy since being elected in 2019 after it was revealed she was allegedly connected to several Communist Party-linked community organisations and been forced to resign from several positions.
Mr Morrison later addressed the media where he paid tribute to the four police officers injured in a horror crash which cut short his campaigning in Tasmania.
“It was a terrible accident and a reminder we have to be safe on our roads as we move around,” Mr Morrison said.
One of the two AFP officers in the crash had been released from hospital, while the other remained in Launceston General Hospital.
Mr Morrison spoke with the AFP officers and their partners directly.
He hoped to also speak with the two Tasmanian officers.
“I understand (they) are doing well,” Mr Morrison said.
“We heard the accident right behind us and we obviously feared for the worst, but thankfully everyone is OK and obviously in good care.”
Mr Morrison said he initially “feared the worst” for those injured “but thankfully everyone is OK”.
Mr Morrison declared his faith is “not about politics”, saying his religion has “guided” him over his entire life.
“Good Friday and Easter Sunday means everything to me,” Mr Morrison said outside the Syndal Baptist Church in Glen Waverley.
“Easter is not about politics. Faith is not about politics.
“It’s my faith that has informed me, encouraged me and guided me over my entire life.”
Mr Morrison said his faith was a “very personal thing for me”.
“I really enjoyed the service this morning, it was very reflective … it was a very pleasant time,” he said.
Mr Morrison said the service reminded him of his time growing up with his brother in baptist churches.
“It’s how I was raised in my family in churches just like this one … and Jenny and I are seeking to do the same thing with out kids,” he said.
The first baby of the campaign also made his debut, with Mr Morrison stopping to chat to a mother carrying her newborn named Muxi.
“God bless you,” Mr Morrison said to the baby.
Ahead of the service, Mr Albanese released an Easter message on social media.
“On behalf of the Australian Labor Party I wish the many Christians across Australia a happy and a holy Easter,” he said.
“As we mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we can take comfort in the feeling of hope inspired by the words of the Gospel. He is risen!”
Mr Albanese said the feeling of hope “inspires us all as we begin to emerge from the pandemic and look towards a better future”.
“This Easter we will keep in our prayers the Australians who have been so devastated by the recent floods,” he said.
“I send my very best wishes to the many people celebrating this weekend and hope that you can finally gather safely with your family and in your churches
“A Happy Easter to you and your family.”
MORRISON PLEDGES $2M TO APPEAL
Scott Morrison has pledged $2m to the Good Friday Appeal, helping sick kids in the fight for their lives.
The Prime Minister visited the centre for the appeal’s annual telethon in Melbourne on Friday afternoon.
“Our youngest Australians deserve all the support and care we can give them when they’re in need,” Mr Morrison said.
“This isn’t just about backing the doctors, nurses and carers who make such a difference, it’s about supporting the services that help these young patients’ families too.”
Mr Morrison met with volunteers manning the phones at the Melbourne Convention Centre and also met with sick children.
The appeal raises money for the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said it was a very important cause and the government was continuing to invest in medical research.
Mr Frydenberg said his sister had worked at Royal Children’s Hospital for more than 20 years, and his daughter had previously received treatment there.
“Just like many Victorian families, the hospital was there. We all rely on it,” Mr Frydenberg said.
ALBO’S NEW COSTINGS GAFFE
Anthony Albanese says Labor’s urgent care medical clinic policy is “fully costed,” but has conceded this was not formally the work of the Parliamentary Budget Office as he previously claimed.
“They were informed by the PBO work and all of our policies will be fully costed, and will be released,” he said.
“The policy is fully costed, and it’s informed by work that was done by the (PBO).”
Mr Albanese briefly addressed the issue as he left a Good Friday service at a Maronite church in Western Sydney, with both he and Mr Morrison largely taking a step back from the campaigning in recognition of the religious day.
Labor’s finance spokesperson Katy Gallagher has been forced to correct Mr Albanese after he told journalists a key election policy had been fully costed when it had not.
During the first week of the federal election campaign, Labor announced a $135 million policy to take pressure off emergency departments by establishing 50 Medicare urgent care centres across Australia.
When questioned about whether $135m over four years would enough to deliver the 50 clinics — given Labor promised to build an urgent care medical facility in a Brisbane suburb for $33m at the 2019 election — Mr Albanese said the policies in the 2022 campaign were different.
“There’s a different commitment, different policy,” he said on Wednesday.
“This (policy) has been fully costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office, the PBO.”
On Thursday evening, Senator Gallagher posted a statement on Twitter to clarify the policy was not fully costed.
She said while the independent PBO had done work on the policy, ”for the avoidance of any confusion, has not been formally costed by the PBO”.
“All of Labor’s policies and costings will be released before the election,” Senator Gallagher said.
The coalition has seized on the remarks and used them to reinforce its case that Labor is not ready for to form a government.
“Anthony Albanese said the project was fully costed … he’s either ill-informed, not across the facts, or have they fudged the figures?” Health Minister Greg Hunt said.
“You can’t trust Labor with health because you can’t trust them with economic management.”
SENATOR QUITS OVER DUAL CITIZENSHIP
WA senator Ben Small has resigned from federal parliament after discovering he was a dual citizen of Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Small made the bombshell announcement in a statement released on Friday, confirming he had fallen foul of section 44 of the Australian Constitution.
Mr Small said the dual citizenship first came to light on April 6, four days before Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the election.
Mr Small first learned he may have entitlement to New Zealand citizenship after Liberal Party officials raised the query with him.
He then took steps to engage with the New Zealand High Commission to clarify his citizenship status and renounce it if necessary.
Mr Small received official confirmation on Thursday afternoon.
“While the question of my ineligibility to have been appointed to a Senate casual vacancy would need to be confirmed by the Court of Disputed Returns, I believe that my circumstances are sufficiently clear and it is most appropriate that I promptly resign from the Senate myself,” he said on Friday.
“As a result, I have today provided my resignation to the President of the Senate.”
Mr Small was appointed to the Senate in November 2020 to fill a casual vacancy.
“I was born in Perth in 1988 and have always been an Australian citizen. At the time of my birth, my mother was an Australian Citizen and my father, who was born in New Zealand, was an Australian Permanent Resident,” he said.
“I had always understood that I had no entitlement to New Zealand citizenship based on the laws that applied at the time of my birth.”
– Blake Antrobus
ALBO’S NEXT CAMPAIGN MESS
Mr Albanese has been forced to clean up another potential campaign mess for Labor after saying turning back asylum seeker boats meant offshore detention wasn’t needed.
He said if elected his government would “turn back boats,” but caused confusion when he added it would remove the need for offshore detention.
“Turning boats back means that you don’t need offshore detention,” Mr Albanese said during a visit to the Hunter Region in NSW on Thursday.
Mr Morrison seized on the comment in a bid to exploit Labor’s record on border policy, accusing Mr Albanese of flip flopping on the issue.
Mr Morrison also trumpeted his own tough role in Operation Sovereign Borders, having previously served as Immigration Minister.
“If people want to weigh up and understand these issues of border protection, they can believe someone who came up with it, stood up to the opposition on it … or they can listen to Anthony Albanese, who has been a complete weathervane on this issue,” Mr Morrison said.
An hour later during a visit to a truck workshop at a Hunter Valley coal mine, Mr Albanese said Labor’s position on boat turn backs and offshore processing was “clear”.
“We continue to support them,” he said.
“There aren’t people who have gone into offshore detention in recent times because the boats have been turned back. It’s been effective.”
NSW Liberal Senator Jim Molan, a retired general who co-authored the stop the boats policy, told News Corp offshore detention and processing, as well as temporary protection visas, were central deterrents for asylum seekers attempting “illegal maritime arrivals”.
“If we deployed our full navy and coast guard, you will not stop every boat,” he said.
“Therefore, you have got to have a system which discourages the desire to try.”
Mr Molan said the boat turn backs were only one element to “publicly demonstrate” the people smugglers’ business plan didn’t work.
“You’ve got to be able to make this an effective policy … with the other parts,” he said.
“This is what the Labor Party and Mr Albanese doesn’t understand.”
Speaking to News Corp earlier this week, Mr Albanese was upfront about his change of position on the turn back policy.
“That’s an example of something I’ve changed my view on,” Mr Albanese said. “Boat turnbacks worked.”
Previously, in 2015, Mr Albanese said: “If people were in a boat, including families and children, I myself couldn’t turn that around”.
Mr Albanese spent his fourth full day of the election campaign in the electorate of Hunter, which is currently held by Labor on a three per cent margin, but is considered a seat to watch as sitting MP Joel Fitzgibbon has retired after 25 years.
PM’S SECURITY TEAM IN CAR CRASH
Four members of Mr Morrison’s security team involved in a car crash in Tasmania are recovering from injuries sustained in the crash.
The two Tasmanian police officers and an Australian Federal Police officer were travelling in an unmarked Toyota Prado behind the Prime Minister’s car to a campaign event on Thursday when their vehicle was hit from behind by a Mitsubishi Triton on the Bass Highway.
The four officers were taken to Launceston Hospital where they were treated for non life-threatening injuries.
One AFP officer and the two Tasmanian officers were later discharged. The second AFP officer remained in hospital on Friday.
Mr Morrison was not involved in the crash.
Tasmania Police said “initial inquiries indicate the Triton has collided with the rear of the police Toyota Prado, while attempting to merge”.
It is understood the Prado then crashed through two sets of railing before rolling down a grassy embankment, coming to a rest on its side.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing.
Both vehicles were travelling west between Deloraine and Latrobe.
Images of the wreckage show the unmarked police car with a smashed windshield and heavily dented roof.
At least three officers could be seen lying on the ground being treated by paramedics.
Mr Morrison was travelling to a defence industry event, which was cancelled.
Mr Morrison issued a statement after the crash praising the work of his security detail and wishing the injured officers speedy recoveries.
“Our police do an amazing job in keeping us all safe,” he said.
“I am incredibly grateful to all the police who look after me and my family.”
He reporters at a church ceremony on Good Friday that he “feared the worst”.
‘We heard the accident right behind us and we obviously feared for the worst,’ he said. ‘Thankfully everybody is okay and in good care.
“Easter is a message of hope. So that’s what I hope people can really take out of today and over the course of the weekend, but if you are travelling around of course, please be safe, be careful, particularly if you are on the roads.’
Mr Albanese posted a note on Facebook saying: “Best wishes to the Australian Federal Police and Tasmania Police personnel assisting the PM who were involved in the car crash in Tasmania today. They do a fantastic job and I wish all a speedy recovery.”
PM DENIES BREAKING ELECTION PROMISE
Mr Morrison has refused to admit he broke a key election promise by not establishing a federal anti-corruption watchdog, instead spinning the blame on the Opposition in a fiery fourth day of the election campaign.
The Prime Minister rejected Mr Albanese’s claim on Thursday that the only reason he didn’t want an integrity commission was “sitting on his frontbench”.
“This is Anthony Albanese as usual, he doesn’t have an economic plan so he goes for the grubby smear,” Mr Morrison said.
Touring marginal seats in Tasmania, Mr Morrison faced a barrage of questions over his failure to establish an integrity commission, insisting he did not want to create a “kangaroo court” and rejecting assertions voters could not trust him to fulfil his election promises.
The grilling intensified as he toured a saw mill in Launceston with Liberal Bass MP Bridget Archer, who defied Mr Morrison by stunting his proposed religious discrimination laws and crossing the floor to vote for a crossbencher’s version of a federal ICAC bill.
Asked if establishing an integrity commission was his priority, Mr Morrison said: “I’ll tell you what my priorities are: “Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs”.
During a 42-minute press conference dominated by questions over his unfulfilled 2019 election promise to set up a federal ICAC, Mr Morrison said: “We put forward our proposal in detailed legislation and it has not been supported by the Labor Party”.
“I need bipartisan support to put that in place – I’m not going to introduce a kangaroo court.”
Mr Morrison amped up his attack on Labor, calling the Opposition’s anti-corruption watchdog model a “two-page fluff document”.
Mr Albanese slammed Mr Morrison for not introducing his integrity commission bill.
“The reason why this Prime Minister doesn’t want an anti-corruption commission is sitting on his front bench – that is the delay for why there is no National Integrity Commission,” Mr Albanese said.
Mr Morrison also came under fire for falling massively behind in his target to plant one billion trees by 2030, with just one per cent of the goal so far fulfilled.
The Prime Minister insisted the target could still be met, blaming the Black Summer bushfires for the “setbacks”.
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