How Scott Morrison plans to beat Labor’s small target strategy

Australians have been told they have a choice between a ‘stronger’ or a ‘better’ future at the federal election to be held on May 21 following a 41-day election campaign the PM homes will be a test for his rival.

“Reckless” Covid-19 spending promises from Labor would have more than doubled the $80bn deficit, the ­Coalition will warn, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison fired the starter’s pistol on a May 21 election, which will be bitterly fought on cost-of-living, defence and trust.

Mr Morrison pitched a “stronger future” to the nation if re-elected, while Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese pledged a “better future” under a Labor government, as the two leaders began the 41-day campaign.

The Coalition will exploit the Opposition Leader not revealing how much he will slug big business with his multinational tax plan, as it seeks to pry open Labor’s small-target strategy.

Mr Albanese boiled down his message to Australians to “more secure jobs, stronger Medicare, cheaper childcare and making our future here” with local manufacturing.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called the election for May 21 and will seek to target “reckless” spending promises from Labor. Picture: Martin Ollman/Getty Images

Jobs, particularly in manufacturing and renewable ­energy, as well as health ­funding will be the focus of Labor’s campaign when he hits the hustings in the Sunshine State.

Queensland voters are in the box seat to determine the nation’s future, as the Coalition needs to hold its record high number of seats in the state while Labor will need to win one to two seats to return to power.

Mr Morrison said the election was about a choice between “a strong future or an uncertain one”, promising lower taxes, better economic management, while saying Labor still can’t “tell you what they will do, who they are or what they believe in”.

“This election is about you, no one else. It’s about our country,” Mr Morrison said.

“Above all, this election … is a choice. A choice between a strong economy and a Labor Opposition that would weaken it.”

While admitting there had been mistakes, Mr Morrison said his government had ­delivered 4 per cent unemployment, electricity prices down 8 per cent, tax cuts and 700,000 more people in work than would have been without JobKeeper.

He also committed to ­serving out the full term as Prime Minister if re-elected, and not handing over the reins to a colleague.

“Only by voting for the Liberals and Nationals at this election on May 21 can you ensure a strong economy for a stronger future,” he ended his pitch to the nation.

Mr Albanese said the Prime Minister had “stopped governing some time ago” while seeking a fourth term and “second decade” in power.

“He suffered during this term from the fact that he sailed through the 2019 campaign without lining out a third-term agenda, which is perhaps why he hasn’t had one,” he said.

“It’s a Coalition that is a ­coalition of chaos, frankly, at the moment.”

The Opposition Leader said Australians deserved ­better, telling them that “this is our time”.

“Our time to seize the opportunities that are before us,” Mr Albanese said.

“Our time to create a better future where no one is held back and no one is left behind,” he said.

Hobbled by Labor’s small target strategy, the Coalition cannot rely on the $387bn in extra taxes from Labor it exploited in 2019.

Instead it is expected to turn to populist spending measures announced during Covid, and since, like the $6bn promise to pay people $300 to get vaccinated, extending and expanding JobKeeper and $5bn for free RAT tests.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has told Australians that “this is our time”. Picture: Sky News

In the regions, the Nationals within the LNP will be ­running on the “big new tax” claims, using Labor’s climate change safeguard mechanism, which disproportionately hits big emitters in Queensland, seizing on fears that energy transition “means unemployment”, as well as the opposition’s reluctance to commit to dams.

LNP Senator Matt Canavan said the Coalition could not afford to lose the support it gained in regional Queensland in the 2019 election, which was why it was promising more dams and support for the coal industry.

“Labor will owe the Greens and the Greens want to shut down the coal industry, they don’t want to develop the cattle industry … it will be a massive handbrake on the economy,” he said.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton is also expected to play a big role, as the government plays off global uncertainty amid a more assertive China in our region and war in Europe.

Mr Dutton is more confident in his seat this time, ­fighting against a known quantity, freeing him up to campaign in other seats, particularly in Queensland.

Labor campaign spokesman Jason Clare seized on cost-of-living pressures, saying voters were not feeling the economy was working for them in the way Scott Morrison claimed.

“The cost of petrol for the average family has gone up by $1000 this year on what it was last year, the cost of childcare is $800 more this year than it was last year, the cost of rent is $2000 more this year than what it was last year,” Mr Clare said.

“If Scott Morrison thinks that everything is hunky dory, and that Australians have never been better off, then he is more out of touch that I really think he ever was.”

Originally published as How Scott Morrison plans to beat Labor’s small target strategy