‘This election is about you and no one else’: Scott Morrison calls federal election for May 21

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called the federal election for May 21 with a message to Australians to back him because of his performance in the pandemic, telling voters his government is not perfect but is better than the risk of a switch to Labor.

Mr Morrison launched the six-week election campaign after visiting Governor-General David Hurley at Government House in Yarralumla to ask him to dissolve Parliament and set the date for Australians to cast their ballots.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison arriving at Government House on Sunday morning.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The Prime Minister’s plan takes the election to the last possible day for votes to be cast, a strategy that extends the campaign in the hope of placing more pressure on Labor leader Anthony Albanese.

Mr Morrison held a press conference in Parliament House late on Sunday morning to outline his pitch to voters after he released a video on Saturday night about his record in responding to natural disasters and the pandemic.

He framed the election as a choice between a government that was not perfect but could be trusted to manage the economy, the budget, the recovery from the pandemic and national security.

“It’s a choice between a strong and tested government team that has demonstrated our ability to make difficult and tough choices in tough times and a Labor opposition who has been so focused on politics over these past few years that they still can’t tell you what they’d do, who they are, or what they believe in and what they stand for,” he said.

“It’s a choice between a government you know and a Labor opposition that you don’t.

“Our government is not perfect. We’ve never claimed to be, but we are up-front. And you may see some flaws but you can also see what we have achieved for Australia in incredibly difficult times.”

In remarks to the media that laid the groundwork for the Coalition’s campaign, Mr Morrison said he seeks to shape the six-week campaign around the Coalition’s perceived strengths of economic management.

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

Asked if he would serve as prime minister for a full term if he won the election, Mr Morrison confirmed that he would and also said he would name a new minister to the health portfolio in the week ahead given the retirement of Health Minister Greg Hunt at the election.

Asked if Education Minister Alan Tudge would be returned to federal cabinet after the election, Mr Morrison said he was already in cabinet. The response made it clear he regards Mr Tudge as a cabinet minister despite asking him to step aside earlier this year after months of conflicting claims over his relationship with a former press secretary in his office, Rachelle Miller.

Labor responded with a video pointing out mistakes in the pandemic response and urging Australians to dump Mr Morrison.

Mr Albanese prepared for the official election launch,

which was widely expected ahead of the Sunday announcement, by emphasising Labor policies on health, social services and wages.

“A better future that involves strengthening Medicare, making more things here, more secure work, dealing with the cost of living through cheaper child care and cheaper energy prices – we have a plan for a better future,” he said on Saturday.

“The government just has a priority of trying to get through the next six weeks. The offers run out as soon as people have cast their ballot papers, then it will be back to business as usual.

The campaign has already been under way before its official announcement with both leaders crossing the country over the past week.

Jacqueline Maley cuts through the noise of the federal election campaign with news, views and expert analysis. Sign up to our Australia Votes 2022 newsletter here.