Nation’s newspapers publish their election editorials

Less than 24 hours before the polls open, the nation’s media have published their election editorials.

The front pages of today’s newspapers.

Less than 24 hours before the polls open, the nation’s media have published their election editorials canvassing the Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s steady hand and Opposition leader Bill Shorten’s “progressive” agenda. The resounding advice to voters from across the editorials is to do the research.

The Mercury wrote: “Do not just roll your arm over and back in the side your dad always supported, or for the candidate or leader who has delivered the most memorable campaign sound bite.”

In an election campaign that has been filled with grandiose promises and dirty tactics, The Mercury’s advice was echoed by all of the papers.

The Australian has endorsed Mr Morrison, but not without first giving the Coalition a critical review of the last four years.

“Mr Morrison is pragmatic and a good communicator… but the serial chaos within the Coalition, including with the Nationals, has been a deadweight on it’s support,” The Australian wrote.

“Although the Coalition has had a mixed two terms in office, its record on the economy and border protection is far superior to the six years of Labor rule under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.

“Labor is retreating from the nation’s successful synthesis of pro-growth deregulation and social progress. Mr Shorten would give Canberra more control over resource allocation and final say in wages and taxpayer subsidies to unionised workers, and would impose high costs on heavy industry to cut carbon dioxide emissions.’’

The Courier Mail called Mr Morrison a “one-man campaign” who rose up after the chaos of the ousting of Malcolm Turnbull. It urged voters not to vote for Labor, who, for all their ambitious promises cannot provide detail or assurances on how it will hit everyday Queenslanders.

EDITORIAL: Our Nation needs stability

“Self-funded retirees, small business owners and those who’ve save to invest in property or share all have legitimate concerns about Mr Shorten’s agenda,” The Courier Mail wrote, warning voters about Labor’s tax plan and skyrocketing energy prices under Mr Shorten’s climate policy.

The Daily Telegraph also condemned Mr Shorten’s lack of detail and told voters now is the time for “a steady hand on the tiller”.

“(Labor’s) approach is attractive to those wealthy enough to absorb significant risk and loss. But for people who are beginning their working careers, or who have young children and a first mortgage, those risks and potential losses are not quite so easily dismissed.”

“The Coalition saves money. Labor spends it,” The Daily Telegraph wrote.

The Herald Sun warned its Victorian readers they were in charge of some of the most contentious seats — Higgins, La Trobe and Deakin — and gave its support to Mr Morrison.

“The 2019 federal election sees Coalition and Labor platforms diverge to an extent not seen in decades,” they wrote, but warned voters away from Mr Shorten’s “socialist-like wealth redistribution ideology”.

The paper was blistering about the Greens: “A vote for the Greens — whether in Higgins or Kooyong — is a vote for economic and social chaos.”

Adelaide’s The Advertiser also swung against the Labor party’s sweeping reforms, in favour of a steady Coalition government.

“The Liberals’ steady-as-she-goes agenda represents the safest bet for this state. Without the instability that has crippled the coalition and severely depleted its frontbench, it would be hard to argue to oust a government on such solid economic footing. By contrast, the Opposition has a high-taxing, big- spending agenda amid international headwinds,” The Advertiser wrote.

The NT News gave their endorsement to Mr Shorten in the wake of a chaotic coalition government.

“During its two terms in office, the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government has largely failed to deliver for the Territory. If you don’t want the next three years to be a lost opportunity for the Territory, it is important you vote Labor,” The NT wrote.

Both The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age threw their support behind Mr Shorten, telling voters it was a time for a change. “The Herald believes that above all else voters must use this election as a chance to put an end to that cycle of instability and with that in mind there is no choice but to endorse Bill Shorten and the ALP,” the editorial read.

“Certainly, both parties have shared in the bloodletting of the past decade but over the past six years Mr Shorten has built up a united team that looks like it will stick together,” it wrote.

The Age said voters had to choose between Mr Shorten’s “socially progressive reform agenda driven by a comprehensive review of taxation and spending priorities” and the Coalition’s infighting and “lack of comprehensive vision”.

“This election is not about the size of government for both sides are proposing budgets of similar magnitude. It is about the function of government,” The Age wrote.

The Guardian’s Australian outpost gave its full support to Mr Shorten in an editorial jumping from US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal to the school student’s climate strikes. Voters must, according to the Guardian, vote for the environment.

“For decades, Australia has seen this existential crisis looming and failed to act on it,” The Guardian wrote, “the Coalition appears deaf to the rising clamour from the electorate.”

“We have always considered Guardian Australia readers capable of making their own voting decisions, but in 2019 we urge readers to heed the fact that Labor is the only party with a credible climate policy and a chance of forming government on Saturday,” The Guardian said.

The Australian Financial Review came out in favour of Mr Morrison and the Coalition yesterday, as the best option for Australia.

“Yet for all its faults, and without great enthusiasm, the Financial Review believes that a returned coalition government, with a clear parliamentary majority, would be in Australia’s best interests,” they wrote.