How dare this rotten government do that very thing we did when we were in power

Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development, Anthony Albanese, and The Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten launching Labor's Climate Change Action Plan at ACTEWAGL Electric Car Charging Station in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

Anthony Albanese kicking the government on Sky News yesterday:

The idea that they are not holding an election because pre-polling three weeks beforehand is on a public holiday, that is quite frankly just absurd. The only reason why this is occurring is so that they continue their rollout of taxpayer-funded advertising; advertising that people in my electorate right here in Marrickville are paying for each and every day. Scott Morrison should do one of two things today; he either should go and visit the Governor-General and call the election. He can call the election for May 18 today … or he should commit to stopping all taxpayer-funded advertising right now because this is an outrageous abuse during what we all know is the caretaker period in reality.

Not even a little technicality can stop Albo.

Host David Speers: Well in reality, technically we are not in caretaker period until the election is called.

Albanese: We all know the election is coming.

Speers: Yes, but it hasn’t been called.

Albanese: We all know the election is coming, David.

Speers: We are not in caretaker mode just yet …

Albanese: That’s correct but in effect we are, David, in effect we are. We have an unelected Prime Minister who is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars every single day.

.@AlboMP: The idea that the govt hasn't called the election for May 11 because pre-polling three weeks beforehand is on a public holiday is absurd.

MORE: https://t.co/XNPZ9AXrBy #SpeersOnSunday pic.twitter.com/DF4lWlhufA

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 6, 2019

Plus ca change. Jonathan Swan in The Sydney Morning Herald on May 29, 2014:

The Rudd government in its dying weeks forced a senior public servant to approve a controversial taxpayer-funded campaign, despite questions being raised about it breaching the caretaker conventions. “I had to obey, as a public servant, a legal direction and I did so,” said the secretary of the Finance Department, David Tune, who gave evidence to a parliamentary committee on Thursday. Mr Tune indicated he did not believe it was appropriate for the Rudd government to be running what the opposition said were election advertisements masquerading as “national security” advertisements. “I certainly felt that I could not take on the responsibility myself in the context of the caretaker conventions as I understood them and as my colleagues understood them,” Mr Tune said.

The case for the defence? The Herald continues:

But despite his hesitation, Mr Tune was ordered by the former special minister of state, Mark Dreyfus, to fund the $6.5 million advertising campaign to spruik Labor’s tough new border protection policies. Labor responded by claiming that the asylum-seeker campaign needed to be continued during the election period “in the interests of national security” … Asked about Mr Tune’s comments, a spokeswoman for Mr Dreyfus said: “The direction made by Mr Dreyfus … was in accordance with caretaker conventions.”

Newly independent MP Julia Banks tweeting a photo of herself wearing Stop Adani earrings yesterday:

My team know I love earrings and that I want to #StopAdani — so they bought me these! Just like the Flinders community, we are all committed to #StopAdani and move Australia towards a renewable future.

My team know I love earrings and that I want to #StopAdani - so they bought me these!

Just like the Flinders community, we are all committed to #StopAdani and move Australia towards a renewable future. #ClimateElection #FlindersVotes #AusVotes2019 pic.twitter.com/ll3n6QNejL

— Julia Banks MP (@juliabanksmp) April 7, 2019

Her former colleague, Liberal senator Jane Hume, replying:

@juliabanksmp you giggled and cheered when ScoMo reminded Labor that coal is Australia’s second biggest export. You never once spoke out against Adani in the Party Room. Your principles are breathtakingly sel­ective. I’ve let you off the hook for your hypocrisy long enough.

@juliabanksmp you giggled and cheered when ScoMo reminded Labor that coal is Australia’s second biggest export. You never once spoke out against Adani in the Party Room. Your principles are breathtakingly selective. I’ve let you off the hook for your hypocrisy long enough. pic.twitter.com/1Ipa5R9K3j

— Jane Hume (@SenatorHume) April 7, 2019