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Federal Election 2019: Campaign Day 16: Bill Shorten backtracks on leaders’ debate

Bill Shorten has backtracked on a third leaders’ debate and has proposed a “compromise” with the National Press Club.

Richard Ferguson, Greg Brown and Rick Morton
21 min read
7:31AMApril 26, 2019.
Updated 10:50PMApril 26, 2019
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We are on Day 16 of the federal election campaign.
We are on Day 16 of the federal election campaign.

Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live coverage of Day 16 on the federal election campaign trail.

Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten have run out of public holiday truces. Both men are back on the campaign trail with big spending announcements and bigger preference deals.

Top story: Bill Shorten claims he hasn’t rejected more leaders’ debates, despite both Nine and the ABC revealing he knocked back their offers.

Rick Morton 8.10pm: Morrison barrels into Dubbo

Scott Morrison has barrelled into the Commercial Hotel in the NSW Central West wearing an “I love Dubbo” t-shirt.

The Prime Minister is in the electorate of Parkes with the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and will attend an event tomorrow morning.

Parkes is a safe Nationals seat held by Mark Coulton although the party has been ravaged at the state level by the rise of the Shooters & Fishers Party and other conservative independents.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives at the Commercial Hotel in Dubbo. Picture: Gary Ramage
Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives at the Commercial Hotel in Dubbo. Picture: Gary Ramage

A young couple due to be married in NSW tomorrow approached Scott Morrison at the Commercial Hotel in Dubbo and asked for marriage advice.

The Prime Minister, who met his wife Jenny in school and married at the age of 21, told them to soak in the day and enjoy the little moments

Richard Ferguson 6pm: Shorten backtracks on debate

Bill Shorten has backtracked on a third leaders’ debate and has proposed a “compromise” with the National Press Club.

ALP National Secretary Noah Carroll wrote to the NPC today and proposed a lunchtime face-off between the Opposition Leader and Scott Morrison on May 8.

The ABC and the Nine Network revealed today Mr Shorten had turned down offers from both networks for a primetime television debate.

Mr Carroll today suggested having an ABC journalist, a Nine journalist and an handpicked NPC member as a compromise. The ALP secretary also said May 8 was Mr Shorten’s only available date.

Mr Shorten said today he was not closed to a third debate if they were “good affairs.”

The Prime Minister said he was open to more debates and accused the Labor leader of seeking a “coronation” and avoiding public scrutiny.

The Labor Party letter proposing a debate compromise.
The Labor Party letter proposing a debate compromise.

A Coalition spokesman appeared to pour cold water over the idea of a compromise lunchtime debate.

“Bill Shorten will clearly do anything to avoid prime-time scrutiny,” he said.

“Mr Shorten either can’t or won’t explain his plans for higher taxes and hopes the Australian people won’t notice.

“If he’s got nothing to hide, Mr Shorten should be willing to agree to a prime-time television debate.”

Jared Owens 5pm: People do silly things: Anning

Senator Fraser Anning has refused to accept any responsibility for one of his supporters allegedly assaulting and intimidating two journalists, describing the alleged attack as “silly”.

NSW Police have charged the 19-year old man with intimidating a female reporter and assaulting a male photographer after a news conference called by the senator at Sydney’s Cronulla this morning.

Senator Anning, asked this afternoon whether he bore any responsibility, told reporters in Brisbane: “It’s pretty hard to take responsibility for somebody’s actions. People do silly things from all walks of life.

“If he were hit first, I guess he has a right to protect himself like anyone does. If he’s just assaulted somebody then obviously he wouldn’t be welcome in the party.”

Senator Anning deflected questions about his supporters’ behaviour by claiming that on “numerous occasions” he had seen left-wing activists “attacking people, attacking police and spitting on people” at his news conferences.

“I condemn any violence. I’ve never advocated any violence of any sort to anyone and I will continue to do that and all my members will continue to do that,” he said.

After this morning’s news conference, Senator Anning tweeted that his party would “ban all Muslim and Black immigration” to Australia.

Asked whether the ban would include people like Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu and US media mogul Oprah Winfrey, Senator Anning said he did not recall writing the tweet.

“I have one of my Senate candidates as actually Indian – he calls himself black, I think he’s just brown. We don’t have any colour chart in my office and we don’t have a White Australia policy,” he said.

Senator Anning did say he wanted a racial test for immigration to Australia to exclude people who were “black in colour and ... Sudanese”.

“I don’t accept that I’m racist. I’m a pragmatist,” he said.

Senator Anning accused media of covering up the scale of African gang violence in Melbourne and Brisbane.

Queensland Police have dismissed Senator Anning’s repeated claims about Sudanese crime, saying there was “not a widespread problem in the African community in Brisbane or Queensland”.

Comment was sought from Victoria Police.

Luke Griffiths 4.30pm: Sharkie volunteer charged with stalking Georgina Downer

The campaign of Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie has suffered a significant setback with one of her volunteers charged with allegedly stalking her Liberal rival Georgina Downer.

Paul Bunney with Rebekha Sharkie. Picture: Facebook
Paul Bunney with Rebekha Sharkie. Picture: Facebook

Online Adelaide publication InDaily reported that Paul Bunney, a Centre Alliance member with links to left-wing activist group GetUp, was arrested on Wednesday and bailed to appear in Mount Barker Magistrates Court on May 22.

Police confirmed that a “63-year-old man from Aldgate has been arrested and charged with stalking”.

Read more here

4.20pm: Sales weighs in on ABC debate … debate

ABC 7.30 presenter Leigh Sales has waded into the ongoing saga surrounding a debate between the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten on the public broadcaster.

Months of discussions between the ABC and both parties have taken place, she said, with Labor not yet agreeing to the prime time face-off, which would “air on TV, radio and online and be offered free to all other networks as a clean feed for live broadcast”.

Sales welcomed “the PM saying publicly today that he’s happy to participate and we look forward to word from the OL”.

2.20pm: Sharkie volunteer charged with stalking

Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie has dumped a campaign volunteer amid allegations he stalked her Liberal rival, Georgina Downer.

Paul Bunney has been charged and bailed to appear in court in the Mount Barker Magistrates Court in May.

Rebekha Sharkie. Picture: AAP
Rebekha Sharkie. Picture: AAP

Ms Sharkie said the allegations were extremely serious and Mr Bunney has been told he cannot be a part of her campaign.

“I have zero tolerance for the sort of behaviour alleged, no matter how passionate a supporter may be,” she said.

AAP

Richard Ferguson 12.47pm: Man who attacked journos still in custody

NSW Police say a 19-year-old man who allegedly attacked two Daily Telegraph journalists during a Fraser Anning press conference is still in police custody assisting with their inquiries.

“A man has been arrested following an altercation in Cronulla this morning,” a police spokesman said.

“Officers from Sutherland Police area command were called to Dunningham Park, Cronulla around 10am today after a 19 year-old man is alleged to have become involved in a physical altercation with a female journalist and a male cameraman during a press conference with a federal senator.

“The man has been taken to Sutherland Police Station to assist with inquiries.”

The Australian has approached Senator Anning’s office for comment.

Rick Morton 12.43pm: PM hits Gladstone

Scott Morrison has arrived in Gladstone on the campaign, but won’t be staying long.

Nationals MP Ken O’Dowd holds the seat of Flynn on a margin of more than 6 per cent.

Richard Ferguson 12.34pm: Shorten at odds with ABC, Nine on debates

Bill Shorten claims he has not rejected more leaders’ debates with Scott Morrison, despite both the Nine Network and the ABC revealing today he knocked back their offers of a prime time face-off.

The Prime Minister has accused the Opposition Leader of seeking a “coronation” and avoiding public scrutiny for refusing to sign up for more debates outside the one on a Seven Network digital spin-off channel and pay TV’s Sky News.

Mr Shorten said today he would consider more debates if the first two are “good affairs”

“We haven’t rejected them. First of all, we’ve got two scheduled,” he said in Melbourne.

“Secondly, let’s get a few of those shadow ministers out and a few of the government ministers out, and we’re certainly open to doing it.

“The other thing is — let’s see how the government goes answering questions in these two debates. If they’re good affairs, then we’re happy to do more of them.”

Mr Shorten’s claims he did not reject more debates contradict statements put out by ABC News director Gaven Morris and Nine News political editor Chris Uhlmann detailing how the Liberals agreed to more debates, but Labor refused to participate.

12.12pm: Man arrested at Anning presser

A man has been arrested after assaulting a journalist and photographer at a Fraser Anning press conference this morning.

Shortly after Mr Anning announced his candidate for the seat of Cook, a 19-year-old man confronted Daily Telegraph photographer Dylan Robinson, throwing punches at him and ripping his shirt.

The man was arrested and taken to Sutherland Police station.

Greg Brown 11.05am: Women’s equality ‘at heart’ of ALP agenda

Bill Shorten says women’s equality is “at the heart” of Labor’s fair go agenda as he launches a $660 million domestic violence package in Melbourne.

The Opposition Leader — who was introduced at the event as “leader of the Australian Labor Party, Chloe Shorten’s husband” — said a change in attitudes about domestic violence has not lowered deaths.

“I’m proud that at the heart of our plan for a fair go for all Australians is our determination to achieve equality for the women of Australia,” Mr Shorten said at the Queen Victorian Women’s Centre, in front of 10 federal Labor MPs and seven candidates.

“There is a sea change in Australia, at least in part, we don’t turn a blind eye anymore.

“We talk more openly about respect and changing attitudes.

“But the uncomfortable truth is …the number of deaths has not (changed).

“Words don’t put a roof over your head.

“What you need is proactive help, you need real money, concrete support.

“We can find a way in this country to pay for these things.”

He ridiculed the Coalition’s record on women’s issues, including Tony Abbott being the women’s minister in 2013.

Earlier, Ms Plibersek said Bill Shorten had been a supporter of women’s equality “ever since I have known him”.

“In contrast we’ve got Scott Morrison out there on International Women’s Day saying that it is not a good idea for women to get equality because it will come at the expense at men,” she said.

She added there could be more Liberal MPs with the first name Andrew than female Liberal MPs after the next election.

“If we are successful in winning the next election we will hit our 50/50 target six years ahead of schedule,” he said.

Richard Ferguson 10.35am: Landry backtracks on Anning

Nationals MP Michelle Landry has backtracked on her plans to put far-right senator Fraser Anning’s new party before Labor and the Greens on her how-to-vote cards.

“I abhor what Fraser Anning stands for and his candidate will be placed last on my how-to-vote cards,” she tweeted today.

Ms Landry had earlier told Rockhampton’s Morning Bulletin after the candidate ballot draw she would preference Fraser Anning’s Conservative National Party before left-wing parties.

“”Obviously head office makes the final decisions on it all but I’m pretty sure there will be a mix of them down the bottom there and the Greens and Labor will certainly be there,” she said.

“I do not agree with Fraser Anning so he will probably be third-last.”

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann later came out and said Senator Anning’s candidates would be put last on all Coalition how-to-vote cards.

Ms Landry holds her Queensland seat of Capricornia on a tiny margin of 0.7 per cent.

Senator Anning has been roundly condemned for invoking the “final solution” phrase used by Nazis during the Holocaust in regards to Muslim immigration, making anti-Islam remarks after the Christchurch mosque massacre, and appearing at rallies alongside neo-Nazis and white supremacists.

Greg Brown 10.35am: ‘Equality doesn’t happen overnight’

Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek has declared “equality doesn’t happen overnight” as she hails Bill Shorten’s $660 million domestic violence package.

Ms Plibersek said ending violence against women should be a national priority and would be central to the values of a Shorten Labor government.

“Equality doesn’t happen by accident, even though it is 2019 and equality is overdue, the fight for equality requires leadership,” Ms Plibersek said at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre in Melbourne.

“How many women just living their lives will lose their lives to their partner, to their former partner, to a stranger who just follows them on the street?”

She said police would be called to three domestic violence incidents in the time of her speech.

“I want a culture where no Australian fears violence,” she said.

“Ending violence against women and their children has to be a national priority.”

There are 10 Labor MPs and seven candidates at the event, including Bill Shorten.

Rick Morton 10.25am: PM deflects apprentice criticism

Scott Morrison has deflected calls that his government’s apprentices policies are too little, too late saying they are “backing job creation across the country.”

The Prime Minister visited a construction site run by Martin Locke Homes which is building a new accessible home for disabled people being funded by specialist disability accommodation support within the $22bn National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Despite the theme of the morning visit - where Mr Morrison served breakfast to tradies and their apprentices - the PM wouldn’t be drawn on the optics of getting into bed politically with Clive Palmer, a man who still owes his former Townsville employees tens of millions of

dollars.

“Let me just say this, there has been no discussion with the minor parties on policy, there has been absolutely none,” he said.

“Clive Palmer has made the point himself, that he believes Labor’s tax policy would be devastating for the Australian economy.

“Now, Clive and I don’t agree on everything. There’s quite a bit we don’t agree on but I tell you what, he makes a good point when he says that.”

Mr Morrison was at the site this morning, in the marginal electorate of Herbert, to announce the doubling of the Australian Apprentice Wage Subsidy trial with an extra $60m announced today.

Greg Brown 10.20am: Labor ministers on show

A bevy of high profile Labor figures have turned out to watch Bill Shorten launch the party’s $660 million domestic violence policy in Melbourne this morning.

Labor frontbenchers have arrived at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre waiting for the Opposition Leader’s speech, including Penny Wong, Mark Dreyfus, Pat Dodson, Linda Burney. Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek will also attend.

Former Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Bill Kelty is also in the crowd.

After a scrappy start to the campaign, Mr Shorten will use the event to attempt to reset the political agenda.

Richard Ferguson 10.15am: Labor also knocked back ABC

ABC news director Gaven Morris has confirmed that Labor has also knocked back their offer of a leaders’ debate.

“The ABC also invited the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader to a debate to be broadcast in prime time on radio and television and across the national broadcaster’s @abcnews platforms. The Opposition Leader declined the invitation,” Mr Morris tweeted.

Richard Ferguson 10.10am: Shorten treating election ‘like coronation’

Scott Morrison has accused Bill Shorten of treating the election like a “coronation” after Labor knocked back the chance for the leaders to face off in a prime time television debate.

Nine Network political editor Chris Uhlmann revealed today the Liberal Party agreed to a leaders’ debate on their main channel, but the opposition refused to participate.

“Bill Shorten seem to be treating this election campaign as if it is some sort of coronation for him,” he said in Townsville today.

“And every time it sort of doesn’t go that way and he gets asked difficult questions and he turns into the cranky bear, he gets very upset. I don’t know what he expected this campaign to be.

“Bill can think about it as a coronation if he likes, but I think that shows a presumption. So, think that that shows a presumption.

“I’m happy to have debates with Bill Shorten. We have got two coming up. He doesn’t want to have them in the last 2 weeks of the campaign. I’m happy to have them.”

Mr Morrison also revealed he had been in talks with the ABC’s 7.30 anchor Leigh Sales about participating in a debate on the public broadcaster.

“I would be happy to have one with the ABC. I have been in touch with Leigh Sales. I said I would be happy for Leigh Sales, Bill Shorten and I in the same room. Fine by me,” he said.

“The issue is, you know, why doesn’t he want to do it? I don’t know.”

Labor’s dismissal of a prime-time debate means the only time the major party leaders will face-off in the election campaign will be on the Seven Network spin-off digital channel 7Two and pay-TV channel Sky News.

The Labor Party’s election headquarters have been approached for comment.

Richard Ferguson 8.35am: ALP knocks back prime time debate

Labor has knocked back a prime time television debate between Bill Shorten and Scott Morrison.

The Liberals have leapt on Bill Shorten’s refusal to sign up to a debate on the Nine Network’s main channel, saying he is avoiding public scrutiny.

Labor’s dismissal of a prime time debate means the only time the major party leaders will face-off in the election campaign will be on the Seven Network spin-off digital channel 7Two and pay-TV channel Sky News.

Nine Network political editor Chris Uhlmann has revealed today the Liberal Party agreed to a debate but the opposition refused to participate.

“Nine News has offered to host a leaders’ debate in prime time on our main channel in the final weeks of the campaign. The Liberal Party has agreed in principle, Labor said no. The offer stands. To paraphrase the Opposition leader, we live in hope, not fear,” Mr Uhlmann tweeted.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the Prime Minister wanted more debates and accused Bill Shorten of “resisting” submitting himself to voters.

“The Prime Minister is very much looking forward to the first debate on Monday hosted from the great state of Western Australia ... and indeed in Brisbane on Friday the Sky News forum,” the Finance Minister told Sky News.

“We’ve been in discussions with the ABC and Channel 9 as well. We’re keen to have further debates.

“But at this point, Bill Shorten appears to be resisting. He does not appear to be all that keen to submit himself that Australians rightly expect him to be submitted to.”

The Labor Party’s election headquarters have been approached for comment.

Richard Ferguson 9.00am: Cormann defends Palmer deal

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says Clive Palmer “should pay all of his bills” but has defended giving preferences to the mining billionaire’s United Australia Party.

“Of course Clive Palmer should pay all of his bills ... that is a very simple proposition of course he should,” Senator Cormann told Sky News today.

“But that is quite separate from our job here in this election and the choice in front of the Australian people.”

Mr Palmer is in a long-running dispute with the Commonwealth and workers at Queensland Nickel over unpaid debts and workers’ entitlements.

The Queensland Senate candidate last week made the surprise announcement he would pay out the $7 million in entitlements still owed to employees of his Townsville-based nickel and cobalt refinery, which went into liquidation in 2016, costing nearly 800 people their jobs.

But sacked refinery workers were subsequently told that their long-awaited payments will not be made until at least May 21, three days after polling day.

Richard Ferguson 8.52am: Anning placed last

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says Fraser Anning’s candidates will be put last in Coalition-held seats, despite Nationals MP Michelle Landry suggesting she would put one of the far-right senator’s party ahead of Labor and the Greens.

“Fraser Anning will be last in all seats across the country expect in a very small number of seats like Lindsay where (former neo-Nazi) Jim Salaem, for example, is running and where the judgement is made that he’s an even worse candidate with an even worse record,” he told Sky News.

“Other than that, Fraser Anning is last in all of our seats.”

Ms Landry told Rockhampton’s Morning Bulletin today she would “probably” but Senator Anning’s candidate third-last behind Labor and the Greens.

Rick Morton 8.50am: PM - $16m for apprentices

Scott Morrison will spend the morning cooking breakfast for apprentices in the ultra marginal Townsville seat of Herbert.

The Prime Minister will talk up the government’s commitment to double the Australian Apprenticeship Wage trial with an extra $16m in funding announced today.

Herbert has become an even more critical seat than first thought in this election, with Clive Palmer’s candidate - former rubgy league star Greg Dowling - polling strongly and a preference deal between the mining billionaire’s United Australia Party and the Coalition locked in.

The seat is held by Labor’s Cathy O’Toole on a margin of 0.02 per cent.

Greg Brown 8.45am: Shorten back in Melbourne

Bill Shorten went for a run in his Melbourne electorate of Maribyrnong this morning, and will spend the day in the Victorian capital.

He will promote his $660 million domestic violence package and make a funding announcement for a women’s sports hub at Collingwood Football Club.

Richard Ferguson 8.15am: PUP deal ‘will hurt China relations’

Liberal Party grandee Colin Barnett has slammed Scott Morrison’s preference deal with Clive Palmer, claiming it will hurt relations with China and lead to an electoral backlash in city electorates.

Mr Barnett - who was West Australian Premier for nearly nine years -said this morning that the deal could hurt the Prime Minister’s election chances the same way his preference deal with One Nation in 2017 helped cause a Labor landslide in the West.

“It may have saved one seat, the seat of Geraldton in the state election, but I would suggest the Liberal Party probably lost half a dozen other seats simply because Liberal supporters were simply offended that the Liberal Party had reached an agreement with One Nation,” he said.

“And I think to a similar extent the same could happen if there is an agreement, a formal agreement with Clive Palmer and his United Australia Party.

“It may help in some seats, if United Australia Party preferences flow to the Liberal Party, although I doubt that would be certain ... it could be the case that while a couple of seats might be saved, a number, significantly more, could be lost simply because of this.

“I think it’s a big risk for the Liberal Party and I hope wise heads prevail and they step back from any formal agreement or deal,” Mr Barnett said.

Mr Barnett also said Mr Palmer’s long-running enmity towards China would damage Mr Morrison’s relationship with the Asian superpower if he retained government with United Australia Party votes.

“Clive Palmer has been quite outrageous in the way he’s dealt with a Chinese state-owned enterprise called CITIC on the Sino Iron Project, a project of over $10 billion,” Mr Barnett told the ABC.

“He has been litigious, he has tried to frustrate the project throughout. And I think this is a real loss of faith potentially, or face for the Chinese.

“If [Mr Palmer] gets into a position of power in Canberra, I think that will damage relationships with China, may even threaten Chinese investment in Australia and Chinese purchase of Australian goods and services.

“I think there’s a big economic trade risk if Clive Palmer is seen by the Chinese to have undue influence over Australian politics.”

Richard Ferguson 8.00am: Nats MP preferences Anning over Labor

Nationals MP Michelle Landry says she will preference one of far-right senator Fraser Anning’s candidates before Labor and the Greens in her ultra-marginal Queensland seat of Capricornia.

“Obviously head office makes the final decisions on it all but I’m pretty sure there will be a mix of them down the bottom there and the Greens and Labor will certainly be there,” she told Rockhampton’s Morning Bulletin.

“I do not agree with Fraser Anning so he will probably be third-last.”

Senator Anning has been roundly condemned for invoking the “final solution” phrase used by Nazis during the Holocaust in regards to Muslim immigration, making anti-Islam remarks after the Christchurch mosque massacre, and appearing at rallies alongside neo-Nazis and white supremacists.

Ms Landry holds her seat on a margin of just 0.63 per cent.

Richard Ferguson 7.50pm: Albo denies Palmer talks

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese has denied his party has talked to Clive Palmer about election preferences, despite revelations he has been approached by several ALP powerbrokers.

“We’re not talking to him. We are not talking to Clive Palmer about preferences. Not once, not once,” he told the Nine Network this morning.

“Not once have we been talking to Clive Palmer about preferences because we understand it is a recipe for chaos.

“The Coalition should listen to (former WA premier) Colin Barnett and not do a deal with Clive Palmer.”

The Australian revealed today Queensland Labor senator ­Anthony Chisholm, a right-wing powerbroker, phoned Mr Palmer twice in the past fortnight to discuss preferences. The last call was on Wednesday, the same day Mr Shorten launched a public attack on the Queensland mining magnate and former federal MP.

This followed approaches from Shorten ally and union leader ­Michael O’Connor, who met Mr Palmer on the Gold Coast last week on the ALP’s behalf to seek a preference deal with Labor despite Mr Shorten’s animosity towards Mr Palmer.

When this was raised with Mr Albanese in today’s Nine interview, he continued to deny Labor had discussed preferences with Mr Palmer.

Sascha O’Sullivan 7.20am: Sharma posters defaced

The fight for the seat of Wentworth in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has fallen prey to dirty tactics.

Posters for Liberal candidate Dave Sharma were vandalised with stickers of Prime Minister Scott Morrison which read “conman” underneath them.

Posters for Dave Sharma have been vandalised. Picture: Sascha O'Sullivan.
Posters for Dave Sharma have been vandalised. Picture: Sascha O'Sullivan.

The stickers were put up on posters along the promenade at Bronte Beach.

Independent candidate Kerryn Phelps won the seat Sydney seat in last year’s by-election after former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull resigned and left the seat open.

Dr Phelps holds the blue-ribbon seat with a margin of just 1.2 per cent.

What’s making news:

Clive Palmer is expected to confirm a national preference deal with the Liberal Party on Monday over personal concerns that Bill Shorten’s tax agenda would damage the economy.

Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten are locked in a political clash to win tradies’ votes, as the government invests $60 million in a regional apprenticeship scheme aimed at giving a leg-up to an extra 1600 young Australians.

Bill Shorten will more than double national funding towards tackling family violence, committing an extra $332 million over four years to frontline services, emergency accommodation, early intervention, and legal support.

Labor will today unveil $107 million in additional funding aimed at slashing the indigenous incarceration rate.

Environment Minister Melissa Price signed off on one of Western Australia’s most contentious mining projects the day before Scott Morrison called the federal election, setting up a showdown with antinuclear and environmental campaigners.

Liberal minister Ken Wyatt, who is fighting to retain the party’s most marginal West Australian seat, has backed Scott Morrison to help him win Hasluck and pull off an upset election victory.

Scott Morrison wasn’t in the mood to scull a beer, even when some members of the lubricated crowd at the Australian Hotel in Townsville yesterday demanded soon after his arrival: “Get that man a yard glass.”

Sky News has locked in the second live television debate between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who will face voters’ questions live on TV.

The major parties have been on an aggressive footing in the first two weeks of the election campaign, spending more time in their opponents’ seats than in their own.

The Greens want to phase out the private health insurance rebate, diverting up to $6.5 billion in annual taxpayer funding into prevention, dental subsidies, expanded primary care and public hospitals.

Clive Palmer candidate James McDonald, who is well-placed to win a Senate spot, puts forward an impressive business resume peppered with international triumphs, but much of that experience has come working for the Queensland billionaire.

Far-right senator Fraser Anning’s candidate for the central Victorian seat of Bendigo says she has been “illegally and unlawfully declared bankrupt”, defending her decision to nominate in contravention of Section 44 of the Constitution.

Read related topics:Bill ShortenBrexitClive PalmerScott Morrison

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/federal-election-2019-campaign-day-16-leaders-return-to-campaign-trail/news-story/11aa09193a5936fd1e1cfcde9fb491f6