Federal election 2019: Bill Shorten backs Tanya Plibersek for Labor leadership
Bill Shorten is backing Tanya Plibersek to run for the Labor leadership and is considering staying in politics as a frontbencher.
- Albanese: I’m best to be leader
- Shorten to stay as interim leader
- Plibersek - where we went wrong
- Win ‘justifies Turnbull coup’
- Turnbull cheers win
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live coverage of the federal election results. The Coalition is celebrating pulling off a huge electoral recovery to retain government, while Bill Shorten has resigned as Labor leader after his surprise defeat.
Top story: Bill Shorten has given one reason to why he failed to win government despite nearly three years as an election frontrunner.
Anthony Albanese has announced he will run for the Labor leadership as Tanya Plibersek considers also running with Chris Bowen a likely contender.
Greg Brown 6.22pm: Shorten backs Plibersek
Bill Shorten is backing Tanya Plibersek to run for the leadership of the Labor Party and is considering staying in politics as a frontbencher.
Senior Labor sources say the Opposition Leader has voiced support for the prospect of Ms Plibersek replacing him as party leader, likely bringing the backing of the Victorian Right with him.
Ms Plibersek is yet to confirm she will contest the leadership against fellow NSW Left MP Anthony Albanese.
Several sources said Mr Shorten was considering staying in politics as a frontbencher, depending on who ends up with the leadership.
The Australian has been told Ms Plibersek spoke with Queensland Right frontbencher Jim Chalmers about the possibility of running on a joint ticket, with the finance spokesman to potentially be her deputy if she contests Mr Albanese.
Queensland Right sources played down the significance of Ms Plibersek and Mr Chalmers discussing leadership, declaring the finance spokesman was also talking to other potential candidates and had not decided who he would support.
Rachel Baxendale, John Ferguson 6.05pm: Chisholm still too close to call
Chisholm, in Melbourne’s east, looks to be the only seat in Victoria that is too close to call as counting continues after Saturday’s shock election win for Scott Morrison.
Should Labor win Chishom, it could be the only gain for the party in Victoria other than seats already notionally the ALP’s as a result of the Australian Electoral Commission redistribution.
Liberal Gladys Liu was 169 votes ahead of Labor’s Jennifer Yang in Chisholm late this afternoon, and a parcel of 2398 votes from postal voters registered with the AEC is expected to break more heavily in Ms Liu’s favour.
However, postal votes submitted via the major parties are expected to even up the race, with 3632 postal votes submitted via Labor compared with 1950 via the Liberals.
Should the AEC-registered postal votes break 60-40 in favour of the Liberals, Labor would still be well ahead on postal votes in Chisholm overall, 4,591 votes to 3,389.
While Liberals had been privately saying that they had all but given up on Chisholm following a gaffe-prone campaign from Ms Liu, as many as 11,000 people negatively gear property in the seat, which made Labor’s policy extremely difficult for the ALP candidate to counter.
“Our policy has made it really hard to win the seat,’’ a senior Labor figure said.
Luke Griffiths 5.37pm: Hanson-Young’s ‘despair’ over result
Sarah Hanson-Young says she is in “despair” over an election result that will see Scott Morrison and his Coalition government maintain power.
The Greens senator, who won another six-year term in the Senate, said she would be focused on “holding the bastards to account” in the new parliament.
“Thanks to you, we made it,” she tweeted this afternoon.
“SA voted for climate action, stopping drilling in the (Great Australian) Bight and saving the (River) Murray. It was a vote for our children’s future.
“Lots of us are feeling despair with the overall election result.
“I hope that our strong result in SA can offer some ray of hope. I pledged to stand up for the environment and the health of the planet, and to hold the bastards to account – and I will – with your help!”
Lots of us are feeling despair with the overall election result. I hope that our strong result in SA can offer some ray of hope. I pledged to stand up for the environment and the health of the planet, and to hold the bastards to account - and I will - with your help! 💚
— 💧Sarah Hanson-Young💚 (@sarahinthesen8) May 19, 2019
Senator Hanson-Young appears certain to claim the fifth of six senate positions available in South Australia.
The Greens received 11.8 per cent of first preference upper house votes in South Australia.
Fronting the media in Adelaide this afternoon, Senator Hanson-Young criticised Labor over its handling of the proposed Adani coal mine project in Queensland.
She said poor results for Labor in Queensland came about because of its “fence sitting” position on the issue.
“Labor needed to be much clearer,” she said.
“You can’t care about climate change and, on the other hand, be giving the tick of approval to a big new coal mine.
“I think Labor would have done much better if they had listened to the views of Australians that wanted real action on climate change.”
Simon Benson 5.31pm: World leaders congratulate Morrison
Malcolm Turnbull and a series of world leaders has called Scott Morrison to congratulate him on his shock election victory.
Mr Turnbull has been in New York for most of the election campaign and congratulated the Prime Minister on Twitter before calling him personally today.
Mr Morrison has also spoken to US president Donald Trump. New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron.
He is expected to speak to Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, and British prime minister Theresa May tonight.
Primrose Riordan 4.27pm: Blessings from evangelist
Christian evangelist Franklin Graham, son of the famous American evangelist Billy Graham, has congratulated Scott Morrison on his win, saying Australia is “blessed” to have him lead the nation.
“Congratulations to Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison for winning the election there in what is being called a surprise victory! Prime Minister Morrison even called it a miracle! He’s a believer, a follower of Jesus Christ—and Australia is blessed to have him,” he said on Facebook.
“I was with Prime Minister Morrison in February when I was in Australia to preach the Gospel. It was a real privilege to be in his home and meet his family.”
“There’s no question—I believe in miracles! And I believe God will use this man to help bring Australia prosperity and strength. I know he would appreciate your prayers.”
Sid Maher 2.30pm: One Nation gains 20pc swing in Hunter
One Nation’s pro-coal candidate Stuart Bonds has gained a 20 per cent swing in the seat of Hunter as the mining district punished Labor over its equivocation on the Adani coal mine.
Long-standing Labor member Joel Fitzgibbon suffered a swing away from him of 14.15 per cent but holds a five point two party preferred lead over National Josh Angus.
However with Mr Bonds less than 2000 votes behind the National he could challenge for the seat if preferences from the Christian Democrat or the United Australia Party push him ahead of Mr Angus.
Mr Bonds described himself as a strong coal supporter during his campaign.
Mr Fitzgibbon publicly and explicitly backed the coal industry during the campaign.
But he seems to have been caught up in anger from coal miners which saw Labor also punished in Queensland.
Labor suffered a 13 per cent primary vote swing against them in the central Queensland seat of Capriconia and lost the seat of Herbert around Townsville after the Labor primary vote fell 4.65 per cent and its two party preferred vote fell 7.62 per cent.
Primrose Riordan 2.25pm: No change in China relations
The editor of China’s nationalist tabloid The Global Times has said the election result will not result in a change in Australia’s relations with Beijing.
“(The) Australian election result will continue current poor relations (with) China,” Hu Xijin tweeted.
“Canberra took the lead among Western countries to boycott Huawei, plus a series of anti-China decisions, making (China) believe Australia is the most radical Western country in helping the US suppress China.”
Richard Ferguson 2.15pm: Shorten; why we lost
Bill Shorten has given one reason to why he failed to win government despite nearly three years as an election frontrunner.
“We didn’t get enough votes,” he said in Melbourne.
Mr Shorten thanked some of his long-time advisers and said he wanted the ballot for his successor to be expedited.
But the outgoing Labor leader would not add more analysis to his shock election loss.
“This interview is not one for doing a whole post-match analysis and I gave some of my analysis last night. I will convene the National Executive of the Labor Party tomorrow,” he said.
“As the caretaker leader I will start the ball rolling so that in a matter of weeks, the members of the party can pick a new leader to take us into the next exciting time in the Parliament ahead.”
Richard Ferguson 2.10pm: Swan: Rethink, reorganise
Labor’s national president Wayne Swan says the Opposition needs to “rethink and reorganise” after yesterday’s devastating election loss.
“The result is deeply disappointing and our Party has a responsibility to analyse the result and to respond maturely. Attributing blame or fault to any particular individual or policy is not the way ahead,” the former treasurer said in a statement.
“Every political party which suffers a defeat learns one lesson and that is to listen even more carefully.
“In light of this result we need to examine our policy framework and our campaign strategies.
But the Labor Party president has refused to shift from the ALP’s rejected election agenda.
“The characterisation of the Labor policy agenda as radical says more about the state of conservative politics in Australia than it does about Labor,” he said.
“There is no world in which Labor won’t stand for fair wages, a fair go, enhancing equality of opportunity and tackling dangerous climate change.
“This policy framework was demonised by our political opponents, and yet these are all issues Australia will have to confront, and soon”
Mr Swan travelled with Bill Shorten throughout the first weeks of the campaign and played a significant role in its election strategy.
Richard Ferguson 2.05pm: Albo pays tribute to Shorten
Anthony Albanese ends his press conference by paying his respects to his outgoing leader, and former rival, Bill Shorten.
“Nobody could have worked harder than Bill Shorten.
“He campaigned strongly, he went across the country and I also want to pay tribute to Chloe and the kids, she campaigned very strongly as well.”
“I want to pay tribute to his team and his staff members, they worked incredibly hard.
“Let me tell you, Opposition Leader is the hardest job in politics. No question that is the
case. Bill Shorten has done it with distinction over the last six years and he has my respect for the job that he has done on behalf of the party.”
“Beware of an old man in a hurry†is an old political saying. Worth keeping in mind as Anthony Albanese announces he will run for Labor leader less than 24 hours after the polls closed. He hasn’t even waited for Bill Shorten to front the media today. #ausvotes #auspol
— Troy Bramston (@TroyBramston) May 19, 2019
Richard Ferguson 2.05pm: ‘Not a factional fight’
Anthony Albanese says he does not want the Labor leadership contest to become an inter-factional fight.
“This is not a factional position. I am not running for the leader of the left or the centre.
“I am running for leader of the Labor Party, and what needs to happen is that every Labor Party caucus member need to determine what they think is the best opportunity, say that in three years time, they are sitting on the other side of the Parliament, rather than where they are now.
“Every party member also needs to judge what they think is the best way that they can have a much better night in 2022 then they had last night.”
.@AlboMP on running for Labor leadership: What you see is what you get with me. I’m a bit rough at the edges, but I think that Australians don’t want someone who just utters talking points.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 19, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/cnxAXrLKY3 #australiadecides pic.twitter.com/Qfu4dABJfD
Richard Ferguson 2.00pm: Albo: I’m inclusive
Anthony Albanese has sold himself as the best leadership candidate to reconnect Labor with its traditional blue-collar worker base.
“I have an affinity with working people. If you look at the base that I have in this electorate, it is up to others to judge,” he said in Sydney.
“If you look at what I have done when I have gone around the country, if we are talking about jobs, during the last year, one of the things I did was go up to western Queensland with Bob Katter.
“One of the things that I will do is be inclusive and listen to people, of whatever background. One of the things that characterises my politics is that I have as much respect for the blue-collar worker or the homeless person as the very successful business person.”
#BREAKING: @AlboMP announces he is running to be the new Labor leader.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 19, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/cnxAXrLKY3 #australiadecides pic.twitter.com/qZkEOaBE80
Richard Ferguson 1.53pm: ‘I’ll respect Caucus’
Anthony Albanese has refused to say whether he would drop Bill Shorten’s negative gearing and franking credit policies if he wins the Labor leadership.
“The first thing I will do is respect the caucus,” he said in Sydney.
“We will have Caucus processes with regard to policies. What you will not have is the sort of policy on the run that you have just asked me to make.
“So what we will do, what we will do is examine calmly and methodically the policies that we have.”
Richard Ferguson 1.50pm: ‘I’m best to lead Labor’
Anthony Albanese says he is the best person to lead Labor back into government and says while he is “a bit rough around the edges”, he is authentic.
“ If it is a contested ballad, and I would welcome people’s right to put themselves forward, I am sure that it would be conducted in a fair, inclusive, and democratic fashion.
“And I certainly think that the last time that occurred between myself and Bill, it actually put us in a strong position to hit the ground running as a first-term Opposition Leader.
“I will be asking the members of the caucus and the party for their support. I think Australians know me. I have been around in politics now for two decades.
“What you see is what you get with me, for better or worse. I am a bit rough at the edges, but I think that Australians don’t want someone who just utters talking points.
“So from time to time, I will not be as articulate as someone who is simply reading from a script. But I offer myself forward, I do it in a way which I wasn’t expecting, frankly.”
.@AlboMP: We have a re-elected government, but it is one that will continue to be divided. It hasn’t put forward a positive agenda for this term, and therefore it’s difficult to see how it will govern in the national interest.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 19, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/cnxAXrLKY3 #australiadecides pic.twitter.com/N1i6swAEGj
Richard Ferguson 1.40pm: Albanese declares
Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese has officially put his hand up for the Labor leadership.
“We need to respect the decision that people made yesterday in a clear fashion,” he said in Sydney today.
“This is indeed a devastating result for the Australian Labor Party.
“What matters more to me is the future. The future of our party and making sure that we face up to the big challenges that we face as a nation.”
Anthony Albanese is a divisive figure in the Labor caucus. He won’t get the votes of all Labor left MPs (he didn’t in 2013). Many MPs are seething about his subterranean undermining of Bill Shorten for years. But he would start in pole position as front runner. #auspol #ausvotes
— Troy Bramston (@TroyBramston) May 19, 2019
Richard Ferguson 1.37pm: Shorten to remain as interim leader
Bill Shorten will remain as Labor’s interim leader while the party searches for a successor.
Mr Shorten and the shadow cabinet will remain in place while Labor’s national executive organises a leadership ballot which set to be contested by Anthony Albanese, Tanya Plibersek and Chris Bowen.
The outgoing Opposition Leader has also reiterated his intention to stay in parliament and opened the door to serving his successor in a different capacity.
“This morning, I’ve asked the National Secretary to convene a meeting of the National Executive to start the process to elect a new Leader of the Labor Party,” Mr Shorten said in a statement.
“I would like this process to be completed as quickly as is reasonably possible. As I said last night, I will not be nominating for the position of leader.
“Until this ballot occurs, I will act as outgoing leader.
“Following the election I will remain in parliament and look forward to supporting the new leadership team.”
Alice Workman 1.35pm: Wilkie - no deal with Morrison
Re-relected independent Andrew Wilkie has ruled out doing a deal with Scott Morrison, if the Coalition looks to the crossbench for support to form a minority government.
“I will not do a deal with Scott Morrison to form government and will continue to vote on all parliamentary business, including supply and confidence, on its merits,” Mr Wilkie told The Australian.
Mr Wilkie said last week that in the event of a hung parliament he would not do any deals with either majority party to form government.
Only three from the so-called ‘Independents Day’ coalition of 15 candidates calling for action on climate change have been elected - Mr Wilkie in Clark, Zali Steggall in Warringah and Rebekha Sharkie in Mayo - with Dr Kerryn Phelps’ seat of Wentworth too close to call.
Mr Wilkie said he considered that a success.
“Most of the competitive crossbench candidates who support action on climate change were successful, which shows that the community sees climate change as a top priority.”
Mr Wilkie said that leaves a lower house crossbench where “all bar one support a strong response to the changing climate”.
The Tasmanian independent received a swing of 3.8 per cent towards him in Clark, with a primary vote of just over 50 per cent.
12.57pm: Nationals take a hit in Senate
The Nationals will return to parliament with their lower house seat numbers intact but a reduced presence in the Senate.
As counting continued after Saturday’s election it appeared the Nationals would hold 16 seats in the House of Representatives, including LNP MPs in Queensland who sit in the Nationals party room in Canberra.
Nationals candidate Anne Webster picked up Mallee, where Andrew Broad retired, and Pat Conaghan replaced Luke Hartsuyker in Cowper.
However, the party took a hit in the Senate.
Tasmania’s Steve Martin appears unlikely to hold his Senate seat. Townsville-based businesswoman Susan McDonald is expected to take over retired senator Barry O’Sullivan’s Queensland Senate seat.
And water policy officer Perin Davey is still a shot to take up a NSW Senate seat, vacated by John Williams.
However, if Ms Davey does not win, the Nationals will only have Matt Canavan, Bridget McKenzie and Ms McDonald in the upper house, reducing its current numbers by two.
The Nationals will spend coming weeks discussing a new coalition agreement - a private letter between leader Michael McCormack and Prime Minister Scott Morrison setting out how the coalition will operate and key policy areas. Nationals strategists say Mr Morrison’s visits to regional seats delivered a bump in internal tracking polls.
Labor’s so-called “retirees tax” - reforms to franking credits - was considered a key issue in Nationals-held seats.
The issue of Senate numbers could cause friction in the party ahead of parliament sitting.
But it’s not expected Mr McCormack will spill the leadership, given the government was returned.
Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce said on election night Mr McCormack should be commended for his work in the campaign.
AAP
12.45pm: Crossbench to unite on climate
The Victorian seat of Indi’s likely new independent MP Helen Haines says she doesn’t intend to operate as a bloc with fellow crossbenchers, but expects they’ll work together on issues such as climate change.
Ms Haines looks set to take the seat that was previously held by independent Cathy McGowan, winning almost 52 per cent of the vote so far after preferences. It would make her the first independent to succeed another independent in a seat.
“I’m feeling a little tired, rather excited and ...really waiting for the final results to come in,” she told ABC television.. Irrespective of the overall outcome, Ms Haines said she will work with the government on a case-by-case basis.
To read the article in full, click here.
AAP
Caroline Overington 12.10pm: Morrison joins champions list
At the risk at coming over just a little too perspicacious, not everyone wrote the Coalition off.
This newspaper, on April 20, ran this column, showing a clear path to victory for the Morrison government.
Shall we see how it stacks up?
To read the story in full, click here.
11.50am: Four seats still close
As counting continues, four seats remain close, and incumbents trail in 10 lower house electorates.
With just under 75 per cent of the vote counted, Scott Morrison’s Liberal National coalition is still two seats short of the 76 needed for a majority in parliament.
The close seats are Bass (Tasmania), Chisholm (Victoria), Macquarie (NSW) and Wentworth (NSW).
This morning, the Liberals’ Bridget Archer sat on 50.3 per cent of the two- party preferred vote in Bass ahead of Labor MP Ross Hart.
In Chisholm, Labor’s Jennifer Yang was on 50.2 per cent ahead of the Liberals’ Gladys Liu.
In Macquarie, Labor MP Susan Templeman was on 50.4 per cent of the two-party vote ahead of the Liberals’ Sarah Richards.
And in Wentworth, Dave Sharma and Kerryn Phelps are nearly neck and neck. Ms Phelps, the sitting MP, had 51 per cent of the vote on a two-party preferred basis late on Saturday while Mr Sharma had 49 per cent.
The Australian Electoral Commission listed Herbert and Longman (Queensland), Lindsay, Warringah and Gilmore (NSW), Braddon and Bass (Tasmania), and Dunkley, Corangamite and Chisholm (Victoria) as having the incumbent MP trailing. Labor appeared to hold 66 seats, with six crossbenchers.
AAP
Richard Ferguson 11.40am: Albo set to announce run
Sky News is reporting Anthony Albanese will run for the Labor leadership and promise to drop Bill Shorten’s controversial tax reforms
Mr Albanese, a former deputy prime minister and runner-up in the last Labor leadership contest, is set to be the second NSW Labor Left figure to run alongside ALP deputy leader Tanya Plibersek.
Mr Albanese will speak in Sydney shortly.
John Ferguson 11.30am: Libs optimistic over Chisholm
The Liberal Party is becoming cautiously optimistic it can hold the marginal seat of Chisholm, which would put a stake through the heart of its former member Julia Banks.
Ms Banks failed to oust Health Minister Greg Hunt in the Victorian seaside seat of Flinders and now, against the odds, the party has edged about 500 seats ahead of Labor in Chisholm.
Ms Banks vacated Chisholm after turning independent in the wake of Malcolm Turnbull’s dumping, leaving the Liberal Party with a last minute bid to retain the seat with a new candidate.
The current Liberal candidate in Chisholm, Gladys Liu, is a veteran party activist who will now face an anxious wait to determine whether pre-poll votes break sufficiently her way.
Chisholm is held by the Liberal Party with a margin of just 2.9 per cent. Labor’s candidate is Jennifer Yang. Both she and Ms Lieu are Chinese-Australian.
Chisholm was one of three seats Labor had effectively locked in as gains in Victoria before the election.
Labor, despite perceptions of working towards a landslide in Victoria, consistently said it expected to win between two and four seats in the southern state.
It is on track to win Corangamite, held by Liberal Sarah Henderson, and believes it has won Dunkley. Both of these seats were rendered notionally Labor after the redistribution.
The Liberal Party trails in Corangamite by about 2000 votes, senior Liberals said.
There were big anti-Liberal swings in the inner seats of Kooyong and Higgins but the party has managed to keep both of those seats, despite the increasingly Left-leaning nature of inner Melbourne.
To read the story in full, click here.
Luke Griffiths 10.45am: Sharkie: Climate action top priority
Rebekha Sharkie says her top priority when parliament resumes will be to advocate for stronger action on climate change.
Ms Sharkie, fresh from defeating the Liberals’ Georgina Downer in Mayo for the second time, said she would also lobby for a federal royal commission into the River Murray and a federal corruption watchdog.
“To those who did not vote for me, please be assured that I represent all the people of Mayo and my office door is always open to hearing your concerns,” Ms Sharkie said in a statement this morning.
“Please know that I always put our community first and I will be our independent voice in Canberra because we have so much to achieve together to continue to make Mayo matter.”
With 80 per cent of the vote counted, Ms Sharkie holds an 11 point lead over Ms Downer, 55.5-44.5 per cent on a two-party basis.
Last year, Ms Sharkie defeated Ms Downer 57.5-42.5 per cent in a by-election brought about by the Centre Alliance MP’s citizenship issues.
Ms Downer is the daughter of former Liberal leader and Mayo MP Alexander Downer, who held Mayo from 1984 to 2008.
Last night, she refused to be drawn on whether she planned to run for a third time at the next election.
The 9135 sqkm seat of Mayo stretches from the Adelaide Hills in the north to Kangaroo Island in the south.
Greg Brown 10.40am: ‘Thanks to greatest country’
Scott Morrison says he is thankful to live in the “greatest country in all the world” as he walked into church this morning.
“I want to thank everyone in the electorate and my local team here ..everyone has done such a fantastic job,” the Prime Minister said.
“I give thanks to live in the greatest country in all the world.”
To read the story in full, click here.
10.25am: How ALP leadership ballot works
Nominations open at a parliamentary party meeting, and remain open for a week.
• Need to get support of 20 per cent of caucus to get nominated. If there is only one nomination there is no ballot. If there are two or more nominations there is a ballot of both the parliamentary party and grassroots members. The ballot is open to all financial members of the party, with no restrictions on time served.
• Each of the two voting blocs is weighted equally in determining the winner. That is, 50 per cent each. Last time Anthony Albanese won the grassroots vote but didn’t get enough caucus votes and Bill Shorten won.
• The organisational ballot takes 20 days. During the ballot process the two candidates can campaign and debate each other. Normally there would be a candidate from Right and Left factions, but after Tanya Plibersek said she is considering putting her hand up, it’s possible there will be two major Left faction candidates going head to head. About 30,400 members voted in 2013 Once the postal ballot is over, the caucus votes.
• An interim leader is appointed. Chris Bowen held that position last time - In 2013, the timeframe was: nominations opened September 13 and the caucus voted October 10
AAP
Richard Ferguson 10.00am: Plibersek kicks off race
Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek has kicked off the contest to replace Bill Shorten, in an ALP leadership race without a clear Right candidate and two major Left figures set to face off.
Ms Plibersek this morning confirmed she is considering a run but will not commit yet. If she runs, it is expected she will face her NSW Labor left colleague Anthony Albanese.
To read the story in full, click here.
Richard Ferguson 9.32am: Shorten ‘expected coronation’
Josh Frydenberg says Scott Morrison personally drove the Coalition to victory last night, nd Bill Shorten was expecting a “coronation.”
“From the minute the starter’s gun was fired in this campaign, we knew we were behind, but we also knew we were in it, and no-one knew this better than the Prime Minister,” he told ABC News.
“And he criss-crossed the country with great energy, belief and conviction. He was assured, he was confident, he was across the detail.
“And he sold our economic plan to the Australian people, a plan that resonated with them, and he made the obvious point - that this election was not a coronation of Bill Shorten. It was actually a real contest.”
"From the minute the starter's gun was fired in this campaign, we knew we were behind, but we also knew we were in it."
— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) May 18, 2019
Deputy Liberal Leader @JoshFrydenberg joins @barriecassidy on #Insiders.#auspol #AusVotes pic.twitter.com/SW09rJmLj8
Richard Ferguson 9.30am: Plibersek ‘considering’ leadership
Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek is considering a run for the Labor leadership, but has not committed to putting her hand up to replace a defeated Bill Shorten.
“I’m certainly considering it. I mean my determination is to ensure that we’re in the best place to win in three years’ time, that we continue the discipline and the unity that we’ve shown in the last
six years, and that we continue to offer Australians real options,” she told ABC News.
“I’ll talk to my colleagues today but, of course, I’m considering it.
“I have loved campaigning in this election campaign. I have loved campaigning with our loyal and dedicated party members.
“We have an obligation as Labor Party people to keep fighting for a fairer Australia, for a strong economy and a fair society. We’ll keep doing that.
If she won the leadership, Ms Plibersek would Labor’s second female leader and the first female Opposition Leader.
Deputy Opposition Leader @tanya_plibersek tells @barriecassidy she is "certainly considering" putting her hand up for the Labor leadership.#Insiders #auspol #AusVotes pic.twitter.com/KYnMaam6mN
— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) May 18, 2019
Richard Ferguson 9.25am: Plibersek - where we went wrong
Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek says the ALP did not “have time” to explain its big spending agenda, but she has refused to shift on its suite of controversial policies.
“As to what went wrong, there’s two main features. The first is obviously we faced a cashed-up scare campaign from the United Australia Party, $80 million is the estimate of how much Clive Palmer spent to, it seems, win himself a spot, but to trash Labor,” she says.
“And secondly, our policy agenda was big. It was bold. But... And I think perhaps we didn’t have enough time to explain all of the benefits of it to the people who would benefit.
“I think genuinely, if every pensioner and seniors health care card-holder knew about pensioner dental, they would have voted for it. I think if every family who was going to benefit from free or cheaper childcare knew about it, they would have voted for it.
“I think if every working person who thought they were going to get their penalty rates restored or get a pay rise under Labor knew about that, they would have voted for it.
“But when you’ve got such a large agenda, it’s sometimes hard to explain all of the details to all of the people who benefit.”
“In the light of day now, are you any closer to sort of figuring out what went wrong?â€@barriecassidy interviews the Deputy Opposition Leader @tanya_plibersek#Insiders #auspol #AusVotes pic.twitter.com/e4mHAYJ1iB
— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) May 18, 2019
Christine Kellett 8.50am: Lambie set for Senate return
Jacqui Lambie is set to return to the Senate and has already issued a stern warning to Scott Morrison.
More than a year after she was forced to resign as a senator over dual citizenship, the straight-talking Tasmanian appears to have pulled off a hard-fought federal comeback.
At her election function last night, Ms Lambie warned the Coalition would need to treat her “a hell of a lot better” if she won.
"But you know what? Drop the attitude!" - @JacquiLambie has a message for @ScottMorrisonMP tonight #ausvotes: pic.twitter.com/6t88J3e48w
— ABC Hobart (@abchobart) May 18, 2019
Richard Ferguson 8.45am: LNP ‘should be open on climate’
Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman says the Coalition should be “open” to changing its climate change policies if it helps Australia meet its Paris Agreement targets.
“I think the proposals that Scott outlined earlier in the year do have consensus within the government,” he told ABC News.
“What we have to is meet our Paris agreement targets and we have to make sure our policies are monitored. That’s our commitment to meet those targets.
“And if we need to change policies to do that, then obviously we should be open to that.”
Scott Morrison has highlighted his climate action policies throughout the campaign but has hammered Labor over its more ambitious 45 per cent emissions reduction target.
Richard Ferguson 8.30am: Coalition’s top 3 priorities
Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman says tax cuts, infrastructure and delivering a surplus will be the top three priorities of a re-elected Coalition government.
“We have a very ambitious program of infrastructure. We want to get on with busting congestion in our cities,” he told ABC News.
“We have changes to the migration program which are designed to support regional areas and take the pressure off some of our urban areas.
“And we also have our commitment to make sure that in the next financial year we bring the budget back into the black and start paying down the national debt.”
Richard Ferguson 8.15am: ‘Win justifies Turnbull coup’
Veteran Liberal strategist Grahame Morris says Scott Morrison’s victory has justified the removal of Malcolm Turnbull from the Liberal leadership last year.
“No doubt about it, no doubt at all,” Mr Morris told Sky News.
“Malcolm Turnbull wouldn’t have campaigned anywhere near as well as Scott Morrison.
“The electorate was essentially saying you blokes have been all over the place but I’m just not sure about that Mr Shorten fellow, and we like Scott Morrison.
“We are going to go through a period where a Coalition prime minister has enormous authority.”
.@David_Speers: Does last nights result justify the move against @TurnbullMalcolm in hindsight?
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 18, 2019
Grahame Morris: No doubt about it. Malcolm Turnbull wouldn't have campaigned anywhere near as well as @ScottMorrisonMP.
MORE: https://t.co/tyxIk8GVkJ #SpeersOnSunday pic.twitter.com/crUIbaecRW
Greg Brown 7.50am: Dutton sees off attacks to win
Peter Dutton has seen off an “unprecedented personal attack” by GetUp and Labor to claim victory in the marginal Queensland seat of Dickson.
The Home Affairs Minister said despite the “mud thrown” he’d been able to run an effective campaign to win a seventh term in the northern Brisbane electorate.
“I want to quote a former prime minister. His name was Paul Keating and the quote was, ‘This is the sweetest victory of all’,” he joked as he addressed about 300 jubilant supporters in Brisbane on Saturday night.
To read the story in full, click here.
7.25am: Turnbull congratulates PM
Malcolm Turnbull has tweeted his congratulations to Scott Morrison on his “outstanding personal victory.”
“Australians have once again backed the Coalition to deliver a strong economy, more jobs & lower taxes,” he wrote.
Congratulations @ScottMorrisonMP on an outstanding personal victory. Australians have once again backed the Coalition to deliver a strong economy, more jobs & lower taxes.
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) May 18, 2019
7.00am: Sharma still confident
Dave Sharma is hopeful he can win the blue-ribbon seat of Wentworth back for the Liberals as counting in the federal election continues.
Mr Sharma and independent MP Kerryn Phelps both agreed the vote was too close to call on Saturday night with 50 per cent of the vote counted at 11pm. Mr Sharma had 49 per cent of the vote on a two-party preferred basis while Dr Phelps had 51 per cent.
Mr Sharma is confident he can win and return the blue-ribbon seat to the Liberals.
“I am feeling confident but I want to wait until pre-poll votes,” he said at his campaign event at Bellevue Hill.
What’s making news:
Scott Morrison has declared “I have always believed in miracles’’ as he pulled off one of the biggest electoral recoveries in modern history and retained government for the Coalition.
Former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard has said the election result showed Australians rejecting Bill Shorten’s “class warfare” tactics and his “radical” action on climate change.
Tony Abbott said last night he’d “rather be a loser than a quitter” as he conceded defeat to independent Zali Steggall in the seat of Warringah he has held for 25 years.
It has been an expensive federal election night for betting agency Sportsbet, which has had to pay out both Labor and Liberal punters.
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has declared “sucked in with a sucker punch” to GetUp for its failed bid to help Rob Oakeshott win the seat of Cowper.
Clive Palmer’s campaign to re-enter federal parliament has crashed, despite his multimillion-dollar advertising spend.
Incumbent Labor MP Cathy O’Toole has conceded defeat in Herbert after a 7 per cent swing against her handed victory to the Liberal National Party’s Phil Thompson, who garnered 57 per cent of the two-party-preferred vote.
Dennis Shanahan writes: Bill Shorten’s political career ended last night but Scott Morrison’s is just beginning.
Chip le Grand writes: They came to anoint a Labor PM. Instead, they watched him exit, his life’s ambition crushed.
More Coverage
BCA’s push to ‘turbocharge’ planning approvals
The Business Council of Australia is calling for state governments to be granted the power to strip low-performing councils of their role in making building applications decisions.
Defence leader to take over borders
Senior Defence figure Gavan Reynolds will be sworn in as the nation’s top border official as the Albanese government comes under increased pressure over national security.