PoliticsNow: Campaign Day 2, Chris Bowen says PM’s costings claim is wrong
The ALP’s candidate for Julie Bishop’s seat of Curtin has reportedly withdrawn in the wake of pro-Palestinian comments.
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, for The Australian’s live coverage of Day Two of the federal election campaign.
Today both leaders are campaigning in Sydney, with the economy and health the major battle grounds of the election.
9.05pm: Labor’s star candidate quits: reports
Melissa Parke, the ALP’s candidate for Julie Bishop’s WA seat of Curtin, has reportedly quit in the wake of pro-Palestinian comments made during a speech last month.
Sky News reports Ms Parke, the former Labor member for Fremantle, has withdrawn her candidacy over suggestions Australia should recognise a Palestinian state and likening Israeli settlements to China’s actions in the South China Sea.
“I’ve had 20 years experience in international relations and law including living and working in the Middle East,” Nine Newspapers quoted Ms Parkes as saying. “My views are well known.”
She said she had “decided to withdraw my candidacy” so as not to be a distraction in Labor’s election campaign.
Ms Parke had represented the federal seat of Fremantle for almost nine years before bowing out of parliament at the 2016 poll.
The one time Minister for International Development is also a former United Nations lawyer.
In her final speech to parliament in 2016, she criticised Labor’s offshore detention policy, labelling it a “festering wound”.
Former foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop has held the blue-ribbon seat of Curtin for 21 years and will retire at the election.
The Liberals will be represented by former Notre Dame University vice-chancellor Celia Hammond, who starts with a margin of 20.7 per cent.
- with AAP
Misleading article. It is not anti Semitic to protest injustice and to support the international rule of law & non-discrimination. I believe in two secure states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace. https://t.co/4IWEJQhavC
— Melissa Parke (@MelissaParke01) April 10, 2019
Richard Ferguson 4.50pm: Treasurer responds to Bowen attack
Josh Frydenberg dismissed Mr Bowen’s attacks and said Labor had not denied the $387bn figure today.
“Despite Chris Bowen’s desperate attempts at distraction, none of his frontbench colleagues have disputed that Labor’s new taxes total $387 billion, the equivalent of an extra yearly tax bill of $5400 per household,” he said
“Chris Bowen is welcome to come out of witness protection and explain the costings behind his big new tax experiment on the Australian economy, including the negative gearing policy which he has bungled.”
The Treasurer’s statement did not address his Treasury Secretary’s claim he did not provide the figure, or that figure may be different if he had been asked for a total.
Richard Ferguson 4.35pm: Doubt over costings figure
Treasury Secretary Philip Gaetjens says he did not provide Scott Morrison with the $387bn figure the Prime Minister claims Labor’s taxes will blow out to in the next decade.
In a letter to opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen today, Mr Gaetjens said Treasury costed separate tax policies - similar to Labor’s - provided to them by the government but it did not add them up.
“In providing specific costings to the government at its request, Treasury advised that they were all costed on a standalone basis but with interaction between the individual proposals not taken into account,” the Treasury Secretary’s letter reads.
“For that reason we did not provide a total.”
The interactions of the measures mean the Treasury would have provided additional analysis before providing a total figure for the Labor-like tax proposals.
The letter now puts the figure the government has used today to attack Labor in doubt.
Mr Bowen claimed Mr Gaetjens’s letter was proof of the Coalition’s “lies”.
“The Treasury has rejected the Prime Minister and Treasurer’s claims today that Treasury has costed Labor’s tax policies,” the opposition treasury spokesman said in a statement.
“Scott Morrison has been caught out lying about Labor again. This is a humiliating rebuke and confirms that Scott Morrison cannot be trusted on the economy.
“Every time Scott Morrison talks about Labor and the economy for the next five weeks, Australians will know that Scott Morrison is lying to them.”
Mobile users can view the letter here
Mobile users can view the letter here
Greg Brown 3.15pm: Election battlelines
Who is each party accusing the other of hurting with their respective policies?
Labor is accused of going after:
- High income earners — restoring the “deficit levy” on the top marginal tax rate holders
- Accountants — capping deductions for the cast of managing tax affairs at $3000.
- Property investors and agents — restricting negative gearing to new dwellings.
- Retirees — abolishing cash refunds for franking credits.
- Coal companies — committed to a 45 per cent emissions reductions and 50 per cent renewables target.
- Banks — hit with a levy to pay for a $640 million fund to support victims of misconduct.
- Mortgage brokers — proposing a fixed-rate commission to brokers and the abolition of trailing commissions.
The Coalition government has been accused by Labor of cutting funds for:
- Schools — reduced the rate of funding growth promised by the former Labor government.
- Hospitals — reduced the rate of funding growth promised by the former Labor government.
- Universities — cut more than $2 billion through a freeze in commonwealth grants.
- Welfare recipients — cut family tax benefits, increased reviews of people on the disability support pension, means tested the carers allowance.
- Pensioners — strengthened asset tests which brought 300,000 Australians off the pension.
2.28pm: Abbott questions ‘so-called settled’ climate science
Tony Abbott has questioned the “so-called settled” science about climate change, a month after dropping his view that Australia should pull out of the Paris climate agreement.
The former prime minister insisted he was a realist when asked about his position on climate change during his election campaign launch in Manly on Friday.
“The so-called settled science is not quite as settled as people say, and that’s my position,” he told reporters.
“Nevertheless we have only got one planet; we should do what we reasonably can to rest lightly upon it.” Despite this questioning, Mr Abbott said he does believe climate change happens and that mankind makes a contribution.
“We should do what we reasonably can to reduce emissions,” he said. “What we shouldn’t do though, is turn our economy upside down in what turns out to be a futile green gesture.” The comments come as the former prime minister is locked in a fight with independent candidate Zali Steggall for his seat of Warringah on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Pursuing effective action on climate change is a key campaign platform for Ms Steggall, a barrister and former Olympic alpine skier.
She suggested on Friday she may not support a re-elected Morrison government unless it did more to act on the problem.
“I look forward to the coalition coming to the table on climate change,” she told Sky News.
“That’s what the Australian people are asking them to do.” In a candidate debate last month, Mr Abbott backflipped on his previously stated view that Australia should pull out of the Paris climate agreement, saying the government had “lost its emissions obsession now”.
AAP
2.20pm: New episode of The Scrutineers
The latest episode of our federal politics podcast The Scutineers is live.
Alice Workman chats to Paul Kelly and Troy Bramston as the election campaign begins. Listen via the player above, or download via your podcast app of choice.
Rachel Baxendale 1.59pm: Victorian budget delay slammed
Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien slammed state Treasurer Tim Pallas’s decision to delay his budget, saying the Andrews government “doesn’t want Victorians to know what bad Labor economic management looks like” ahead of the federal election.
“Labor wants to hide the cuts, hide the new taxes, hide the doubling of debt. That’s the only reason Daniel Andrews is covering up his state budget and pushing it back to late May,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Victorians deserve the truth about the state of our books. We know that Labor’s mismanaged the property market. We know that it’s having a huge impact on the state’s finances. We deserve to know the truth.
“The fact is that Daniel Andrews is simply doing this to cover up the truth and to try and help Bill Shorten.
“Daniel Andrews doesn’t want Victorians to know what bad Labor economic management looks like as they’re about to vote in the federal election.”
Rick Morton 1.40pm: Dole must rise: Shorten
Bill Shorten has said for the first time that there “has to be” a rise in the rate of the dole which has not been lifted in real terms for a quarter of a century.
The Opposition Leader made the call while speaking with media on the election campaign trail in Sydney, acknowledging first that the party’s sole commitment to “review” the payment — which is less than $270 a week for a single person — was not an exercise in keeping it at the same “low levels.”
Read more here.
1.22pm: Health funding ‘arm wrestle’
Bill Shorten visited a medical imaging clinic in Ryde to promote his $125 million medical research policy.
Pancreatic cancer patient Paul Stokes’ father died of pancreatic cancer two decades ago, and now he’s getting similar treatment to the one his father got.
“One of the big shocks for me was obviously the diagnosis, but also the fact that things haven’t really moved on in the last 20 years,” Paul Stokes told Mr Shorten at the clinic.
Mr Stokes said he was worried about his children having to pay for constant tests to see if they got the same disease.
Quick pit stop with @KKeneally as we hop off the Bill Bus to announce Labor’s $125 million commitment to boost cancer research! pic.twitter.com/tsFp9Q1t2y
— Catherine King MP (@CatherineKingMP) April 12, 2019
Mr Shorten said Australia was in an “unedifying arm wrestle” about health funding.
“This country shouldn’t use money as an excuse not to do something,” he said.
“Why should I apologise for wanting to properly fund health?”
AAP
Greg Brown 1.00pm: Leaders to debate live
Bill Shorten has accepted Scott Morrison’s challenge for a leaders debate in Western Australia, but only if the Prime Minister turns up to one of his scheduled town hall meetings.
The Opposition Leader said he “wants the people involved” in a debate between the two leaders in the state.
“I’m going to be in Perth, and I’m going to be at a town-hall meeting talking to the people. And I’m more than happy if the other fellow comes along,” Mr Shorten said.
“I’m certainly up for a couple of debates with him but I want the people involved.”
Rosie Lewis 12.40pm: Day of hi-vis vests
Day two of Scott Morrison’s election campaign has been dominated by workers in hi-vis vests, with a man yelling from his car as the Prime Minister talked about his government’s population plan adding a dash more colour to a roadside campaign stop.
“I didn’t know Andrew Leigh was out here,” Mr Morrison quipped, apparently at the expense of opposition assistant treasury spokesman Mr Leigh.
“Either that or someone just saw Labor’s tax costings, $387 billion, that’s how I’d react.”
Mr Morrison’s message at the $35 million Mulgoa/Castlereagh Roads upgrade was that his government has a plan to manage population in Australia’s cities.
“All these parts of the country are growing really, really fast and the roads were built for very different communities at the time,” he said.
“What you’re doing here guys is getting people home sooner and safer, in many cases you’re going to get home sooner and safer for those who live locally.”
We’re told there’ll be no more campaigning for the PM today, it’s an early finish.
Rachel Baxendale 12.20pm: Budget delay ‘hurts Labor chances’
The Victorian Greens have said they are concerned Daniel Andrews’ move to delay the state budget was an indication that it was not good news for voters.
“The federal election is shaping up to be a climate election,” said Greens acting treasury spokesman Sam Hibbins.
“There is a public expectation for all governments to act on climate change and protect the environment, and if Labor’s budget failed to deliver there is no doubt it would hurt their election chances in Victoria.”
Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien is due to respond to Mr Pallas’s decision at a press conference this afternoon.
Rachel Baxendale 12.12pm: Andrews delays budget
The Andrews government has postponed its budget, which was due at the end of this month, until after the May 18 federal election.
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas attributed the decision to the “stark difference being offered to our state by federal Labor and the federal Liberals and Nationals.”
“Until we know who we will be dealing with in Canberra, it would be irresponsible to finalise our budget at this time,” the Labor Treasurer said.
“Only one side is currently putting forward a real partnership with Victoria.”
Mr Pallas listed federal Labor proposals to partner with Victoria on three-year-old kindergarten, school, hospital and NDIS funding, and the suburban rail loop.
“In stark contrast, the Liberals are short-changing Victoria when it comes to infrastructure, clawing back money from our hospitals, not funding our schools fairly and hoarding money from the NDIS to prop up their bottom line,” he said.
The Victorian Budget will now be handed down nine days after election day, on Monday May 27.
State parliament will still sit as scheduled on April 30, which had previously been set as budget day.
Richard Ferguson 12.10pm: Shorten now in Ryde
Bill Shorten is currently touring Ryde Medical Centre in the Liberal-held seat of Bennelong.
He was accompanied by opposition health spokesman Catherine King, Labor senator Kristina Keneally, and star Bennelong candidate Brian Owler.
Mr Owler - former president of the Australian Medical Association - is trying to do what Senator Keneally failed to achieve in 2017, and win the seat off of the Liberals’ John Alexander.
The Opposition Leader is using the tour to announce an extra $125m for cancer research.
The Bill bus arrives in Eastwood, in Bennelong. @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/BtQMQYtYkN
— James O'Doherty (@jmodoh) April 12, 2019
Rosie Lewis 11.51am: Congestion busting in PM campaign
The ScoMobile is at its second campaign stop for the day, still in Lindsay at the Mulgoa and Castlereagh Roads corridor upgrade. This is a “congestion busting” project to connect Penrith with the Blue Mountains.
Scott Morrison is due to arrive here soon with the Liberal Party’s Lindsay candidate and Foreign Minister Marise Payne, a NSW senator who lives locally.
The federal government has committed $115 million for two projects along this road corridor, including $35m for this one. There are again lots of workers in hi-vis vests and even a digger, but no mums, dads and kids in sight on day two of the Prime Minister’s election
campaign.
We have @ScottMorrisonMP, we have a digger and we have hi-vis vests #AusVotes19 @australian pic.twitter.com/eloRuUCvZi
— Rosie Lewis (@rosieslewis) April 12, 2019
Rick Morton 11.50am: ‘What universe is Dutton in?’
Canberra disability advocate Dougie Herd has called on Peter Dutton to
apologise for his comments in which he accused Labor challenger for
the seat of Dickson of using her disability as “an excuse” not to move
into the electorate.
“I am completely appalled,” Mr Herd told media outside Parliament
House in Canberra this morning.
“I simply cannot imagine in what universe Peter Dutton thinks an
amputee would use her disability condition to get an advantage out of
life.”
He also said Scott Morrison, who only last week spoke of disabled
people deserving respect and a fair go when he announced the $528m
royal commission into violence neglect and abuse, should also reassure
people that Mr Dutton’s views are not those of the government.
Disability advocate Dougie Herd has condemned Peter Dutton’s “unconscionable†comments about his Labor challenger in the seat of Dickson. Dutton said she was using her disability as an “excuse†not to move into the electorate. #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/kFQVGcEkhu
— Rick Morton (@SquigglyRick) April 12, 2019
Greg Brown 11.35am: Dutton ‘pea hearted’
Senior figures in Bill Shorten’s team have leapt on Peter Dutton’s claim Labor’s candidate for the seat of Dickson was using her disability “as an excuse” for not living in the electorate.
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said the criticism of Ali France showed Mr Dutton was “pea-hearted”.
“She actually lost a leg protecting her kids in a car park accident, and he is using this against her,” Ms Plibersek told ABC radio.
“I mean what kind of person does this? Actually having someone like him sitting around the cabinet table tells you why this government could build this flimsy surplus on the back of 70,000 people missing out on the National Disability Insurance Scheme packages that they thought they would get this year.”
Australian Labor Party president Wayne Swan labelled the comments “disgraceful”.
“Peter Dutton’s disgraceful attack on a Labor candidate with disability has exposed how nasty the Liberals will go in a bid to keep their jobs,” Mr Swan said.
“Scott Morrison needs to condemn these comments and make Peter Dutton apologise today.”
Opposition legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus said the comments were “about as nasty as it gets”.
“Peter Dutton you should be ashamed of yourself,” Mr Dreyfus tweeted.
Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said Ms France wanted a “fair go”.
“That’s what Australians with disability want: they want a fair go,” Senator Wong said.
“They’re not making excuses, and what they get from Peter Dutton is a bit more of Peter Dutton’s nastiness and what they get from this government is a budget, a surplus, which is built on less support for people with disability.”
Remy Varga 11.25am: Greens woo disillusioned Libs
The Greens have diverted from their 20-year pursuit of “dead red’’ seats and are coming after the doctors’ wives of Melbourne, as they target Liberal voters disillusioned by the government’s stance on climate change and asylum-seekers.
Party leader Richard Di Natale yesterday made clear the new strategy in his first campaign appearance in the beachside suburb of St Kilda.
To read the article in full click here.
Rosie Lewis 11.05am: ‘Why vote for Shorten?’
Scott Morrison has defended his use of Treasury costings at the start of the election campaign which reveal Labor’s tax policies are worth nearly $400 billion, but refused to say who ordered them.
“When they (Labor) stick one finger out they’ve got four pointing back at themselves,” the Prime Minister said after being questioned over the politicisation of the Treasury costings.
“This has been a tried and true process that Treasury has done for a long time for parties on both sides of politics. They inform governments about alternative approaches to policy.
“The real question is why hasn’t Bill Shorten told you about how much more his taxes are going to cost you. If Bill Shorten won’t tell you how much extra tax he’s going to put on you then why would you vote for him?”
.@ScottMorrisonMP: If @billshortenmp won’t tell the Australian people how much extra tax he is going to put on you then why would you vote for him? He won’t tell you what his policies mean or how much they will cost you.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 12, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/e2R8zKJeBw #Newsday pic.twitter.com/iZSOfRMySZ
Greg Brown 10.50am: PM challenges Shorten to debate
Scott Morrison has challenged Bill Shorten to a leaders debate in Western Australia, as he talks up his GST reforms that will pump more tax revenue into the state.
The Prime Minister said he would relish the chance to take on the Opposition Leader in a debate in the traditional Liberal stronghold, where Labor is eyeing a swag of seats including Attorney-General Christian Porter’s electorate of Pearce.
“I look forward to Bill Shorten trying to explain how he crab-walked from one side to the other on the issue of GST for Western Australia,” Mr Morrison said.
“I simply acknowledged the problem and as Treasurer got on and fixed it and as Prime Minister ensured it was legislated.
“People in Western Australia know when I say I am going to do something, I do it. I said the GST distribution for Western Australia was a problem. I said we needed to fix it. I said we needed to change the formula to do that. Bill Shorten didn’t agree with that and then he did and then didn’t and then he did.
“That’s what get from Bill when it comes with economic policy because he doesn’t understand the detail.”
Mr Morrison talked up his income tax plans, which would ensure 94 per cent of taxpayers pay a marginal rate of no more than 30 cents per dollar earned.
“Bill Shorten doesn’t agree with me. He thinks they should pay a higher rate of tax,” Mr Morrison said.
“I am for lower taxes. I’ve legislated for lower taxes. I have delivered lower taxes for families, for individuals, for small and family businesses.
“My record is lowering tax, Bill Shorten’s plan is to increase the tax burden on Australians by $387 billion over the next decade.”
.@ScottMorrisonMP: Under Labor it is $387b of higher taxes on the economy. Companies like the Gulf Western Oil here in Western Sydney depend on the performance of the entire economy, the economy gets weighed down by high tax policies.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 12, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/e2R8zKJeBw #Newsday pic.twitter.com/UlCgei5MXu
Rosie Lewis 10.45am: ‘Amazing who you see’
Liberal candidate Dave Sharma, who is again trying to win Wentworth, this morning tweeted a photo with Mr Turnbull.
“Amazing who you see at a commuter stop! Great to run into an old friend Malcolm Turnbull down at the Rose Bay wharf this morning,” he said.
Mr Turnbull controversially went overseas and skipped the Wentworth by-election after he lost the prime ministership and quit federal politics, leaving Dave Sharma to campaign with other ministers and high-profile Liberals such as John Howard.
Amazing who you see at a commuter stop! 🥳⛴ Great to run into an old friend @TurnbullMalcolm down at the #RoseBay wharf this morning. pic.twitter.com/hoTuxorlRk
— Dave Sharma (@DaveSharma) April 11, 2019
Rosie Lewis 10.40am: PM to campaign with Abbott
Scott Morrison has committed to campaigning with Tony Abbott as he battles to retain his Sydney seat of Warringah but has stopped short of saying he would return the former prime minister to the frontbench if he wins the May Election.
“They’re decisions I hope to be able to make but I’m not going to presume upon them on the Australian people,” the Prime Minister said as he campaigned in the Labor-held seat of Lindsay.
Mr Morrison also said he had not spoken to another former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull about his campaign plans.
Paul Kelly 10.30am: Backyard Bill a threat
Here is the choice at the start line: Scott Morrison is a conventional Liberal focused on economic strength against Bill Shorten who sells his radical agenda in the guise of being the people’s friend from next door.
Morrison was calm, prime ministerial and on target. He stands for economic reliability in a dangerous world — with growth, surplus budgets, tax cuts and jobs. But the status quo is not enough to win this election for Morrison.
It worked for John Howard but Morrison needs more — he must persuade on how his agenda will actually make people’s lives better and he can win only by bursting the Shorten bubble.
In their openings Shorten was more engaging, effective and personal than Morrison.
On display was Shorten’s skill in being backyard Bill and sugar-coating a shift in national direction and values that means hefty hip-pocket damage to many Australians.
To read the article in full, click here.
Greg Brown 9.50am: ‘True cost of Labor taxes’
Josh Frydenberg says voters now know the “true cost of Labor’s new taxes” after it released new costings from Treasury.
“Labor’s new taxes will total $387 billion over the decade. An equivalent of $5,400 for every Australian household,” the Treasurer said.
“Tax as a share of the economy will climb, under Labor, to 25.9 per cent, a record for any government in Australia if Labor was given their chance.”
Mr Frydenberg challenged Labor to release its own figures after the Opposition Leader dismissed Treasury’s analysis.
“It’s up to the Labor Party to come out and say what the true cost of their policies are,” he said.
Coalition claim Labor will cost voters $387b over next decade.@MathiasCormann: If Labor is disputing the figure, then they should come clean with the Australian people about how much money they are proposing to take.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 11, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/e2R8zKJeBw #Amagenda pic.twitter.com/2LuhaJ96es
Greg Brown 9.30am: ‘I’ll end accountant tax rorts’
Bill Shorten has attacked the ability of wealthy people to claim a tax deduction for their accountancy fees. The Opposition Leader singled out deducting accounting fees as “one of the rorts we want to shut down”, arguing Treasury had wrongly calculated the closing down of tax loopholes as tax increases.
To read the article in full, click here.
Rosie Lewis 9.15am: PM: I want Abbott in government
Scott Morrison says he “very much” wants Tony Abbott and Peter Dutton in his government if he wins the May election, as the senior Liberal MPs face tough fights in their respective electorates.
The former prime minister is being challenged by high-profile independent Zali Steggall in his safe Sydney seat of Warringah, while Home Affairs Minister Mr Dutton holds his Brisbane electorate of Dickson on 1.7 per cent.
Both men are ambitious for the Liberal Party’s leadership.
Asked if it would be nice if he was able to retain government without them in it, Mr Morrison told 973FM Brisbane radio: “I very much want them in it, very much. Both of them have played a huge role in our government over the last five-and-a-half years. Peter and Tony I’ve worked with, particularly on the issue of keeping our border secure and working on the national security issues. It is sadly a more dangerous world.”
In the same interview, the Prime Minister revealed he got RSI when he was in Brisbane last from shaking too many people’s hands.
“I actually had to go and see the doctor because I’d shaken so many hands that I had a bit of RSI. I’m not kidding. The lady gave me this anti-inflammatory cream to deal with it,” he said.
.@ScottMorrisonMP tours family-owned Gulf Western Oil in the Labor-held electorate of Lindsay with @MarisePayne and @MGrahMcIntosh #AusVotes19 pic.twitter.com/FetbY8a4Y9
— Rosie Lewis (@rosieslewis) April 11, 2019
Greg Brown 9.10am: PM defends Dutton over disabled candidate
Scott Morrison has defended Peter Dutton for accusing Labor’s candidate in the Queensland seat of Dickson for using her disability “as an excuse” for not living in the electorate.
“What Peter is clearly was saying is an allegation was being made that a person could not find disability accommodation in Peter’s electorate,” the Prime Minister said
“He is saying there are places there and it would be wrong to suggest there aren’t. And when Labor tell lies in this campaign then we will call them out.”
In an interview with The Australian, Mr Dutton dismissed Labor candidate Ali France’s reason she did not live in the Brisbane electorate – because she had been unable to find a wheelchair-accessible home in the electorate ahead of the campaign.
Ms France, 45, a former journalist, had her left leg amputated after being struck by a car at a shopping centre in 2011.
“There are plenty of people with disability living in Dickson,’’ he told The Australian. “A lot of people have raised this with me. I think they are quite angry that Ms France is using her disability as an excuse for not moving into our electorate.”
Rosie Lewis 8.50am: PM to spruik asset write-offs
Scott Morrison will make his first election campaign stop on day two at a family-owned business in the seat of Lindsay, called Western Gulf Oil. He’ll be accompanied by the Liberal Party’s Lindsay candidate Melissa McIntosh and Foreign Affairs Minister (also a NSW senator) Marise Payne. The trio will tour the business, which produces oil and lubricants for commercial, manufacturing and agricultural use, with owner Ben Vicary.
The Prime Minister will be spruiking the government’s instant asset write-off for small and medium-sized businesses - about 14,833 businesses will benefit in the seat of Lindsay - and corporate tax cuts too.
Rosie Lewis 8.35am: PM’s coffee break
After a rush of TV and radio interviews this morning, Scott Morrison was in need of a coffee. Lucky for the PM there was a cafe right next to the hotel where the Morrison contingent was based. Unluckily for him he forgot to take his coffee with him. Rest assured an adviser
went back to pick it up. It’s going to be a long day on the road, beginning in western Sydney.
Greg Brown 8.30am: Abbot’s ‘semiotic differences’ on climate
Tony Abbott has denied he has ever changed his stance on climate change, putting his three different positions on the Paris Agreement down to “semiotic differences”.
Mr Abbott signed Australia up to the Paris Agreement when he was prime minister and then called on Malcolm Turnbull to pull out of it.
He reversed his position again in the lead up to the election as a faced pressure on the issue from independent Warringah candidate Zali Steggall.
“If you want to sort of try to read sort of semiotic differences into things sure,” Mr Abbott told Sky News in his electorate this morning.
“My position hasn’t changed. I have always said climate change is real. Mankind makes a contribution and we should take sensible action to deal with it.
“But I have always also said that what we shouldn’t do is turn our economy upside down in what turns out to be a futile gesture. The fact is we are just 1.3 per cent of global emissions.
“Yes we should do our bit but we could crash our economy tomorrow and the world’s emissions would keep going up and up and up. China and India, they want to get rich and it is more important to them to give their people a better standard of living than it is to suddenly get obsessive about emissions.”
Jessica Cortis 8.15am: McCormack stumbles over tax
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack stumbled over his words when asked to explain how the Liberal government will explain the figure behind the $387 billion tax burden the Labor Party will apparently cost Australians.
The Coalition today used Treasury costings to warn Australians of the billion dollar burden from Labor tax cuts.
“It’s made up of all the promises that Labor have made that they have not been able to keep,” Mr McCormack said on ABC radio this morning.
“It’s made up of people’s electricity...well actually it doesn’t include their electricity, but it includes franking credits...negative gearing, it includes the fact that they’re just going to be charging people more to get to work through electric cars,” he said.
When probed by RN host Fran Kelly to explain how the government came up with the exact figure for the tax “scare campaign”, Mr McCormack replied: “Well it’s not a matter for me to explain it’s actually a matter for Chris Bowen to explain.”
Greg Brown 7.35am: Labor tax ‘will hold everyone back’
Scott Morrison has leapt on Treasury analysis showing there would be $387 billion of extra taxes over a decade under Labor’s policies, declaring the election was a choice between a strong economy and higher taxes.
“They want to put $387bn worth of higher taxes on the economy which will just bring us down, hold every Australian back, in every job, in every home right across the country,” the Prime Minister told Nine Network.
“That much tax slows the economy and holds us all back.
“That’s why the strong economy we have been running is what the choice is for, going forward. To keep that strong economy or have a weaker economy under Bill Shorten.”
Mr Morrison also told the ABC a strong economy, rather than tax increases, would pay for healthcare and schools.
“That’s why we have increased funding for hospitals by more than 60 per cent and for public schools by more than 60 per cent and Medicare by 27 per cent with the highest rates of bulk billing,” he said.
“Higher taxes is the answer from a Labor Party that doesn’t know how to manage money and come after yours.”
“I played it when Josh Frydenberg came into the partyroom before he gave the speech just to sort of rev him up a bit†#ausvotes19 https://t.co/26dLrQN1sa
— Rosie Lewis (@rosieslewis) April 11, 2019
Richard Ferguson 7.30am: Shorten hauled up on gearing
Bill Shorten received a warm reception at Sydney Markets this morning, but he could not escape lingering questions over negative gearing.
The Opposition Leader was hauled up by flower seller Rick Mileto in the marginal seat of Reid this morning about his plans to reform the property tax system by January 2020.
Flower seller Rick Mileto is not a fan of early negative gearing changes - will this question follow Shorten? #PoliticsNow @australian pic.twitter.com/qrEe7UuTgf
— Richard Ferguson (@RichAFerguson) April 11, 2019
Mr Mileto told The Australian it was too soon to change negative gearing, and he feared it could harm businesses like his.
“The environment has really been correcting,” he said.
“Things are coming off the boil and I was just questioning the timing of negative gearing.
“It doesn’t seem to me the best idea to introduce it in 2020 ... the economic cycle right now is not ideal.
“Most people would like to see these kinds of policies delayed for a while, perhaps in perpetuity, but at least for the next couple of years.”
Mr Mileto said economic headwinds scared him and other small business people in Sydney, and he did not want to see more money taken out as tax.
“People in business, not only here in the flower industry, but generally they’re struggling.
“We need a little bit of stimulus ... not taking money out of the system.”
Mr Mileto said he was impressed by Mr Shorten’s response and supported his plan to put more money into cancer treatment.
And he was not swayed by either Labor or the Liberal’s promises of personal tax cuts.
But the Homebush flower merchant will be voting for Scott Morrison.
“He (Mr Shorten) might get my wife’s vote ... there seems to be a little less courage in politics these days,” he said.
“I’m a John Howard fan. I’ll probably stick with the Liberals.”
Rosie Lewis 7.25am: PM in enemy territory
Scott Morrison began his first full day of campaigning in the western Sydney electorate of Lindsay, held by Labor on a margin of just 1.1 per cent.
The Prime Minister is in enemy territory but this is not a traditional Labor seat. Until 2016, when Labor’s Emma Husar swept to victory while Malcolm Turnbull formed government, it had been a bellwether electorate.
Lindsay is home to Howard’s battlers after then Liberal candidate and MP Jackie Kelly won the seat and later increased her margin at a by-election in the mid-90s. Ms Kelly at the time was considered a symbol of western Sydney Liberals.
Now the incumbent Ms Husar has been forced not to recontest the election because of a scandal involving alleged office bullying and sexual harassment. The Liberal Party thinks it’s in with a very good chance of taking back this important seat.
The Prime Minister is continuing his blitz of television interviews this morning but we don’t yet have a schedule of his day ahead.
Newly re-elected NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian began her state campaign in the seat of Penrith – within Lindsay – when she kicked off her election bid.
Greg Brown 7.25am: ‘Bucket of lies’
Bill Shorten has rejected Treasury’s analysis that Labor’s policies would lead to $387 billion of extra taxes over the next decade.
“They are not correct,” the Opposition Leader told Nine Network’s Today Show.
“That’s a bucket of lies. Whenever Labor closes a tax loophole the Liberals call it a tax increase.”
.@ljayes: Do you support @billshortenmp's higher tax plan? @zalisteggall: I don’t support his tax changes, they will impact upon our retirees & I will appose both the franking credit scheme & changes to negative gearing.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 11, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/10B1GmiDJC #Firstedition pic.twitter.com/sRuRta1aaU
Greg Brown 7.15am: PM attacks Folau
Scott Morrison has criticised sacked rugby player Israel Folau for making a “terribly insensitive comment” about gay people.
The Prime Minister, one of the strongest advocates for religious freedom during the same-sex marriage debate, had no criticisms of Australian Rugby for sacking Folou over his homophobic statements.
“It was a terribly insensitive comment and they have taken action as a result,” Mr Morrison told the ABC.
“It is important that people act with love, care and compassion to their fellow citizens and to speak sensitively to their fellow Australians. That’s what I believe.”
Greg Brown 7.10am: ‘No mandatory EV target’
Scott Morrison has denied his electric car policy has the same target as Labor’s, declaring the target of uptake was between 16 per cent and 50 per cent of new vehicles by 2030.
The Prime Minister said Bill Shorten’s 50 per cent target would “wipe out half of the petrol and diesel fuel excise that is earned in this country”.
“We support people getting electric vehicle, and have a policy to help achieve that what we’re not going to do is have met a mandatory target that has to be 50 per cent,” Mr Morrison told Network Seven.
“Now, 50 per cent within the next 10 years, that would wipe out half of the petrol and diesel fuel excise that is earned this country.
“My problem with Bill Shorten is that he won’t explain his policy and he won’t tell people what the impact is and that’s why you can’t trust him.”
Greg Brown 6.55am: ‘No special treatment for Assange’
Scott Morrison says the Australian government will make no special representations for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who was arrested in Britain last night and faces being extradited to the United States.
“He will get the consular assistance as you would expect him to but he will have to make his way through whatever has come his way in terms of the justice system there,” the Prime Minister said.
“He won’t be getting special treatment from Australia. He will be getting the same treatment that any other Australian would get in circumstances.”
Mr Morrison said Foreign Minister Marise Payne last night spoke to Australia’s High Commissioner to Britain, George Brandis, about the issue.
Richard Ferguson 6.40am: Shorten heads for Lib land
Bill Shorten will fight perceptions he is behind in Sydney seats today, with visits to a pair of Liberal marginal electorates.
The Australian revealed this week that Labor is behind in key NSW seats according to internal polling, following a disastrous state election.
The Opposition Leader will go to the Sydney Markets today in the marginal electorate of Reid with ALP candidate and long-time party operative Sam Crosby.
Reid is currently held by the Liberals on a margin of 4.7 per cent, but popular government MP Craig Laundy is retiring.
Mr Shorten will then continue his Medicare cancer plan cash blitz in the seat of Bennelong with a visit of a diagnostic imaging clinic.
John Howard’s old seat is held by the Liberals’ John Alexander on a margin of 9.7 per cent at the last election, though that margin was cut in a by-election forced by Mr Alexander’s dual citizenship woes.
Mr Shorten will appear later today with his star Bennelong candidate, former Australian Medical Association president Brian Owler.
Richard Ferguson 6.30am: Labor vows more cancer money
Bill Shorten will promise an extra $125m for cancer research today, as he continues his cancer cash blitz into the official election campaign.
At least $20m of that money will go towards more study into pancreatic cancer.
“Pancreatic cancer will be Australia’s second biggest cancer killer in five years — killing almost as many people each year as breast cancer,” the Opposition Leader said today.
“Labor’s funding injection will mean the Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation can implement a comprehensive Pancreatic Cancer Medical Research Strategy to develop ways of detecting pancreatic cancer earlier and understand why the cancer is resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
“This funding will also allow researchers to look at new treatments for pancreatic cancer to improve the survival rate and unravel the tragic mysteries of this cancer.”
The new research money is part of Labor’s $2.3bn Medicare Cancer Plan.
What’s making news
Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten have launched a 37-day election campaign battle over who is trusted more to improve the nation’s economy, deliver better services and offer Australians a “fair go”.
Real estate agents across the nation have declared war on Bill Shorten’s negative gearing overhaul and will mount a four-week campaign using customer databases to target buyers, sellers, landholders and tenants in key marginals seats.
Independent MP Kerryn Phelps has sent emails seeking new patients for her medical practice, as the Liberal Party expresses some optimism about wresting back her Sydney eastern suburbs seat of Wentworth.
If the populists jockeying for the “middle finger” vote are to make a mark on May 18, it will be in Queensland, the heartland of protest politics.
Former prime minister and Liberal candidate for Warringah Tony Abbott said independent candidate Zali Steggall is just “Labor in disguise” and criticised her for declining two invitations to have a debate with him in the fight for the electorate.
The Liberal Party has managed to raise enough funds to take on Labor at the election, despite the absence of Malcolm Turnbull’s donations, Julie Bishop’s fundraising and the challenge of taking on a federal election immediately after a NSW campaign.
Negative campaigning kicked off within minutes of Scott Morrison’s election announcement yesterday, with attack ads rolled out on social media by both major parties.
Paul Kelly writes: Here is the choice at the start line: Scott Morrison is a conventional Liberal focused on economic strength against Bill Shorten who sells his radical agenda in the guise of being the people’s friend from next door.
Dennis Shanahan writes: The May 18 election is about the people, the voters of Australia making a real choice and standing up for themselves, their civic duty and the future.
It’s also about how Australians decide to define the traditional idea of what is a “fair go”.
‘Unique’ AUKUS deal earns Trump approval
President Donald Trump has flagged his support for the complex defence arrangement with Australia after the Albanese government delivered a $798m payment.
Trump’s Gaza gambit is brazen and naive
Donald Trump has shown the gulf between his position and Anthony Albanese’s, wedging Labor on Palestine. But his plan to ‘own’ Gaza won’t work.