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PoliticsNow: Morrison calls bingo at Windsor RSL

Scott Morrison has called out bingo numbers at the Windsor RSL on the first night of his election campaign.

Richard Ferguson and Greg Brown
29 min read
11:10AMApril 11, 2019.
Updated 9:34PMApril 11, 2019
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Government must be relatable to win election: Kelly

Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live federal election blog. PM Scott Morrison has announced Australians will go to the polls on May 18, telling voters “now is not the time to turn back” to Labor. Bill Shorten has named jobs, health and education as Labor’s priorities.

Top story: Tony Abbott says he has no plans to retire any time soon, vowing to “give his best shot” for Warringah.

Rosie Lewis 9.19pm: PM calls the bingo

Scott Morrison has called out bingo numbers at the Windsor RSL, where he dined on the first night of the election campaign.

Without the travelling press pack in tow, the Prime Minister was filmed in vision supplied by his office as he shook hands with bingo goers at the club.

While calling bingo numbers one woman yelled out “don’t give up your day job”, to which Mr Morrison quipped: “I’m not planning to.”

Scott Morrison with bingo winner Maria Stella Sant.
Scott Morrison with bingo winner Maria Stella Sant.

Rosie Lewis 7.30pm: ‘Positive’ election campaign ahead

Both Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten are promising positive election campaigns but the Prime Minister insists there are “real risks” with his counterpart.

Asked on the ABC tonight if fear was his biggest weapon, Mr Morrison responded: “There are real risks with Bill Shorten’s inability to manage the budget or the economy and they’re the key risks that Labor present.”

Rosie Lewis 6.47pm: Why the PM called the election today

Continuing his TV blitz tonight, Scott Morrison has explained why he called the May 18 election today - earlier than some had anticipated.

“Because of a number of public holidays that fall over the campaign period, for important issues like close of nominations and close of rolls we had to call the election a few days earlier than normal to ensure there wasn’t any uncertainty about the rollout of the formal part of the electoral process,” the PM told SBS.

Challenged on his decision to hold the election on the same night as Eurovision (which will be broadcast on SBS), Mr Morrison said: “There’ll be a few contests on that night but I think the one Australians will be really focusing on is the one that will have the biggest impact on their future.”

Rosie Lewis 5.20pm: Morrison ‘happy’ to talk climate change

Scott Morrison has not hit the hustings on day one of the election campaign but is doing a blitz of television interviews tonight on the banks of the Napean River in Penrith, Sydney.

Asked on Sky News by David Speers why he did not mention climate change when he officially kicked off the campaign by announcing a May 18 election in the Prime Minister’s courtyard this morning, Mr Morrison said: “It’s a very brief presentation you make at the start of an election David, we’ve got another 36 days to talk about these issues.”

The PM declared he was “happy” to talk about climate change and attempted to turn the attack on Labor.

“Under our government we turned around a more than 700 million tonne abatement deficit from Labor that we inherited for our Kyoto 2020 targets and we’re going to beat that by 369 million tonnes, so that’s a 1.1 billion tonne turn around on meeting our climate targets,” Mr Morrison said.

“We’ve got our 2030 target, which we will also meet, and we’ve set that out tonne-by-tonne. Bill Shorten won’t do that, he won’t tell you how he’s meeting his reckless 45 per cent target, he won’t tell you what it will mean for power prices, he won’t tell you what it will mean for wages. There’s independent modelling that it will cost $9000 a year on their wages and if he won’t tell you what it means, you shouldn’t vote for him.”

Richard Ferguson 4.01pm: Government ‘better’ under Morrison: Abbott

Tony Abbott says Scott Morrison is leading a “better government” than Malcolm Turnbull, as he argues Labor will “clobber” Australians with taxes.

“The people of Australia do not deserve a government which is going to clobber them with all these destructive new taxes,” he told Sydney’s 2GB radio.

“There’s no doubt that this is a better government now than it was 12 months ago, it was a good government but it’s now a better government.

“We are more in touch with middle Australia than we were.”

When Mr Turnbull’s criticism of Mr Abbott as a “miserable ghost” were brought up int the interview, the former chucked.

“Now, now, he’s a respected former prime minister,” Mr Abbott said.

Richard Ferguson 3.57pm: Abbott vows to fight ‘internationally-backed’ Steggall

Tony Abbott has promised to fight to hold on to his blue-ribbon seat of Warringah against “internationally-backed” independent candidate Zali Steggall.

“Which the independent now does have is a incredibly sophisticated, almost internationally backed, campaigning operation in GetUp,” he told Sydney’s 2GB radio.

“There’s absolutely no doubt that at the moment I’m the underdog. There’s absolutely no doubt that as things stand I’m going to be way outspent by GetUp, the unions and covert Labor operatives coming into the seat.

“I’m going to give it my best shot as the people of Warringah deserve a member who knows what he’s doing.”

The former prime minister also said he would not retire from the seat he has held for 25 years until a road tunnel is built in his electorate.

“There’s no way in God’s Earth I’m going to retire until this tunnel is built and that’s five years away on current construction levels,” he said.

Mr Abbott currently holds Warringah on a margin of 11.1 per cent.

3.22pm: Election win no sure-thing: Wong

South Australian Labor Senator Penny Wong says the opposition in no way believes it has the federal election in the bag.

On the first day of the campaign for the March 18 poll Senator Wong joined Nadia Clancy, the party’s candidate for the key marginal Adelaide seat of Boothby.

“I know that the Coalition are suggesting that we think we’ve got it in the bag,” she said in Glenelg on Thursday.

“Well we don’t. We understand how hard it is to win government.”

Senator Wong said she expected Prime Minister Scott Morrison to “campaign on fear” in the lead-up to the poll.

“He can’t campaign on his record because his record is cuts and chaos,” she said.

“He can’t campaign on stability because he hasn’t got any.

“The only thing that he can campaign on is fear.”

Senator Wong said Boothby, held by Liberal Nicolle Flint with a margin of just over two per cent, was critical for Labor.

But she said the party would campaign hard in every South Australian seat.

“We want to deliver a Labor government for Australia,” she said. “We want to do deliver a Labor government that does the right thing by the Australian people on schools, hospitals, the river Murray and climate change.”

“Elections are hard fought and we know this is going to be a hard-fought election.”

Labor has not held Boothby since 1949, but Ms Clancy said she believed she could take it for Labor after a change in the seat’s boundaries.

“We now have a lot more people here who are keen for a change,” she said. “I’m also up against someone who doesn’t reflect the values of people in this electorate the same way I do.”

AAP

Remy Varga 2.27pm: Most of our candidates won’t win: di Natale

Greens leader Richard di Natale has conceded most of his lower house candidates won’t win.

Launching the Greens 2019 election campaign at O’Donnell Gardens in southern beachside suburb of St Kilda, Mr Di Natale said he had brought the candidates he had the best chance of winning.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale and Higgins candidate Jason Ball. Picture: David Geraghty
Greens leader Richard Di Natale and Higgins candidate Jason Ball. Picture: David Geraghty

“Look it’s a statement of the bleeding obvious, we’re here with our team of people who we think are the best chance of being elected.” he said.

“They’ve always got a chance but again we’re realists.”

Mr Di Natale brought along the candidate for Higgins, former football player Jason Ball, high profile human rights lawyer Julian Burnside for Kooyong, candidate for Macnamara Steph Hodgins-May and the candidate for Wills Adam Pulford. MP for Melbourne Adam Bandt and Senator Janet Rice also attended.

2.23pm: Brown to lead anti-Adani convoy

Veteran conservationist Bob Brown will lead a convoy of hundreds of anti-Adani protesters to rally against its proposed coal mine in Queensland. Next Wednesday the protesters will set off from Hobart and spend two weeks winding their way up the east coast to Bowen, where coal dug from the Sunshine State is shipped across the globe.

The former Greens leader compared the anti-Adani movement to a nationwide action he led against the Franklin Dam in Tasmania in the 1980s - a battle eventually won by conservationists.

Bob Brown. Picture: Eddie Safarik
Bob Brown. Picture: Eddie Safarik

“This is the biggest environmental, heritage, indigenous and lifestyle issue I have seen come along in decades in Australia,” he said.

“It’s galvanising people everywhere.” Convoy numbers are expected to swell as it snakes its way up the east coast of Australia, holding protest rallies in major centres along the way. The convoy is expected to arrive at the Carmichael mine site in the Galilee Basin on April 28.

AAP

John Ferguson 1.32pm: Shorten begins in tiger country

COMMENTARY

In Labor circles the federal seat of Deakin is known as tiger country.

Few of the party’s candidates that enter there ever come out unscathed.

So it was more than a little bit symbolic that Bill Shorten decided to start his campaign today in a seat held by Liberal powerbroker Michael Sukkar with a margin of 6.4 per cent.

Deakin is heartland Liberal territory in Melbourne’s outer east that normally only swings sharply during landslides.

Asked if he was the frontrunner for the election, Shorten replied diplomatically that the party was “competitive”, stressing: “we are united”.

This was a little kidney punch aimed at the Liberal plotters who helped jettison Malcolm Turnbull from The Lodge.

Standing in the home of Richard and Jacqui Davis, Shorten spoke about his aims for a stable economy, a new deal on climate change and stressed repeatedly that he ran a united party.

The Davis’s, both aged in their 40s, were willing listeners.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten, Deputy Leader Tanya Plibersek and Labor candidate for Deakin, Shireen Morris in Mitcham. Picture: AAP
Opposition leader Bill Shorten, Deputy Leader Tanya Plibersek and Labor candidate for Deakin, Shireen Morris in Mitcham. Picture: AAP

They paid $1.1 million for their rendered 1980s brick home and are raising twin boys on the back of two reasonably high paying jobs. The father in retail and the mother in human resources.

They are Labor-leaning voters who are prepared to switch their vote when they feel it is necessary.

Declaring the family are not battlers, Ms Davis said she was more interested in the greater good than anything else and that she was unhappy about the way the Coalition had handled the same sex marriage debate.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek speaks to Tom and Peter Davis. Picture: AAP
Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek speaks to Tom and Peter Davis. Picture: AAP

“We are not (financially) on the edge,” she said.

“The election is a bigger picture thing.”

As she spoke, the Liberal Party’s 2019 incarnation of the debt truck lurked nearby.

With Shorten’s head featuring prominently, the sign screamed “The Bill Australia Can’t Afford.”

“Higher taxes, more debt, weak economy.”

As if by miracle, the truck, its signage authorised by Liberal federal director Andrew Hirst, had tracked down Shorten to Dalmor Avenue in Mitcham, providing the 25 or so reporters and cameramen with another picture opportunity.

One day down on Shorten’s long march to May 18.

Primrose Riordan 12.40pm: Data lost in cyber attack

Australia’s top cyber spies provided a report to the government on the massive cyber attack on Parliament House ahead of the election announcement and have ‘suspicions’ as to which nation state is responsible.

“This attack has been assessed as a sophisticated state actor...Our investigation is still ongoing. We have our suspicions,” ASD head Mike Burgess told Senate Estimates last week.

The Australian Signals Directorate, in charge of cyber security, also confirmed that data was stolen by the hackers in the attack.

“There was a small amount of data taken; none of that was deemed sensitive, but the assessment of that is a matter for the parliament themselves,” Mr Burgess said.

The Labor Party and the Liberal Party’s systems were also targeted in a related attack, however The Australian understands political parties have not received a report from ASD on the attack.

“Labor continues to work closely with the relevant agencies when it comes to cyber security,” a Labor campaign spokeswoman said.

Mr Burgess said the intruder had been “evicted” from parliament’s systems.

Joe Kelly 12.15pm: GetUp outlines strategy

Natalie O'Brien from GetUp at the GetUp Election Launch at Marrackville Town Hall. Picture: Jeremy Piper
Natalie O'Brien from GetUp at the GetUp Election Launch at Marrackville Town Hall. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Left wing activist group GetUp has outlined its election strategy, saying it will be the organisation’s “biggest ever campaign effort” with the key objective to elevate climate change as a priority issue for voters.

The organisation says it will aim to rally more than 7000 volunteers to its agenda in a bid to remove the “hard right’s hold on power” and topple the Morrison government, with the group targeting 30 electorates across the nation.

To read the article in full, click here.

Richard Ferguson 12.13pm: Shorten silent on Adani gag

Bill Shorten has not answered questions on whether he will lift a gag on Labor MPs over the Adani coal mine, but says he will be “full and frank” about the massive Queensland resources project.

“We need to be full and frank about the mine. I don’t think it is any particular coincidence the government went to the Governor-General today on the day the CSIRO was going to be examined about its report into the Adani mine,” he said in Melbourne.

“You want to talk about gagging? What a coincidence. The government, rather than face the scrutiny of parliament about the unfairly politicised and bullying process of mine approvals, has instead decided that today they want to have the election. That is what it is.”

Richard Ferguson 12.10pm: ‘Backyard of family home’

Bill Shorten denies he is starting his campaign in the backyard of voters in seat the Liberals hold by 6.4 per cent because he sees himself as the frontrunner.

“Not at all. What it suggests is that I see what is going on with Australian families. We made a conscious decision to start the 2019 campaign in the family lounge room of an everyday Australian family, two marvellous kids going to the public school,” he said.

“Both parents are working. They’re not complaining. They know this is a great country.

“They’re paying off their mortgage. They’re doing everything they can do to provide the best opportunities for their kids.

“I choose better and cheaper treatment for cancer than bigger tax loopholes for multinationals or tax subsidies for the fortunate few. It is about choices.

“It is why we are here in a middle eastern suburb of Melbourne, Mitcham. It is about (the house’s owners) Jacqui and Richard Davis and their boys.”

Richard Ferguson 12.00pm: ‘Energy v fatigue’

Bill Shorten opens his election pitch by labelling Scott Morrison’s government as “tired” and naming jobs, health and education as his top three political priorities.

“Today, the case to vote Labor is we will deliver more jobs, better health and education,” he says in Melbourne.

“We’ll take real action on climate change and renewable energy, and help push energy prices down.

“We’ll get on top of cost of living burdens and we’ll get wages moving again in this country. We can manage the economy in the interests of working and middle class people.

“My team is united ... Do you want Labor’s energy, versus the Government’s tiredness? Labor’s focus on the future, versus being stuck in the past?”

Richard Ferguson 11.40am: Shorten’s kitchen open

Bill Shorten is opening his campaign in the kitchen of a voter’s family home in Mitcham, in the marginal Liberal electorate of Deakin, with candidate Shireen Morris.

It’s a mum, a dad, two kids and a very cute dog. One of the parents works in retail, and they are discussing penalty rates and low wages after Tanya Plibersek kicked it all off with a chat about cupcakes..

Mr Shorten will address the media in their backyard in his first election press conference.

If there is any doubt about it, we are now in a federal election.

Richard Ferguson 11.35am: Chloe at Bill’s side

Any doubt Chloe Shorten will be front and centre of her husband Bill’s campaign shall be extinguished by this tweet from the Opposition Leader.

“Campaign essentials: United and experienced team (tick) Fair Go Action Plan (tick) Best friend at my side (tick)” Mr Shorten tweeted today.

Attached are a picture of Labor’s first couple hand-in-hand, gazing into each other’s eyes.

Greg Brown 10.55am: Poll decided ‘in Vic, Queensland’

Labor frontbencher Jim Chalmers says the election outcome will be decided in Victoria and Queensland, where Bill Shorten is eyeing a swag of seats.

“They’re crucial, absolutely crucial States. There’s no doubt about that. Queensland and Victoria will be key to the election outcome,” Mr Chalmers told ABC radio.

“But we’re contesting seats right around Australia. I think Western Australia is important too. There are opportunities in South Australia, right around the place. We have said that we want to govern for all Australians. The imperative is on us to campaign everywhere, and that’s what we’ll be doing.”

Greg Brown 10.50am: Chalmers denies negative gearing costings hole

Opposition finance spokesman Jim Chalmers has denied there will be a hole in Labor’s negative gearing costings, despite admitting there was a blowout in the number of investors who will negatively gear new properties under the policy.

Mr Chalmers said the policy was costed by the independent Parliamentary Budget Office.

“The Parliamentary Budget Office is independent. It has said that it stands by its costing. They relied on consultation with the Bureau of Stats, with the Reserve Bank of Australia, the major banks, and others,” Mr Chalmers said.

“And they adopted a considered assumption, which fed into the costing of our policy. We have a very robust costings process. We rely heavily on the independent Parliamentary Budget Office. But also, on a panel of eminent Australians to check that our costings and assumptions and methodology are correct.”

Mr Bowen revealed yesterday the latest PBO costing from March assumed that 22 per cent of new property investors would buy newly built homes and negatively gear them under the first year of the policy — a marked increase on the 12 per cent figure that underpinned the 2016 costing when Labor first unveiled its proposal.

Richard Ferguson 10.50am: Tanya’s ‘unity v chaos’ choice

Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek says the election is a choice between a “united” ALP team and a “chaotic” Coalition government.

“I agree with Scott Morrison when he says if you change the Government you change the country. I agree with him too when he says Australia has an enormous choice before it in coming weeks,” she said in Melbourne today.

“This is a choice between a Labor Party who has a plan for a fair go for all Australians and more years of cuts and chaos and divisions from the Liberals and The Nationals. \

“This is a choice between better hospitals and schools or bigger tax loopholes for the top end

of town.

“This is a choice between a team under Bill Shorten’s leadership that has been united and disciplined, an experienced team that is focused on making life better for working Australians.

“Or under Scott Morrison’s leadership, a team that is riven by chaos, confusion, dysfunction and division, with three Prime Ministers in six years

Ewin Hannan 10.35am: Unions campaign in 28 seats

ACTU rally in front of Parliament House, Perth. Unions will campaign for Labor in 28 seats across the country.Picture: Colin Murty.
ACTU rally in front of Parliament House, Perth. Unions will campaign for Labor in 28 seats across the country.Picture: Colin Murty.

Unions will campaign for federal Labor in 28 seats across the nation, with ACTU secretary, Sally McManus, declaring the Morrison government an “unmitigated disaster” for workers.

“We will be campaigning to change the rules in communities across the country, working people are hitting the streets in record numbers,’’ Ms McManus said today.

“This election is about a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to turn around our country and restore fairness.”

Labor has promised a raft of policies that will benefit unions and workers including the reversal of penalty rate cuts, multi-employer bargaining, a “living wage” for low-paid workers, changes to labour hire and casual employment, the winding back of employer bargaining power, and the scrapping of the Australian Building and Construction Commission and the Registered Organisations Commission.

Unions are expected to spend millions of dollars in a bid to get Labor elected, with Victorian unions alone spending $1 million trying to wrest seven Liberal-held seats in the state from the Coalition.

Bill Shorten is today launching his election campaign in Deakin, one of the seats targeted by the unions which requires a swing of 6.44 per cent to change hands.

“This Government has been an unmitigated disaster for working people,’’ Ms McManus said. “We are facing record inequality, record low wage growth and more than half of working people don’t have a secure job.”

Richard Ferguson 10.30am: Shorten kicks off in Mitcham

Bill Shorten is set to open his electoral pitch on Liberal territory this morning in Melbourne.

The Opposition Leader will be up at 11:30am in Mitcham, in the marginal seat of Deakin.

Liberal MP Michael Sukkar holds the seat on a margin of 6.4 per cent - a slim but sturdy margin that Labor believes it can bite into as part of a big swing against the government in Victoria.

Mr Shorten will appear with his deputy leader Tanya Plibersek and Labor candidate for Deakin Shireen Morris.

Richard Ferguson 10.25am: Horoscopes weirdly prescient

Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten will both celebrate their birthdays (only a day apart) during this federal election campaign.

The Prime Minister will turn 51 on May 13, and the Opposition Leader will turn 52 on May 12.

Here is The Weekend Australian’s Mystic Medusa’s horoscopes for these two political Tauruses: “Sun-Pluto tensions intensify control dramas and Grudge Flashpoints. You burn through cash, cortisol or whatever patience you had with time or energy vampires. Calculate your numbers and mount a coup against mediocrity. The casualties? Beliefs, assumptions, and strategies that haven’t been working anyway.”

What could it all mean?

Bill Shorten and Scott Morrison are both Taurus.
Bill Shorten and Scott Morrison are both Taurus.

Rosie Lewis 10.15am: One week to enrol

Australians have just one week to enrol to vote, with rolls closing on April 18, according to the Electoral Commission.

Greg Brown 10.07am: Dutton lashes Shorten

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has lashed Bill Shorten for preventing Queensland Labor MPs and candidates from talking about the proposed Adani coal mine.

Mr Dutton said the mine would be good for regional Queensland and criticised Labor’s Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole for not doing more to advocate for the project.

“We don’t open schools in Brisbane, we don’t pay the wages of staff at our hospitals in Queensland without the royalties in mining,” Mr Dutton told 2GB radio.

“And if Bill Shorten is telling the labor candidate in Herbert that she can’t mention the name Carmichael or mining or that she supports the workers in the Galilee Basin then what is she doing in the parliament? Queensland needs people that will fight for their local electorates.

“Mackay has been in a slump, house prices are down, engineering firms have been closing but it is getting back on its feet.

“If you create 8000 jobs out of this mine you have got an opportunity not only for the royalties but for families to be able to put food on the table.”

Richard Ferguson 10.05am: Race on in Wentworth

The race is on in the blue-ribbon seat of Wentworth, which the Liberals believe they have a good chance of winning back from independent MP Kerryn Phelps.

Former Australian ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma was already on the hustings this morning to regain the seat formerly held by Malcolm Turnbull.

“And we are off! Spent first morning of campaign talking to voters at bus stop in Double Bay,” Mr Sharma tweeted.

“They face a clear choice at this election about what sort of government they want in Canberra.”

Dr Phelps holds the seat after last year’s Wentworth by-election, after Mr Sharma suffered a more than 19 per cent swing against the Liberals following the dumping of Mr Turnbull from the prime ministership.

Richard Ferguson 9.55am: ‘Don’t believe polls’

Nationals leader Michael McCormack launches his election campaign by saying the Coalition will win despite being behind in more than 50 Newspolls.

“If you believe in opinion polls, Will Hodgman wouldn’t be Premier of Tasmania, and you wouldn’t have John Alexander still continuing to represent Bennelong and he’s doing an outstanding job there.

“You probably wouldn’t have Donald Trump in the White House and England and the UK would still be in the European Union. That’s opinion polls for you.”

Richard Ferguson 9.45am: Dutton dismisses “obvious” Turnbull

Peter Dutton in the House of Representatives. Picture: AAP.
Peter Dutton in the House of Representatives. Picture: AAP.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has dismissed an attack from his former leadership rival Malcolm Turnbull over a private lunch he had with Chinese Communist Party-linked billionaire Huang Xiangmo.

“It’s all in the past now, and all of the focus is on the election,” he told Sydney’s 2GB radio.

“The motivations for the comments were obvious ... the side games, dismiss them and move on.”

Mr Turnbull himself met with Mr Huang several times when he was prime minister.

Richard Ferguson 9.40am: ‘Insult to Townsville'

Resources Minister Matt Canavan is campaigning in the key Queensland seat of Herbert and going on the attack over Labor HQ’s gagging of Labor MPs, stopping them from talking about the Adani mine.

“I am concerned that the current Member of Parliament for Herbert (Labor’s Cathy O’Toole) does not stand up for Townsville, does not fight for this region,” he said in Townsville today.

“Evidence today very clearly by the fact that Cathy O’Toole is refusing to answer questions about the Adani mine from journalists.

“Ms O’Toole hung up from a conversation about Adani with The Australian.

“It is one of the most important issues for Townsville and the local member is refusing to even speak about it. It’s an insult to the people of Townsville.”

Ms O’Toole only holds Herbert on a margin of 0.03 per cent, and it is considered the Coalition’s best chance to take a seat from Labor next month.

Richard Ferguson 9.05am: Husar says goodbye

Labor MP Emma Husar has farewelled her constituents, and appears to have finally ruled out an independent run in her ultra-marginal seat of Lindsay.

Ms Husar was forced out by the Labor Party after a series of bullying allegations against her, which has denied and is now suing youth news website Buzzfeed over.

“Thank you #lindsay it’s been a great three years,” she tweeted today.

“I appreciate all your support and acts of kindness ... I remain a proud member of the community.”

Ms Husar will be succeeded by former NSW Labor minister Diane Beamer as Bill Shorten’s candidate in the 1.1 per cent marginal Western Sydney seat.

It was not clear if Ms Husar would run again, as she had voiced her anger at the NSW Labor machine several times since she was ousted.

The Liberals believe it is their best chance of picking up a seat in NSW and could be key to Scott Morrison winning a surprise election victory.

John Ferguson 8.55am: Libs pessimistic over Victoria

It is too early to make definitive calls on what Victorian Liberal seats will fall for the Liberals, but there is deep pessimism.

One new seat to be mentioned as at risk is the outer eastern seat of Menzies, held by Kevin Andrews with a margin of 7.8 per cent. This would bring to about eight seats the Libs are worried about.

The best guess is that not all these seats will fall.

The Libs are talking about a best-case scenario of losing a net two to three seats.

This would include regaining the country seat of Indi.

Labor believes they can win about five Coalition seats in Victoria.

Scott Morrison talks to reporters at Parliament House. Picture: Gary Ramage.
Scott Morrison talks to reporters at Parliament House. Picture: Gary Ramage.

John Ferguson 8.47am: Shorten kicks off in Victoria

Bill Shorten is set to start his campaign in Victoria, where some Liberals fear the government will face a rout.

The biggest anti government swings have been recorded in inner city seats.

But Labor is hopeful of picking up several seats in the east and south east of Melbourne.

Shorten’s choice of where he holds his first formal press conference will be instructive.

Greg Brown 8.45am: Sportsbet has Labor as favourite

Sportsbet has Labor as a short $1.16 favourite to win the election, with the betting company paying out $4.85 if the Coalition wins.

Labor is favourite in 91 out of 151 seats, with the Coalition tipped to win 51. The odds favour minor parties and independents to win six seats.

“There has been a flood of cash on the Coalition since the budget was delivered last Tuesday, but given the discrepancy in predicted seats, it is just a drop in ocean. The Coalition are going to need a power higher than just punters if they are to stand any chance come May 18, ’’ said sportsbet.com.au’s Rich Hummerston.

Greg Brown 8.37am: ‘Ready for government’

Bill Shorten says he is “ready for the election”, declaring the poll was a choice between better healthcare and cuts to services.

“We are ready for the election, we are ready for government,” the Opposition Leader told Nine Network outside his home in Melbourne this morning.

“I have got a more united and experienced team. The election will be a choice between more cuts and better healthcare for your family.”

He added he was ready to deliver a “fair go” for Australia.

Richard Ferguson 8.36am: G-G prorogues parliament

Governor General Peter Cosgrove has progued the 45th Parliament and will dissolve it on April 11.

“I, General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting under section 5 of the Constitution prorogue the Parliament from 8.29 on 11 April 2019 until Saturday, 18 May 2019 and dissolve the House of Representatives at 8.30am on 11 April 2019,” he has written.

Rosie Lewis 8.35am: Senate estimates cancelled

Senate estimates have been cancelled in the wake of Scott Morrison’s announcement of the poll date. Scott Ryan tweeted this morning: “I have been advised that his Excellency the Governor-General has prorogued the Parliament at 8:29am today, in advance of an election for the House of Representatives, half the Senate and senators for the Territories, to be held on Saturday 18 May

“The effect of this is that the remaining program of Budget Estimates hearings before Senate Committees previously set by the Senate has been swept away, along with other business on the Senate Notice Paper. ”

Richard Ferguson 8.20am: ‘Vote Labor, pay for decade’

Scott Morrison ends his first election press conference with a warning that “if you vote Labor, you pay for it for a decade.”

PM asks his "fellow Australians" to vote Liberal and Nationals

“I believe that we must win this election for the interests of our country,” he says in Canberra.

“The last time Labor was elected to form a Government back in 2007 they inherited a strong economy and they inherited budget surpluses.

“In the space of one year they turned a $20bn surplus into a $27bn deficit. They turned strong borders into weak borders. And we have spent the last more than 10 years getting back to where we were.

“You vote Labor once, you pay for it for a decade.”

Scott Morrison announces the election at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture:Gary Ramage
Scott Morrison announces the election at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture:Gary Ramage

Richard Ferguson 8.18am: ‘You’ll get me’

Scott Morrison promises he will remain prime minister for the next term despite Australians voting for the Coalition twice, and ending up with different leaders.

“That’s why after I became Prime Minister we changed the rules in the Liberal Party, as you know. It was the biggest change to the Liberal Party’s rules since Sir Robert Menzies founded our parliamentary party here,” he says in Canberra.

“Those rules say that at the next election on May 18, if the Liberal-National Government is returned, if I’m re-elected as Prime Minister, then I will serve as Prime Minister because the rules have been changed to prevent the things that have happened in the past.

“The same is true of the Labor Party - they changed their rules as well. So it is crystal clear, at this election, it is a choice between me as Prime Minister and Bill Shorten as Prime Minister.

“You vote for me, you’ll get me. You vote for Bill Shorten and you’ll get Bill Shorten.”

Richard Ferguson 8.15am: Poll ‘about the future’

Scott Morrison speaks to reporters at Parliament House. Picture: Gary Ramage.
Scott Morrison speaks to reporters at Parliament House. Picture: Gary Ramage.

Scott Morrison says the election is about “the future” when asked why voters would chose an “unstable” government which has churned through three prime ministers since it came to power in 2013.

“It is a decision people can make about the future because of the record of economic management that our Government has delivered,” he says in Canberra.

“The record of national security and strong border protection that our Government has delivered. The record of getting unemployment down, of getting young people into kids, of delivering record funding for hospitals and schools.

“So the choice to be made by Australians on 18 May is like it always is at every election, and that is, who do you trust to deliver that strong economy?”

Richard Ferguson 8.12am: ‘Not time to turn back’

Scott Morrison says “now is not the time to turn back” to the Labor Party considering the economic successes of his government.

“It’s a choice between a government that I lead and the alternative of a Labor Government led by Bill Shorten,” he says in Canberra.

“You will have the choice between the Government that is delivering a strong economy and will continue to do so, or Bill Shorten’s Labor Party, whose policies would weaken our economy.

“You will get to decide between a Government that has fixed the budget or Bill Shorten’s Labor Party that we always know can’t manage money.

“You will have a choice between a Government that is lowering taxes, for all Australians, or Bill Shorten’s Labor Party that will impose higher taxes that will weigh down our economy.

“It’s taken us more than five years to turn around Labor’s budget mess. Now is not the time to turn back.”

Richard Ferguson 8.06am: PM calls May 18 poll

Scott Morrison announces the federal election will be held on May 18 and says this poll will determine Australia’s future for the next decade.

“We live in the best country in the world. But to secure your future, the road ahead depends on a strong economy,” he says in Canberra.

“And that’s why there is so much at stake at this election.

“We are delivering the first budget surplus in more than a decade. Unemployment is at decade lows. And last year, for the first time in our history, more than 100,000 young Australians got a job.

“With a stronger economy we will create another 1.25 million jobs over the next five years.

“At this election there is a clear choice. It is a choice that will determine the economy that Australians live in, not just for the next three years but for the next decade.”

Jessica Cortis 8.05am: ‘We’re ready’

While Scott Morrison prepared to officially announce the federal election, Labor Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was out on his morning run.

“We’re ready for the election. We’re ready for government. I’ve got a more united and experienced team,” he told a Channel 9 reporter who stopped him mid run.

“This election will be a choice. It will be a choice about more cuts, or better healthcare for your family.”

“ I’ve got to get a run in. Can’t let anything get in the way of that. And then on to the election after that,” Mr Shorten said before continuing his morning exercise.

Jared Owens 7.35am: Shorten MPs gagged over Adani

Herbert MP Cathy O'Toole was accused of ‘running scared’ after pulling out of an interview with The Australian. Picture: Zak Simmonds
Herbert MP Cathy O'Toole was accused of ‘running scared’ after pulling out of an interview with The Australian. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Bill Shorten’s Queensland MPs and candidates have been gagged by Labor headquarters from speaking about Adani’s coalmine.

A day after the Carmichael project cleared all federal approvals to begin construction, the state ALP government ramped up its attacks on the Morrison government’s “chaotic” process and encouraged its bureaucrats to take their time before backing their federal counterparts. Queensland Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said this could involve seeking new independent environmental advice, reversing the government’s previous commitment to consider only the study by the CSIRO and Geoscience Australia that was commissioned by Canberra.

To read the article in full, click here.

Peter van Onselen 7.20am: GDP pledges gone with wind

In his first National Press Club ­address as opposition Treasury spokesman, following the 2013 ­defeat of the Rudd government, Chris Bowen proposed a challenge for the new Coalition government: “keep taxation as a percentage of GDP, on average, below the Howard/Rudd/Gillard benchmark of 23.7 per cent”.

To read the article in full, click here.

Simon Benson 7.15am: Coalition eyes 10 winnable seats

Coalition strategists are focusing on a hit list of up to 10 seats it could win to pull off an against-the-odds ­victory.

The move to bring on the ­campaign came as Labor’s signature tax policy to slash negative gearing began to unravel, with opposition ­Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen admitting yesterday to a blowout in the number of investors likely to claim the tax break.

To read the article in full, click here.

Scott Morrison leaves Government House after meeting with Governor General Peter Cosgrove. Picture: AAP.
Scott Morrison leaves Government House after meeting with Governor General Peter Cosgrove. Picture: AAP.

Richard Ferguson 7.10am: PM set for 8am announcement

Scott Morrison’s meeting with Governor General Peter Cosgrove has now concluded.

He is now heading to Parliament House and will address the media, and the Australian people, at 8am.

Richard Ferguson 7.00am: ‘Time for a fair go’

Bill Shorten says it is “time for a fair go” as he launches his campaign on Twitter today.

The Opposition Leader has responded to Scott Morrison’s visit to the Governor General by sharing his first advert, revealed by the Australian this week, on social media.

“Time to deliver a fair go for Australia,” he has tweeted.

Mr Shorten will be campaigning in Melbourne today where he hopes a backlash against the Liberals in key seats will sweep him into power.

It is expected both Mr Shorten and the Prime Minister will spend a lot of time in Victoria over the next five weeks.

Richard Ferguson 6.55am: PM arrives at Government House

Scott Morrison has arrived at Government House to meet with Governor General Peter Cosgrove.

It is not expected the meeting will last long.

The Prime Minister is then likely to front the media and start his official campaign to keep the Coalition in power for a third term.

Scott Morrison arrives at Government House to speak to the Governor General. Picture Gary Ramage.
Scott Morrison arrives at Government House to speak to the Governor General. Picture Gary Ramage.

Richard Ferguson 6.47am: PM leaves The Lodge

Scott Morrison has left The Lodge and is now headed to Government House in Yarralumla.

It is expected he will ask Governor General Peter Cosgrove to call an election for May 18.

It is a five-minute drive to the Governor General’s official residence. We expect to hear from the Prime Minister shortly after his meeting with Sir Peter.

Richard Ferguson 6.10am: PM to leave Lodge at 6.50am

Scott Morrison will leave The Lodge in just under an hour’s time for a cup of tea with Sir Peter Cosgrove.

The Prime Minister will depart for the Governor-General’s official residence in Yarralumla at 6.50am.

Mr Morrison will then start in earnest to campaign for the biggest comeback in Australian political history, with the government set to target 10 key seats to remain in office.

Meanwhile, Bill Shorten will spend his day in Melbourne where he hopes big swings to Labor in up to seven electorates will help to deliver him power.

Scott Morrison and his family on their campaign video. Picture; Twitter.
Scott Morrison and his family on their campaign video. Picture; Twitter.

What’s making news:

Scott Morrison is expected to call an election today, with Coalition strategists focusing on a hit list of up to 10 seats it could win to pull off an against-the-odds victory.

On the eve of the election ­campaign, Labor’s numbers man, Chris Bowen, has developed a problem with negative numbers — negative gearing numbers that is.

Bill Shorten’s Queensland MPs and candidates have been gagged by Labor headquarters from speaking about Adani’s coalmine.

Bill Shorten’s plan for electric vehicles to make up 50 per cent of new car sales would strip more than $10 billion from the federal budget in lost fuel excise by the time the target was reached, putting pressure on an incoming Labor government to charge EV owners for the kilometres they drive.

Attorney-General Christian Porter has accused Bill Shorten of being a hypocrite after the Labor leader blasted a Coalition cabinet minister for meeting with Huang Xiangmo, despite leaked photos showing him at the wedding of the Chinese billionaire’s daughter.

Bill Shorten has launched an attack on the Coalition’s policy on family reunion visas in an ad targeting Chinese-Australian voters released this week on social media platform WeChat.

Labor’s decision to prioritise fee relief for cancer patients is a departure from its previous policies on out-of-pocket expenses, with a former adviser to Julia Gillard expressing concern the policy will open up a “can of worms with lots of unintended consequences”.

First-term Liberal MP Nicolle Flint is fighting to retain her marginal electorate of Boothby, with senior Labor figures, unions and left-wing activist group GetUp descending on the suburban Adelaide seat.

The Business Council of Australia has sounded an alarm that yet another election will pass without any serious commitment to economic reform, and warning against the rise of an anti-business agenda.

Niki Savva writes: For the first time since late last winter the mixture of sheer dread and wishful thinking that gripped the Coalition has been replaced by genuine hope that the election is winnable.

Peter van Onselen writes: Yesterday, Chris Bowen seemed to lose all interest in the 23.7 per cent tax cap.

More Coverage

No-fuss campaign start
Caroline Overington
Read related topics:Bill ShortenScott Morrison

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/politicsnow-scott-morrison-set-to-announce-election-date/news-story/18070c44b0f1f886064c739849217a4e