Your morning Briefing: It’s game on as Morrison set to call May election

Your 2-minute digest of today’s top stories and must-reads.

Hello readers. It’s game on as the PM visits Yarralumla to call what is expected to be a May 18 election.

PM Scott Morrison leaves the lodge to head to government house in Canberra.Picture Kym Smith

ScoMo to call expected May 18 poll

Scott Morrison’s meeting with Governor General Peter Cosgrove has concluded and he is now heading to Parliament House and will address the media, and the Australian people, at 8am to announce what is expected to be a May 18 election. Coalition strategists are focusing on a hit list of up to 10 seats it could win to pull off an against-the-odds ­victory. Bill Shorten has launched his campaign on Twitter, saying “it’s time for a fair go”. Keep up with all the latest as events unfold in our live blog, PoliticsNow.

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Australian shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen delivers his speech to the National Press Club in Canberra, Wednesday, April 10, 2019.(AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

Labor’s home policy on shaky foundations

With election looming, Labor’s numbers man Chris Bowen has developed a problem with negative gearing numbers, writes Dennis Shanahan.

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Member for Herbert Cathy O'Toole addresses the media as federal labor announced investment into Townsville community safety. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Shorten MPs gagged over Adani

Bill Shorten’s Queensland MPs and candidates have been gagged from speaking about the Adani mine.

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Police move in on animal rights protesters who had blocked the intersections of Flinders and Swanston Street, in Melbourne, Monday, April 8, 2019. Animal rights protesters are slowly being arrested and dragged into police vans after blocking a major Melbourne CBD intersection. (AAP Image/Ellen Smith) NO ARCHIVING

Hope springs eternal

Government MPs are daring to dream of victory, but Scott Morrison’s team needs everything to go right, according to Niki Savva.

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Qantas Wallabies appearance at ASICS Harajuku flagship store, Tokyo, ahead of the third Bledisloe Cup Test Match at Nissan Stadium, Yokohama. Israel Folau. Photo: Stuart Walmsley/Rugby AU Media

‘Hell awaits you’

Rugby Australia is in damage control after Israel Folau made fresh homophobic comments on social media.

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Kudelka’s view

Jon Kudelka Letters Cartoon for 11-04-2019. Version: Letters Cartoon (1280x720 - Aspect ratio preserved, Canvas added)COPYRIGHT: The Australian's artists each have different copyright agreements in place regarding re-use of their work in other publications.Please seek advice from the artists themselves or the Managing Editor of The Australian regarding re-use.