Your morning Briefing: Shorten ignites unholy war on Morrison

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

Hello readers. Bill Shorten has ignited an unholy war over the PM’s faith, and Janet Albrechtsen on why the real top end of town is tinged Green.

BURNIE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 14: Prime Minister Scott Morrison campaigns at the Cam River Bridge May 14, 2019 at Somerset, 7km west of Burnie, Tasmania, Australia. The Australian federal election is May 18. (Photo by Mick Tsikas-Pool/Getty Images)

Unholy war

Scott Morrison has accused Bill Shorten of politicising the Prime Minister’s faith in the final days of the campaign. Dennis Shanahan suggests that this is about as low as political debate can get. Keep up with the latest from the campaign trail in our live blog, PoliticsNow.

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**UPSIZED** Zali Steggal and Dr Kerryn Phelps.

Which way will they lean?

Kerryn Phelps, Rob Oakeshott hedge their bets as other key independents reveal whether they’ll support Scott Morrison or Bill Shorten in event of hung parliament. And it has been revealed that Bill Shorten spoke to Liberal defector Julia ­Banks about running for Flinders instead of Chisholm.

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 14: Israel Folau in action during a Wallabies training session at NSWRL Centre of Excellence Field on August 14, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

End is nigh

As the agonising wait for judgment day approaches, Israel Folau has sent a cryptic message.

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Eric Lobbecke Op Ed Cartoon for 15-05-2019. Version: Ozoped Artwork (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.

Rich get richer, poor get the picture

Forget the baloney about the Liberals representing the top end of town, writes Janet Albrechtsen. There is a distinct green tinge to our rich and well-educated city slickers. And that is bad news for poor people.

“ Fully one-third of Australians in the cushiest socio-economic groups vote Greens. These smartypants voters with univer­sity educations imagine they are helping the poor ... but those who vote Greens are wrecking the chances of the poor to get rich.”

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Kudelka’s view

Jon Kudelka Letters Cartoon for 15-05-2019. 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.