From battle for The Bight, to an epic tax fight: 10 issues that will define the election

There are countless factors that will influence the outcome on Saturday, but here are just 10 that have stuck in the public’s mind the most.

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There are countless factors that will influence the outcome on Saturday, but here are just 10 that have stuck in the public’s mind the most.

1. Palmer drama

Who says you can’t buy an election result in Australia? The former Queensland mining magnate has dominated election spending across each and every form of advertising. And it seems to be working, with polling suggesting his preferences, to the Liberals, could play a significant role in seats across the country, including Sturt.

 

Clive Palmer has spent big on political advertising. Picture: William West / AFP

2. ScoMo versus Labor

The Prime Minster has had to run a presidential style campaign virtually on his own. He has campaigned admirably. Key ministers, like Christopher Pyne, Julie Bishop and Kelly O’Dwyer are leaving. Others, including Josh Frydenberg, Greg Hunt, Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott and Christian Porter fear they might. Bill Shorten has acknowledged he is not popular, described himself as the coach, and pushed his front bench forward including key South Australians Penny Wong, Mark Butler, Amanda Rishworth and Don Farrell.

 

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: AAP / Lukas Coch

3. Let’s talk about tax, baby

The Coalition’s election fortunes have hinged on its ability to sell the message that Shorten is “the Bill Australia can’t afford”. While negative gearing and capital gains have always threatened to be the Liberals’ Mediscare 2.0 it has instead been the “retiree tax” that has gained the most traction.

 

4. A big Bight of votes

Climate change, the River Murray and the Great Australian Bight have been big talking points during the election campaign. But how much impact the issues have will be revealed in the support of Labor (climate change), Centre Alliance (the Murray and The Bight) the Greens (all of the above) and the Libs (a last minute pledge on The Bight).

 

Australian Heath Joske joins others in Oslo Harbour to protest against oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight. Picture: Hallvard Kolltveit

5. How do you make road funding sexy?

Hats off to the Libs, who have made road upgrades sound more sexy by penning the term “congestion busting infrastructure” – or CBI to spin doctors in the Canberra Press Gallery. Linking roadworks to more time doing the things you love and less time stuck in your car was good politics that will play well in Adelaide.

 

Game of Throwin'. Cartoon: Jos Valdman

6. Downer of a campaign

The Liberals aim to unseat popular Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie by convincing voters a person in the tent, in the form of Georgina Downer, was much more effective than one outside, has appeared to have backfired.

 

"Winning Mayo" by cartoonist Jos Valdman

7. And then there were two

The first four Senate spots will go to the two majors. But the final two spots could give SA an above average say in the next Parliament’s Senate. Green Sarah Hanson-Young would be unlucky not to snag one, but she will be in a battle with Palmer’s candidate, Centre Alliance, One Nation and the Liberals.

 

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Picture: Liam Kidston

8. Buying a house will get easier with us, says everyone

Labor had a clear pitch to younger voters, while the Liberals stuck with the older demographic early on. But in the final week, ScoMo pulled a rabbit from his hat by turning his attention to housing affordability for young people. The policy was matched by Labor – refusing to let go of its king-of-the-kids mantle.

 

9. Cuts to everything … and Turnbull

One of the catchiest ads of the campaign came courtesy of Labor that argued “Nicolle Flint likes Dutton … and cutting”. The jury is out on whether the Turnbull line has worked.

 

10 The economy, stupid

If Labor fails, the focus will be on Shorten’s unpopularity and that the agenda was too big. But the main reason will be that Australians did not trust Labor to manage the economy.

Originally published as From battle for The Bight, to an epic tax fight: 10 issues that will define the election