No images? Click here Quote to note“Every boy in this country in secondary school should have access to a rifle and know how to use it, and the reason for that is the Ukraine." Said Bob Katter last night during the Paul Murray Live Pub Test on Sky News. The Member for Kennedy in Far North Queensland also called on the government to build a “missile fortress wall” to defend Australia. His concern: the growing threat posed by China. Making news this morning1. The major parties won’t do deals with minor parties and independents to form a government if there’s a hung parliament. PM Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese yesterday said they want to form government in their own right. 2. That’s fine, according to the minor party leaders, because they may not want to do deals either. During last night’s Sky News forum, Clive Palmer said the Coalition’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 has put him off supporting Team Morrison (PW). 3. The Solomon Islands and China have signed a new security deal that will see the Chinese military in our region more often. The Australian Government is "deeply disappointed". 4. Katherine Deves will not be dumped as the Liberals’ candidate in Warringah, Morrison says. The Sydney Morning Herald has editorialised against her candidacy this morning. 5. And the Coalition is proposing new industrial relations changes (PW). Upping fines for serial law breaches in the construction industry and legislating greenfield workplace agreements are policies that are on the table. Going deeper: Prepare for the scareAged pensioners are going to need to be alert to political parties using them as fodder again this election campaign. PM Scott Morrison says Labor is pedalling the “despicable lie” that the Coalition will force pensioners onto the cashless welfare card. The claim seems to be biting because the Council on the Ageing says it’s scaring older Australians. ● This Labor attack line got a head of steam after comments by Minister Anne Ruston back in 2020, but she ruled out ever moving aged pensioners onto the card in October last year. ● Labor MPs have continued to circulate the claim – even paying for Facebook ads – which were viewed more than 400,000 times last year. ● The card’s been used mainly in Indigenous communities to try to reduce alcohol-related harm but putting 80% of someone’s welfare payment on a card that can’t be used to gamble, purchase grog or withdraw cash. What it means: Labor is doubling down on the claim, and Morrison got pretty angry at Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers – he called him "Sneaky Jim" yesterday – for continuing to press the issue. Need to know: Labor partially blames its 2019 election loss on false Coalition claims it would introduce a ‘death tax’, so no one is squeaky clean in this. Head-to-head in a Leaders Debate – but will anyone be watching?Grab the popcorn if it’s your thing because tonight is the night Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese go head-to-head for the first time in this campaign. There are usually 2-3 debates each election – but party officials hotly debate all the details – including location, host, format and even the height of lecterns. ● Televised debates have been a thing since the 80s in Australia, but fewer people are watching. Just 21% of Australians reported watching a debate in 2016, down from 71% in 1993. ● ‘The worm’ (aka a live audience sentiment tracker) has been a feature of several election debates and gave wins to Kim Beazley over John Howard in 1998 and Mark Latham over Howard in 2004, proving you can win the worm but lose the election. What it means: Debates can be risky and are *usually* more attractive to the candidate that needs to make up ground in a campaign. This time around, it’s contestable if that’s Morrison or Albanese. What’s next: No word yet on a 2nd or a 3rd debate. Tonight’s debate will be live from Brisbane on Sky from 7pm, with the leaders taking questions from 100 undecided voters in the News Corp produced People’s Forum. The Liberal candidate at the centre of an almighty campaign brawl A week or so ago, the PM’s hand-picked candidate for Warringah was not a well-known name. Katherine Deves co-founded an organisation to keep trans-athletes out of women’s sport – but it’s her broader views (found by journos looking through her social media accounts) on trans-gender kids and gay rights issues turning some in the party against her. ● The NSW Treasurer Matt Kean – a leading Liberal moderate – is continuing to call for her to be disendorsed, saying she threatens the chances of neighbouring Liberals Trent Zimmerman (North Sydney) and Dave Sharma (Wentworth). ● Former PM/Member for Warringah Tony Abbott has backed her in. So has another Lodge alum, John Howard. Deves herself has emailed party members saying she’s been “bullied in the most vile way” and is “not going anywhere”. What does it mean: It’s Morrison’s call, and he was pretty strident yesterday backing her in. "I’m not going to allow her to be pushed aside as the pile on comes in to try and silence her," he said. What’s next: Tomorrow is the cut-off for candidates to register their nominations. While some moderate Liberals believe the risk of her keeping Deves is greater than any damage done by axing her – it looks like she is staying put. Quick shotsLabor will launch its campaign in Perth on 1 May. The West Australian says (PW) it will be the first time any party has launched its Federal campaign in the state. South Australia has a new opposition leader, with David Speirs (not the Insiders host…) replacing former premier Steven Marshall as leader of the Liberals. Former rival/deputy premier Vicki Chapman will quit politics (PW) at the end of May, forcing a by-election in her seat of Bragg. NSW and Victoria are changing a big COVID rule. Reports this morning say the 7-day isolation requirement for household contacts of people with the virus will be scrapped at the end of this week. Interest rates need to rise to prevent inflation from running away, according to the latest International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook. The war in Ukraine and the ongoing pandemic hangover will also see slower than expected economic growth. Australia has fallen from 35th to 52nd on the MIT Green Future Index. The US university report says Australia’s refusal to sign a pledge to end the use of coal puts us down with the "climate laggards". UK PM Boris Johnson has issued another apology to the Commons for breaching lockdown rules. He said in the moment, he didn’t think he was doing the wrong thing: "That was my mistake, and I apologise for it unreservedly." If you’re wondering what to buy our major party leaders if you run into them at the pub, wonder no more (PW). Morrison will have an Indian Pale Ale from Hairy Man Brewery, and Albanese wants The Albo from Willie the Boatman Brewery. Chart of the dayBack when Australians elected Bob Hawke in 1987, 72% of voters said they were rusted on to one party. That was down to 39% at the last election. So this chart paints a pretty good picture of why the major parties are so worried about Australians shifting their vote to independent candidates this time around…You can check out the ANU’s Election Study for all sorts of fun comparisons over the past few decades. What’s on todayPM Scott Morrison starts the day in Adelaide before heading to Brisbane Labor’s Anthony Albanese continues his stint in southeast Queensland And it’s PEFO day… The Treasury will release the Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Outlook via its website From 9.30am – Former Attorney-General Christian Porter is appealing against Jo Dyer after he was ordered to pay costs in the legal action she brought that saw him barred from using his chosen barrister on his defamation case – Sydney 10.00am – Labor spokesman for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles is in conversation with the Property Council’s Chief Executive Ken Morrison – virtual event 10.15am – Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka will open the airline’s invitation-only member lounge, Virgin Australia Beyond where you can expect to see a pollie or 2 in the future – Sydney domestic airport 7.00pm – PM Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese face off in the first leaders’ debate of the 2022 election – live from Brisbane on Sky News *All times in AEST unless noted |