| No images? Click here Quote to note“The stigma associated with UAPs has gotten in the way of good intelligence analysis … pilots avoided reporting or were laughed at when they did.” For the first time in more than 50 years, the US Congress has held a public hearing into UFOs… or "unexplained aerial phenomena", as they like to call them. Chairman of the House Intelligence Subcommittee Andre Carson says the hearing is meant to bring all the sightings "out of the shadows" because the military can’t account for many of them. The truth, the US Congress thinks, is out there… Making news this morning1. The blitz is on… PM Scott Morrison will hit up 10 seats in the next 2 days travelling from Tasmania-Sydney-WA today. And Labor’s Anthony Albanese is planning a 5-state blitz of 20 marginal seats starting in Sydney and heading to Queensland this afternoon (PW). 2. What will they be talking about? Managing cost of living pressures, most likely… With inflation at 5.1%, yesterday’s figures revealing a 2.7% fall in real wages over the year, and today’s employment figures, there’s plenty to talk about (PW). 3. The Fair Work Commission could implement a 2-tiered minimum wage scheme. Higher pay rises would go to the lowest-paid, with moderate increases for higher-paid workers, avoiding a wage-price spike (PW). 4. A survey in the Sydney Morning Herald/Age says 67% of voters support an increase in the minimum wage. And of uncommitted voters, 34% like the sound of a 5.1% increase (aka the inflation rate), while 23% support a smaller increase. 5. PM Morrison checked in on his trip victim Luca last night and said “he was in good form”. The under-8s Devonport Strikers Football Club added: “The latest star of the election is OK and looking forward to being the star of the show at school tomorrow.” Going deeper: The final pitches sharpen with the campaign clock tickingIn this final campaign week, you might have noticed that PM Scott Morrison has spent a heck of a lot of time with new houses as his campaign backdrop. In contrast, Labor leader Anthony Albanese has stepped up to a few more big set pieces – like a business breakfast in WA and yesterday’s National Press Club address. ● Albanese has been spruiking his readiness for the office of PM, saying one of the first things he’ll do is host an employment summit bringing business, employer groups and unions to the table to increase both profits and wages. ● He’s also rubbished the idea Morrison can change. “He’s been the devil you know. He’s been a bulldozer,” he said yesterday. ● But Morrison says his “bulldozer” approach has “served Australia extremely well” during a tough couple of years. He’s been targeting aspirational voters in suburban seats with his policy to allow early access to super for a house deposit. Morrison says it’s all about “young families coming, setting up, moving here, building their homes”. What it means: The leaders’ messaging becomes more important in these last couple of days. Remember, the election blackout period started at midnight, so that means no political ads on TV or radio from now until polling day. What’s next: Labor has its costings announcement today… And you can bet the Libs will keep featuring housing backdrops across the country. Red book… blue book… Bureaucrats prepare for the next government Regardless of who wins, a pretty orderly set of transition arrangements will kick in come Sunday morning – or later if it’s too close to call. If the Coalition is re-elected, it’s obviously a bit more BAU, but if there’s a change… Anthony Albanese can expect the whole machinery of Government will grind (PW) to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible. ● Since the beginning of the campaign, public servants have been in ‘caretaker mode’, and the Coalition has not made any major policy decisions or key appointments that could bind a future government. ● Bureaucrats use this period to prepare briefs for the incoming government. The Coalition gets a “blue book”, Labor a “red book.” They are meant to be frank and comprehensive so the incoming minister can get across all the issues in their portfolio. If your side doesn’t win, that book never sees the light of day… What does it mean: Albanese says he and Penny Wong would get sworn in as early as Sunday (PW) – aka before the Labor caucus meets to confirm their appointments – so they can go to The Quad leaders’ meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday. Morrison says Albanese’s getting “a bit ahead of himself”. What’s next: If the election result isn’t clear on Saturday night, Morrison remains PM until a new leader (who can command majority support in the House of Reps) is sworn in by the G-G. Tightening polls aren’t really surprising anyone The latest opinion polls have this election race much tighter than the 54/46 or 55/45 2-party lead Labor was sitting on at the beginning of the campaign. Both the SMH/Age Resolve and Essential Polls have the parties separated now by just a couple of points, with Labor still leading in both. ● Both parties would still be concerned about their low primary vote. Resolve has Labor down to 31%(-3) and the Coalition at 34% (+1). Last election, Labor lost on a primary of 33%, and the Libs won with 41%. ● Sportsbet still has the shortest odds on an Albanese victory at $1.50 – and $2.70 on Morrison. The betting agency lost big in 2019 when it paid out early on a Bill Shorten victory. What does it mean: Labor’s Jim Chalmers says they always thought it would be “incredibly tight.” The PM’s hoping for a repeat of 2019 when polls and commentators had written him off: “I remember what everyone was saying…” he told the AFR (PW). What’s next: If you haven’t already voted… It’s time to pick a polling station and decide on your election night snacks/drinks. Quick shotsLabor says it has identified $750 million in savings by cutting the Coalition’s spending promises. Albanese made the announcement ahead of Labor releasing its election policy costings today – Morrison again accused his opponent of “getting a bit ahead of himself”. Simon Holmes a Court is suing The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail and is considering suing Liberal MP Dave Sharma. On Tuesday, the Climate200 founder tweeted that John Howard was an “angel of death” on climate change, leading to accusations he was comparing the former PM to Nazi physician Josef Mengele. Queensland LNP Senator Amanda Stoker has spent more on Facebook ads than other incumbent politicians. Stoker has spent $42,000 in the past week compared to North Sydney Liberal Trent Zimmerman on $21,000, according to the Financial Review (PW). A former Liberal senator who sits on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal is being counselled for displaying campaign signs for Josh Frydenberg. Karen Synon has a large billboard backing Frydenberg outside her Kew home. An unnamed Conservative MP in the UK has been accused of rape and sexual assault – he was arrested on Tuesday over allegations from 2002-09. They will not attend Parliament while police carry out an investigation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 1,029 points overnight (3.2%) – one of its biggest losses since mid-2020. Investors hit the sell button after quarterly reports from Target and Walmart stoked fears of the impact of rising inflation. Ten per cent of the 5,940 Australians officially registered as COVID-19 deaths died of other causes (PW). An analysis of death certificates by the Bureau of Statistics released yesterday found not every death was caused by the disease. Post of the day Crikey! Add this to the Australian Prime Ministers’ Sporting Hall of Infamy… Scott Morrison accidentally shoulder-charged a young lad during a soccer game in Tassie. This one will probably get played for decades along with Bob Hawke getting hit in the eye with a cricket ball and John Howard’s dud bowling effort in Pakistan… What’s on todayPrime Minister Scott Morrison starts the day in northern Tassie Labor leader Anthony Albanese is 11.30am – The ABS releases the latest employment data with April’s result Labor to release its federal election policy costings *All times in AEST unless noted Today’s quote for the subject line is courtesy of Tenley Albright, a champion ice-skater and surgeon. |
