| No images? Click here Quote to note“When someone like Hillary goes to The Met, it’s not just like: ‘There’s Hillary at The Met and she’s wearing a dress’.” It’s been more than 20 years since former US Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton walked the red carpet at The Met Gala. This year, Joseph Altuzarra had the *no pressure* job of crafting Clinton’s gown, which paid tribute to the women who inspired her. Sixty names were embroidered on the neckline and hem, including Rosa Parks, Lady Bird Johnson, and Clinton’s mother, Dorothy Rodham. Making news this morning1. PM Scott Morrison promises to back the creation of 400,000 new small businesses (PW). The Coalition says lowering overhead costs and energy bills for small operators will help create thousands of jobs. 2. Labor’s child care promises this election are on the scale of Medicare, universal superannuation, the NBN and the NDIS, according to Labor leader Anthony Albanese (PW). He’s addressing the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry today and will lay out the case for better child care as a driver of economic growth. 3. The Defence debate is on at the National Press Club today, and the Coalition’s Peter Dutton will announce a $2 billion investment to acquire more advanced missiles. He will also unveil a plan to pursue undersea warfare robots (PW). 4. A raft of analysts say the major parties must rein in spending or raise taxes to cool inflationary pressures (PW). Neither side has proposed significant reforms to deal with inflation or deep-rooted budget deficits. 5. The unions are being accused of seeking “excessive” wage increases that will “entrench inflation and leave the Reserve Bank with little choice but to put up interest rates”. The Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox says businesses will pass on increased labour costs to customers (PW). Going deeper: The battle of the money men centre stageGiven the economic news that has landed in this campaign (yep, we’re talking 5.1% inflation and Tuesday’s interest rate rise), it’s no wonder we’ve been seeing a lot of Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and his Labor counterpart Jim Chalmers. The pair went head to head at the National Press Club yesterday, and they were asked about everything from dog parks to funding the NDIS… ● Both were pressed about all their spending commitments, potentially fuelling further inflation and adding to pressure on interest rates. Note: the RBA says we are looking at inflation peaking at 6% and rates moving to 2.5%. ● Frydenberg quoted the RBA to defend the government’s cost of living relief measures – including a $250 handout to pensioners and a fuel excise cut – saying they won’t have a material impact on inflation. ● Neither Chalmers nor Frydenberg would name any significant programs they’d cut while also conceding Medicare, the NDIS, and aged care would cost a lot more over the next 10 years. What it means: Both are very disciplined campaigners, and neither rocked the boat. What’s next: Given rates and inflation are going higher … whoever has the PIN to the nation’s bank account after 21 May probably won’t be winning popularity contests. John Howard warns “cranky” Liberals not to vote teal North Sydney MP Trent Zimmerman is one of a handful of inner-city moderate Liberals facing a serious challenge from a ‘teal’ independent. This week, he wheeled out the Big Gun (in Liberal land, that’s John Howard) to launch his campaign, and it’s pretty clear from Howard’s comments the party is worried some previously safe seats are under threat. ● The former PM told the gathering if "anti-Liberal groupies" win even one seat, the Coalition won’t be able to form a government. He said it’s the wrong time for Libs cranky with Morrison to have a protest vote. ● In NSW, the Coalition’s worried about North Sydney (where the independent challenger is Kylea Tink) and Wentworth (where Allegra Spender is challenging Dave Sharma). In Victoria, both Kooyong (Josh Frydenberg) and Goldstein (Tim Wilson) could fall to high profile Teals. What it means: Former Queensland Labor campaign boss Cameron Milner reckons Labor has a “Teal Albo” strategy (PW). That entails a "safe change" approach with Labor just falling over the line, relying on the Greens/Teals to form a government. What’s next: Labor is starting with 69 seats and needs to pick up 7 for a majority. Milner reckons it can count on a net gain of 5 seats. All with a couple of weeks to go. The Kangaroo Court, buffoons, and a question of the national integrity commissionBack in 2018, Scott Morrison promised to set up a federal integrity commission. But his government’s draft bill got an ice-cold reception from legal experts when it was finally released last year. The PM says he wants to avoid replicating the Independent Commission Against Corruption in NSW because it acted like a “kangaroo court” that has “destroyed a lot of lives”. ● Outgoing ICAC Commissioner Stephen Rushton says those criticisms are made by “buffoons” trying to undermine the Commission. ● Morrison says ICAC sought to “publicly humiliate” former Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who resigned due to an investigation. ICAC also claimed the scalp of her predecessor Barry O’ Farrell. What does it mean: National Leader Barnaby Joyce says it’s not a big issue on the streets of Gladstone or Launceston. But it sure is for the Teal independents who say the party with the strongest model will get their vote *if* they hold the balance of power. What’s next: Labor’s promised to introduce a body with "teeth" 6 months after it’s elected. Note: Labor’s model would allow public hearings, unlike the Coalition’s. Morrison says he’s not compromising on the government’s draft bill. Quick shotsThe Coalition wants students to pass a literacy and numeracy exam before they can start a teaching degree. A re-elected Morrison Government would seek consensus from the states and territories to mandate the test with the goal of improving teaching standards (PW). Pauline Hanson’s One Nation believes in ghosts… The party has been accused of running candidates who have not been seen or heard of in the seats. The ABC is looking into candidates standing in NSW, Victoria and the ACT – it says some live in Tasmania and Queensland. The Teal candidate in the Victorian seat of outgoing Health Minister Greg Hunt has suspended her campaign because she might not be eligible to stand. Despi O’Connor is on leave without pay from the Victoria Education Department, which may disqualify her under Section 44 of the Constitution. The last televised election debate of the campaign won’t go to air until after 9pm. Seven is hosting the 3rd debate, but its current schedule has the ScoMo v Albo show running after Big Brother… Thousands of public school teachers have marched through the Sydney CBD as part of their strike action. It’s the second walkout in 6 months over wages and conditions, with most teachers saying their workloads aren’t sustainable. A demand from the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association to mandate nurse-to-patient ratios in NSW hospitals will be rejected – with bipartisan support. The state’s Labor opposition has sided with the Coalition Government to push back against the unions’ demands. And Labor’s Parramatta candidate will be expanding his dining-out repertoire… Former Rudd adviser Andrew Charlton has been pinged by the Daily Telegraph (PW) for only being able to name 2 eating venues in the electorate he has recently moved to. Map of the day The Roe v Wade shockwaves are rippling through America… This map shows the states that are ready to move to ban or restrict access to abortions if the Supreme Court overturns the landmark 1973 ruling guaranteeing women’s reproductive rights. What’s on todayPM Scott Morrison is campaigning in marginal seats in NSW Anthony Albanese is in Sydney and will address the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce is campaigning in Bowen and Ayr in Queensland 11.00am – One Nation is launching its Warringah campaign with former Labor leader Mark Latham doing the honours 12.00pm – Greens leader Adam Bandt and Senator Sarah Hanson-Young to launch NSW Senate candidate David Shoebridge’s campaign – Sydney 12.30pm – Defence Minister Peter Dutton and Shadow Defence Minister Brendan O’Connor debate defence policy at the National Press Club – Canberra 2.00pm – Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Kooyong Teal challenger Monique Ryan face off in a Sky News People’s Forum 8.30pm – Anthony Albanese is going solo on ABC TV’s Q&A ABS Data Releases – International Trade in Goods and Services, March; Building Approvals, March *All times in AEST unless noted And today’s quote for the subject line comes from coach Thomas Leonard. |
