Labor government turns back first boat
The Australian people have spoken and we have a new government with Anthony Albanese sworn in as the 31st Prime Minister. Have your say on the key issues and developments, but please, keep it nice.
24 May: First boat turn-back under new government
Looking to boost its border security credentials, the Albanese Labor government today confirmed the Australian Border Force (ABF) had completed its first successful boat turn-back.
It's understood there were 15 people aboard the vessel, which was intercepted near Christmas Island.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said the turn-back was proof Labor is taking border security seriously.
"I think it’s important to say upfront, what this shows is that there is absolutely no change in terms of Australia’s border settings," Mr Marles told Sky News.
"That was always our policy. It’s been our position since 2015. So, it was very clear in my mind that we were exactly what we would do when faced with this situation.
"And people smugglers should know that very clearly. There will be no change with this government."
Do you believe the new Labour government will as tough on illegal immigration as the previous government? Or is this just for show?
Liberals call in the big guns in Kooyong
There has been much speculation that federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg might lose his blue-ribbon seat of Kooyong in Melbourne. Polling shows he is trailing his nearest rival, independent Dr Monique Ryan. It seems the party is worried too, as it rolled out the big guns in Kooyong on Tuesday. Former Prime Minister John Howard walked the streets of Kooyong with Mr Frydenberg aiming to drum up support for the beleaguered candidate."I think he'll win," Mr Howard told reporters."He is a sensible politician, he never takes anything for granted. "I think this is a tight election. The important thing is that the serious people take politics seriously and Josh Frydenberg takes it seriously. "He's been a terrific treasurer, and he masterminded this terrific economic recovery by Australia."Scott Morrison says he will change his ways if re-elected
The current PM admits he's been “a bit of a bulldozer” during his term and that he would show Australians some of his “other gears” if re-elected.“It's very important to be listening to Australians and I have done that all across my political career," he said. "And, you know, over the last three years and particularly the last two what Australians have needed from me going through this pandemic has been strength and resilience,” he said.“Now, I admit that hasn't enabled Australians to see a lot of other gears in the way I work. And I know Australians know that I can be a bit of a bulldozer when it comes to issues and I suspect you guys know that too.“As we go into this next period on the other side of this election, I know there are things that are going to have to change with the way I do things. Because we are moving into a different time.”Do you think the PM needs to change his ways? Or are you happy with his leadership style? Is this 'admission' enough to bring fence-sitters over to his side?Surprise results from early voting
With early voting now open, the Australian Electoral Commission is reporting more than 300,000 people have cast their vote already, more than two weeks out from election day.
In a surprise result, polling of these early voters shows the LNP government may be taking an early lead.
While it's good news for the Coalition, it is still early days. Pre-poll voting is predominantly done by older Australians, who tend to lean more conservative.
However, record numbers are getting their vote in early this year, so perhaps the numbers really are better than the Coalition had expected.
Are you going to cast your vote early? What are the issues driving your vote?
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Treasurer hires security guards to protect his billboards
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has taken the unusual step of hiring 10 security guards to protect his election billboards from vandals.
Vandals have reportedly been relentless in the inner-east Melbourne electorate of Kooyong, a previously safe Liberal seat, with Mr Frydenberg's posters being defaced with Nazi swastikas, Hitler moustaches and other political messages.
He pointed the finger at supporters of his rival, independent Monique Ryan, the former director of neurology at the Royal Children's Hospital, saying: "It doesn't go unnoticed that while on one side of the road my campaign boards are defaced, and on the other side of the road, the so-called independent's board is left unscathed,' Mr Frydenberg fumed.
Did you watch the leaders' debate last night? Was it too 'shouty' as many commentators said? Who do you think 'won'?
Scott Morrison played the hero in previous rate cuts but has passed the buck now the cash rate has risen again
From Michael Pascoe: Politically, lying about debt and deficit and interest rates for nine years will make it hard for the Coalition to suddenly have credibility in telling the truth that rising rates are a sign of a strong economy, that falling and extremely low rates are not necessarily healthy.
The bigger problem is explaining how living standards are continuing to fall with no sign of the wages price index getting ahead of inflation, never mind the real, after-tax story.
Is the PM playing a dangerous game? Will his previous statements about the cost of power, fuel, food and housing stay low under his rule come back to bite him? Or is he counting on voters to have short memories?
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2 May: The party scrambling to provide candidates
Just hours before the close of nominations for the 21 May federal election, one party was still scrambling to find people to run, telling one prospective candidate to leave the electorate he was running in “blank” on his form while the party desperately tried to fill seats.
The party? One Nation.
Guardian Australia reports that several of the candidates chosen to run for the party live in other states from the seat they’re standing in, including a husband and wife couple selected to run in separate seats in New South Wales and Victoria.
Part leader Pauline Hanson said last month that One Nation would field candidates in all of the House of Representative seats for the first time thanks to “enormous support” from membership, which she said had “grown exponentially” during the pandemic.
But internal emails seen by the Guardian show the party was still trying to find people to run for it just hours before the nominating deadline on 21 April, telling one prospective candidate One Nation did not “require you to do anything or campaign at all”.
1 May: One Nation to preference Labor over Liberal
Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson has vowed her One Nation party will target moderate Liberal MPs in key seats across the country and ask her supporters to preference Labor over Liberal.
The reason for Hanson's support swap is what she says is the Liberal's "dirty deal with the devil".
The Liberals are recommending its voters give their preferences to Jacquie Lambie in Tasmania's Senate race.
"We’re not letting them get away with this dirty deal with the devil," Senator Hanson says.
"One Nation will now look at Liberal-held seats across the country.
"Tasmanian voters won’t be fooled and will very likely kick the Liberals out anyway. The Liberals stand for nothing.
"Labor is rotten to the core but the Liberals are just as bad because they only pretend to fight for conservative Australian values."
Do you agree with Senator Hanson opinion of the Liberal Party? Would you preference Labor ahead of them or is that a step too far?
•••
PM accused of 'going missing' amid fears over China pact
It's been labelled the “worst failure of Australian foreign policy in the Pacific” in almost 80 years. Labor foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong has launched a scathing attack on the government after confirmation that the Solomon Islands and China had signed a new security pact.
The island nation is just 1600 kilometres from Cairns.
“On Scott Morrison’s watch, our region has become less secure and the risks that Australia faces have become much greater,” Senator Wong told the ABC, insisting multiple times that PM Scott Morrison had "gone missing" on the issue.
White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell and the US State Department's top official for Asia were travelling to the Solomon Islands, the White House said in a statement that indicated how seriously the US viewed the pact.
Neither Mr Morrison nor foreign minister Marise Payne have visited the country. Minister for international development and the Pacific Zed Seselja went to Honiara last week to ask Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare not to sign the agreement.
“The United States is sending their top Indo-Pacific national security adviser," said Senator Wong. "We send the junior minister in the last minute in a region which is critical to our security."
Are you concerned by the pact with China? Should the government have done more to dissuade the Solomon Islands from signing?
•••
15 April: If the PM or opposition leader walked into your pub, club or café today, what would you say?
Last week, at the Edgeworth Tavern in Newcastle, 73-year-old pensioner Ray Drury gave the PM a serve about low financial support for older Australians.
Another ‘sneaky’ citizen confronted the PM at a private event this week, asked the PM if he may ask a question, to which Mr Morrison appeared to oblige …
… until he noticed he was being filmed.
“Why are you recording?” the PM asks, telling the man it is a “private event”.
Mr Morrison walked away and the man starts shouting: “Across the river here, people lost their houses. People lost their houses and they were burned.
“You are a disgrace. You are a disgrace,” he screams.
Protesters wearing Hawaiian shirts greeted him in Culburra, NSW, chanting: “I don’t hold a hose mate” in reference to Mr Morrison choosing to holiday in Hawaii during the December 2019 bushfire crisis.
The PM is copping a lot of flak. Is it warranted? Should he have to face this kind of criticism in public? Should his security teams be doing a better job, or do you applaud his 'bravery' at facing up to these events and subsequent 'scenes'.
If you had a face-to-face with either leader, what would you say?
•••
13 April: Greens promise free dental, and will make billionaires pay for it
The Greens have unveiled a plan for universal dental care and want Australia’s millionaires and billionaires to pay for it.
The Greens have pledged $77.6 billion to expand Medicare to allow bulk billing at dentists, orthodontists and other specialists.
Greens leader Adam Bandt says the Greens will introduce the first ever ‘billionaire tax’ in Australia to make billionaires start paying tax on their ‘obscene weath’.
“By making billionaires pay an extra 6 per cent of their wealth back to the public each year, we can help do things like get dental into Medicare,” Bandt says.
The Greens propose the free dental care would be accessible through your Medicare card.
Bandt says the policy would be an add on to the scheme the Greens negotiated for free dental care for children in 2010.
What do you think of this idea? Should the major parties take note of this line of thinking? Who would benefit most from this?
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12 April: PM downplays importance of 'personality' in determining elections
Prime Minister Scott Morrison denies personality has anything to do with election outcomes and has instead highlighted his plan for future jobs and skills training if the Coalition is returned to power.
The PM focused on his party's record on economic management and is pinning his hopes on a country unwilling to risk a change of government during trying times.
"It's not about any individual. It's not about me or anyone else," he told the ABC.
"It's about ensuring that training for young people right across the country, the investment in the infrastructure that we're delivering. A stronger economy delivering that stronger future."
Do you agree with Mr Morrison? Has the Coalition performed admirably over the past four years? Could there 'trying times' have been less trying under different leadership?
Last week, at the Edgeworth Tavern in Newcastle, 73-year-old pensioner Ray Drury gave the PM a serve about low financial support for older Australians.
Another ‘sneaky’ citizen confronted the PM at a private event this week, asked the PM if he may ask a question, to which Mr Morrison appeared to oblige …
… until he noticed he was being filmed.
“Why are you recording?” the PM asks, telling the man it is a “private event”.
Mr Morrison walked away and the man starts shouting: “Across the river here, people lost their houses. People lost their houses and they were burned.
“You are a disgrace. You are a disgrace,” he screams.
Protesters wearing Hawaiian shirts greeted him in Culburra, NSW, chanting: “I don’t hold a hose mate” in reference to Mr Morrison choosing to holiday in Hawaii during the December 2019 bushfire crisis.
The PM is copping a lot of flak. Is it warranted? Should he have to face this kind of criticism while in public? Should his security teams be doing a better job, or do you applaud his ‘bravery’ at facing up to these events and subsequent ‘scenes’?
Liberals call in the big guns in Kooyong
The Australian Electoral Commission is investigating a series of doctored posters that have appeared overnight incorrectly showing the names and faces of "teal" independent candidates with the Greens logo.
ABC
ABC
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This link gives you the locations and times of pre poll voting.
Australia’s gambling industry is in the midst of a reckoning.
Money laundering. Financial fraud. Criminal infiltration.
Mounting evidence against casino giant Crown, then rival The Star, and now pokies in pubs and clubs has raised uncomfortable questions about the potential flow of tainted money into political coffers just as the federal election battle reaches fever pitch.
“There’s a stench in the industry,” says Graeme Orr, professor of law at the University of Queensland.
Organisations and individuals linked to the gambling industry have poured at least $18 million in political donations into the states and territories in recent years, an ABC investigation can reveal. This is compared with $50 million disclosed at the Commonwealth level in the decade to 2019-20.
More than three-quarters of the $18 million flowed to the ALP and its investment vehicle, the 1973 Foundation Pty Ltd.
Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese will face off only 10 days out from election day in the third and final leaders’ debate, hosted by the Seven Network.
7NEWS Political Editor Mark Riley will moderate the debate, to be held on Wednesday at 9.10pm AEST, featuring questions from The West Australian’s Federal Political Editor Lanai Scarr and 7NEWS political correspondent Jennifer Bechwati, fresh from the campaign trail.
https://votecompass.abc.net.au/