Scott Morrison

Labor MP Anika Wells says Australians are "frustrated" that the issues they care about are not being addressed on the national scene because of the focus on ...

A while ago, Scott Morrison didn't know the price of petrol or bread. We will see how the two perform. "As a former Liberal leader and former prime minister to so publicly take this position, I suspect it is not the last we will hear from Malcolm Turnbull in this campaign. We are entitled to have our own views and cross the floor and make our own statements known where it is appropriate." We govern for all Australians. By Jessica Riga By Jessica Riga By Jessica Riga Democracy is all about choice. By Jessica Riga By Jessica Riga By Jessica Riga

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has taken a swipe at Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese over his latest policy stumble on the campaign trail, saying "could ...

And that's just the campaign, could you imagine three years of that, of this guy sitting there, with everything we're dealing with." His day has started, he gets up, what's something I can have a crack at ScoMo about for today, goes out, says it, goes back," he said. They do know that I seek to fully understand the problems I'm seeking to solve." "And I think that's where the clear difference is emerging. Stream more election news live & on demand with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free.

The Morrison government would train up an additional 1500 people trained up for the nation's defence, while the Opposition leader says increasing economic ...

"You need to be cautious in your spending. When a growing economy underpinned a first-world wages model. "You need to be cautious in your spending. When the larger national income pie grew for the benefit of both workers and business." When a growing economy underpinned a first-world wages model. "The skills and knowledge this program will give to graduates will set them up for a career in defence equipment manufacturing technology, and set them up for life." When the larger national income pie grew for the benefit of both workers and business." "We need to meet the growing needs of our defence industry workforce by skilling up new workers and new generations," she said. "Our investment in building the capabilities of Australia's defence force is about keeping our country strong and secure and backing local skills and jobs," he said. "The skills and knowledge this program will give to graduates will set them up for a career in defence equipment manufacturing technology, and set them up for life." "We need to meet the growing needs of our defence industry workforce by skilling up new workers and new generations," she said. "Our investment in building the capabilities of Australia's defence force is about keeping our country strong and secure and backing local skills and jobs," he said.

Scott Morrison has taken the opportunity to swipe Anthony Albanese over Thursday's press conference slip-up, where the opposition leader failed to answer a ...

“I think Anthony Albanese did need the notes and should have been able to recall a couple of the points at least more freely. “I watched the film Rain Man. I know some people can recall things very brilliantly, others less so. “And I think what we’re seeing as people look at this campaign and it is a choice he wants to make it a referendum about me as you know, but it is a choice. But the few plans that they have, he didn’t know what they are. I mean, he spent three years having a crack at me every day. He’s just got up and had a crack at me about how he could, you know, say how the game could be played on the Monday after the game, every single every single weekend.”

The best of Guardian Australia's 2022 federal election coverage every weekday afternoon.

Tetchy press conferences: Albanese struggled to outline Labor’s six-point plan on the NDIS, but Morrison copped a grilling at his press conference too. After easily naming an Indian eatery and a local cafe, Charlton – parachuted into the western Sydney seat from his former home in the affluent eastern suburbs – then floundered: Kooyong debate: The treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, and independent Monique Ryan finally squared off in a long-anticipated debate for the seat of Kooyong. Neither landed a killer blow; Frydenberg ran his usual lines raising concerns about independents, Ryan said her Melbourne electorate needed some change after years in Liberal hands. Albanese started the day in Sydney, visiting a clean energy expo to inspect electric cars and solar panels. He didn’t mention any by name, but the reference to Australia was clear. Morrison hit three Sydney electorates then flew to Perth; Albanese visited an energy conference, gave a business speech, and will appear on Q+A tonight.

Scott Morrison says he'll attend the next leaders' meeting of the quad three days after election, if he wins or even if he's trying to negotiate minority ...

“And I know that other Pacific leaders are very concerned about foreign interference in our region. Connect with Phillip on Sign up to our Election Brief newsletter. “And our ADF would be welcome there. “I see not a lot of change. It’s important for Australia to be represented there,” he said.

The prime minister said he will tackle the challenges in the Pacific responsibly after Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said he was insulted ...

It is an area which supports the daily wellbeing of residents of the house," he told his parliament in Honiara. It is an area which supports the daily wellbeing of residents of the house," he told his parliament in Honiara. Mr Morrison said he spoke with Mr Sogavare the day after the pact was announced in September 2021, and "no issues were raised at that time in that discussion". On Tuesday, Mr Sogavare appeared to suggest Australia was trying to undermine his government after Mr Morrison said Solomon Islands was located in his "backyard". Mr Morrison said on Thursday he would continue to support Solomon Islands despite the "pressures" that Australia was facing in the Pacific region. Mr Morrison confirmed he has been in contact with his Solomons counterpart "in the last few months". "We are concerned for the Solomon Islands, for the broader security in the southwest Pacific," he said. Mr Morrison said he spoke with Mr Sogavare the day after the pact was announced in September 2021, and "no issues were raised at that time in that discussion". On Tuesday, Mr Sogavare appeared to suggest Australia was trying to undermine his government after Mr Morrison said Solomon Islands was located in his "backyard". Mr Morrison said on Thursday he would continue to support Solomon Islands despite the "pressures" that Australia was facing in the Pacific region. Mr Morrison confirmed he has been in contact with his Solomons counterpart "in the last few months". "We are concerned for the Solomon Islands, for the broader security in the southwest Pacific," he said.

Tensions have risen since the Solomon Islands signed a security deal with China amid protests by Australia and the US.

Chinatown could not be saved “because our police were overwhelmed”, Sogavare said at the time, adding the “rules of engagement” precluded peacekeeper involvement. Sogavare has maintained that there will be no Chinese military base in his country. Sogavare said a “personal envoy” of Morrison had briefed him at the time that the peacekeepers could not protect Chinese businesses or the Chinese embassy. Sogavare did not name those who had made the alleged invasion threat. Morrison said last month that Australia and the US shared the same “red line” when it came to opposing a Chinese military base on the Solomon Islands. Neither Canberra nor Washington has said how they might respond to such a Chinese presence. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for a calm response after the leader of the Solomon Islands said he had been threatened with an “invasion”.

Scott Morrison insists he can come from behind in the final two weeks to beat Labor, and says the current poll numbers are the softest they have been for ...

I have a productivity agenda for the 2020s, which is all about skills, labour shortages, data and digitisation of our economy, connecting to the world in trusted supply chains, which have been massively disrupted by the pandemic and geopolitics,” he said. “And that’s what we’ve seen occurring again. And we ensured that revenues grew, not by raising taxes, but by people earning them. Sign up to our Election Brief newsletter. Of course, you don’t,” he said. The Reserve Bank doesn’t have a crystal ball any more than anyone else does,” he said. That is the reality.” But the reality is, those times are still with us, and the frustrations are there. Now, of course, you don’t want that day to come but you know why it has. Emotionally, of course you don’t like it. And so, it is about coming to a decision.” But you don’t welcome it.

The Coalition has suffered significant falls in its primary vote in Victoria, NSW and Queensland according to new polling, with former Prime Minister ...

He is asked about Malcolm Turnbull’s comments about teal independents, and whether it is realistic that he won’t negotiate with them to form government in a hung parliament. Climate scientists say limiting warming to 1.5 degrees can help avoid the worst damages of climate change. went down and had a meeting with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I then went up to the CPO - Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices - and had more meetings. I then went and spoke to a lunch at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and gave a considered, extensive economic speech about a better future about productivity. “Well, the Prime Minister is trying to put out there that seats like McEwen are marginal seats. Let me tell you about what the NDIS is about. “They are a rabble. I got up in the morning [and] I did breakfast TV. I did radio into Victoria. I went into a Smart Energy Expo and at the Convention Center. I talked to providers there. But as prices of gas and groceries (and lollies, presumably), perhaps $20 is the new $5 note? Making sure that people in regions can be looked after, but also lifting the cap on NDIA staff so that people can get those people-to-people relations. We’re working to restore it. We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable.

Scott Morrison stopped talking to his Solomon Islands counterpart over concerns he would become volatile and misrepresent the conversation.

More than 100 members of the Australian Federal Police and Australian Defence Force were sent to the Solomons to help Sogavare quell the violent uprising. Michael Shoebridge, director of the defence program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said Morrison was right not to have any further conversations with Sogavare. Morrison and Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne have been criticised by Labor for not doing enough to stop the deal from being signed. Australia has been critical of the recently signed security pact signed between Beijing and Honiara, fearing it could pave the way for a permanent Chinese military presence in the Pacific island nation and criticising the Chinese government for insisting the text of the agreement be kept secret. Sogavare this week claimed his country had been threatened “with invasion” by opponents of its security agreement with China and suggested Russia was not the aggressor in Ukraine. Prime Minister Scott Morrison stopped talking to Manasseh Sogavare over concerns the Solomon Islands Prime Minister would become volatile and misrepresent the conversation.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese suffered another embarrassing gaffe on his election trail in Sydney as he was unable to recall Labor's six-point National ...

Mr Dutton responded: "I think Andrew we are dealing with the reality of a new China and I think Australians should be wide-eyed about this. How would they appease China? And you said in Parliament, the CCP wants Labor to win. Why do you think that?," Mr Clennell asked. "I don't agree with that conspiracy theory of Peter Dutton that there's some benefit for China given the position that Labor's taken in relation to China and its changed conduct," he said. I find that extraordinary.” People’s lives depend on it," he wrote just hours after the mistake. Stream more election news live & on demand with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. "But it is a choice and people are looking and they're going, I can't see it in this guy, I can't see it in that other guy from Labor, I can't see it in Anthony Albanese." “Or that Jason Clare as the housing spokesperson might want to comment on housing policy, or that Chris Bowen might want to comment on climate change and energy. A reporter jumped in and said: “Are these the six points that had to be handed to you by your advisor?” New to Flash? Try 1 month free. “The six points are what we will do in terms of what was outlined by Bill Shorten. That is about making sure,” he began before being cut off by a reporter who again asked: “What are the six points”.

Independent candidate Monique Ryan debates federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg on day 25 of the 2022 federal election campaign as they battle for the seat of ...

Good afternoon everyone, we’re nearly at the end of day 25 of the election campaign but there are still a few news hours left to go yet, so hang in there! I’m Stephanie Convery and I’ll be taking you through the evening. His argument that Australia would stop “making things” if it did not have baseload fossil fuel power was published on the front of the Daily Telegraph and praised by right-wing commentators including Peta Credlin and Ray Hadley. I don’t say that lightly – I am a genuine check-my-watch-to-see-if-it’s-out-yet fan of my colleagues’ work in this series. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, meanwhile, debated his teal independent opponent Monique Ryan for the seat of Kooyong on matters including climate crisis, job keeper payments, refugee policy, China, gender equity and more. And that’s a wrap on this blog for today.

Scott Morrison will label Anthony Albanese a 'weak leader' and hit out at his 'small target strategy' when he unleashes his fiercest attack yet of the ...

Cancel anytime. Cancel anytime.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hit back at his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull's comments that teal independents holding the balance of power would not ...

“Now, when it comes to other former prime ministers have said, I have always treated former prime ministers of both political persuasions with the utmost of dignity and respect,” he said. “Could you imagine the chaos of that type of a parliament when Australia needs to be strong?” He said the rise of the teal independents was the most “interesting” part of the election and denied that a minority government would lead to chaos and instability, as the Coalition has claimed.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has lashed out at Labor's "carnival of chaos" in an exclusive interview with Sky News Australia's Paul Murray.

Nor that they are, by definition, better economic managers than the alternative government. It is also because of Morrison's record in government, his ...

The key to the Morrison style lies in his capacity to thoroughly believe anything he is saying now, even as it is plainly, the opposite of what he said yesterday - a fact he will indignantly deny. If the polls suggest that he is comfortably ahead, he should be redoubling his efforts to confirm the good impressions and to deal with the perception of limited and narrow vision, a meanness of perspective and a refusal to take chances. Morrison has extraordinarily little to sell, and he himself is not regarded as an electoral asset in many electorates, particularly, as it turns out, in the inner-city ones where the teal independents have put incumbents under such pressure. Even his economic measures, including JobKeeper and the taking on of debt and deficit - an amazing turn-around from among economic ideologues - seem to have ceased to work for him as pluses. But Albanese stands side by side with the government, so fearful of being wedged or labelled as "soft" or a China-appeaser that he refuses to make the sort of intelligent criticisms of extreme government actions and their logical consequences. Once Morrison was in an advantageous position to exploit Australia's apparently successful management of the coronavirus pandemic and the economic shutdown it involved. It is also because of Morrison's record in government, his leadership style, his approach to probity and process, and his uncertain regard for the truth. He pretends, and in government will no doubt continue to pretend that his arbitrary targets and limited action were settled on the science and advice about successful outcomes. The danger for Albanese is that this may not be because of enthusiasm for the character of the Labor leader, confidence in his ability, or excitement about his exciting and tempting package of policies, programs and goodies. But they are not confident that they will be electing a typical Labor government as they understand it to be. The teals, like the Greens, are idealistic and liberal on a number of other critical issues, not least refugee policies. But just as importantly, they have mobilised hundreds of volunteers, and a big sense of popular and public participation in politics that matter.

The prime minister has been pressed about whether his status as leader would change in the event of a hung parliament, after repeatedly warning the result ...

"You need to be cautious in your spending. I put my trust in their good conscience and their good faith." "You need to be cautious in your spending. “We support paid parental leave. I put my trust in their good conscience and their good faith." "Here you are - you haven't been in the country for a year and you're here helping people." "My answer to that is that answer lies in the lap of the Australian people. “We support paid parental leave. "Now that is their democratic right, and whether you want to vote for them or not — I'm not encouraging people to vote for anyone, I'm encouraging people to vote," Mr Turnbull told the ABC's AM program. "Here you are - you haven't been in the country for a year and you're here helping people." "My answer to that is that answer lies in the lap of the Australian people. "Now that is their democratic right, and whether you want to vote for them or not — I'm not encouraging people to vote for anyone, I'm encouraging people to vote," Mr Turnbull told the ABC's AM program.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pushed back against his predecessor's celebration of independent candidates ahead of the election, but will not say ...

Doug Dingwall is The Canberra Times' Public Service Editor. He writes about government and federal politics, and edits The Public Sector Informant. He has an interest in integrity and industrial relations. I'm a federal politics and public sector reporter with an interest in national security, integrity and regulation. Doug Dingwall is The Canberra Times' Public Service Editor. He writes about government and federal politics, and edits The Public Sector Informant. He has an interest in integrity and industrial relations. I'm a federal politics and public sector reporter with an interest in national security, integrity and regulation. Previously he worked at The Examiner in Launceston, where he won a Tasmanian Human Rights Award in 2016 for his reporting. Previously he worked at The Examiner in Launceston, where he won a Tasmanian Human Rights Award in 2016 for his reporting. I understood that doing that would carry some pretty serious ramifications when it came to the relationship, both on cost and both on the diplomatic issues, with a good friend and partner in France." "Governments hard, you've got to make difficult choices all the time about capability. What my view is, I've just explained to you and that is the chaos of a parliament, driven by the daily musings of independents who haven't had the experience to deal with the serious security and economic challenges our country faces, that is going to hurt people's incomes, it's going to hurt people's jobs. You got to make tough decisions every day. Every single day is hard. He has previously said he won't make a deal with "teal" independents if he fails to win a majority in the lower house.

Scott Morrison does not have a core set of political goals he can point to in order to repel the attacks of an equally ideas-free Labor Party.

Mr Morrison’s protests that he doesn’t hold hoses, and matters were in the hands of states or medical bureaucrats, were factually correct but tone-deaf in terms of the national voice he could still have offered. Mr Morrison thanklessly tried to steer a course between reopening Australia’s economy and the comfortably parochial premiers. The federal government shouldered the wage bill and many other costs of the private sector, and stopped businesses and workforces – and the economy with it – from unravelling. But the tax reform and the workplace reform that business says it needs to confidently invest and compete need to be politically fought for. When Australia was hit by a global pandemic, Mr Morrison was at the helm of an objectively world-leading result. Scott Morrison mostly faces the right direction in terms of policy reform and budget repair.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has faced questions about his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull's remarks on independents, including whether the former prime ...

"It's not about Mr Turnbull just tossing out his former allegiance to the party that made him the PM of Australia, it's the fact that… But I think it's very important that we have a democracy that is resilient." "It's going to hurt people's jobs. "What we have to do is support democracy. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Stream more election news live & on demand with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place.

Making a defence funding announcement in WA, prime minister continues to face questions about his handling of national security issues.

“And there’ll be a time to address those issues once the pandemic has concluded.” Albanese forcefully rejected the suggestion the answer didn’t rule out cuts, rounding on the media for pressing him on that point. “We did that in government. You cannot have a clearer answer than that.” That would be reckless.” That would be foolish.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been grilled by reporters for not confirming whether he would stay on as Liberal Party leader if the Coalition lost the ...

So, I'm going to the Australian people at this election, and that's the first time that has happened in about 15 years,” Mr Morrison said. “I'm putting myself forward to be able to continue to provide that strong leadership. “I'm very happy to answer the question … I'm the first prime minister that has been able to stand for election at the last election and then stand for an election again. “My answer to that is - my answer lies in the lap of the Australian people.” Stream more election news live & on demand with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free.

The prime minister has been pressed about whether his status as leader would change in the event of a hung parliament, after repeatedly warning the result ...

"You need to be cautious in your spending. I put my trust in their good conscience and their good faith." "You need to be cautious in your spending. “We support paid parental leave. I put my trust in their good conscience and their good faith." "Here you are - you haven't been in the country for a year and you're here helping people." "My answer to that is that answer lies in the lap of the Australian people. “We support paid parental leave. "Now that is their democratic right, and whether you want to vote for them or not — I'm not encouraging people to vote for anyone, I'm encouraging people to vote," Mr Turnbull told the ABC's AM program. "Here you are - you haven't been in the country for a year and you're here helping people." "My answer to that is that answer lies in the lap of the Australian people. "Now that is their democratic right, and whether you want to vote for them or not — I'm not encouraging people to vote for anyone, I'm encouraging people to vote," Mr Turnbull told the ABC's AM program.

The prime minister also brushed off questions over the fate of his leadership should Australia elect a hung parliament after shutting down the prospect of ...

“The Liberal Party are divided ... They are led by a man who a whole lot of his own frontbench don’t want him anywhere near their seat and don’t want to appear with him in public. That stands in stark contrast to Labor. Labor which is united, Labor which is ready to form a united, cohesive government, Labor that has a clear plan for a better future. Pressed repeatedly on Friday over whether he would resign if that came to pass, Morrison said only: “My answer is that the answer lies in the lap of the Australian people.” And I’d say to Mr Turnbull: have a little bit more consideration and do something statesmanlike.” “He [Turnbull] spoke about the fact that so many people who are traditional Liberals feel the modern Liberal Party under Scott Morrison doesn’t represent them, and they are walking away from the Liberal Party,” Albanese said. “The decision for the Australian people is up to them and I put my trust in their good conscience.”

Scott Morrison has unleashed his most personal attack on Anthony Albanese at The West Australian's Leadership Matters event, claiming his 'small' opponent ...

Cancel anytime. Cancel anytime.

Prime minister's latest comment on rival's performance follows jibe about Albanese's 'quiet week' in Covid isolation.

And a weak leader is a risk to Australia, our economy and our security.” A small leader is a weak leader. “And if you can’t hack the campaign, then I think people are starting to think, is this guy really up to it?”

As the end of this policy-light election campaign draws closer, the character contest between Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese is only getting fiercer, ...

In his trademark way, Turnbull, denied he was weighing into the campaign. Just 30 per cent of voters regard the prime minister as trustworthy, compared with 41 per cent for Albanese. “You have got to look at the characters who are putting themselves up, the prime minister and the alternative, and go: which one of these do you really think can hack it?” Morrison told Sky News on Thursday night, at the same time as Albanese was putting in a solo performance on the ABC’s Q&A program. “That was a bad week for us,” said one of the Coalition’s strategists. Morrison feels talking to journalists in Canberra in the dying days is not the best use of his time. Albanese’s frustration at the media’s obsession with gotcha moments and other ephemera has begun to show in recent days. Didn’t know what the cash rate was. Given Labor broke the Press Club convention in 2019, the prime minister intends to follow suit in 2022. Didn’t know what the unemployment rate was. No one had visited the seat until that point during the campaign. Perhaps because Labor has always tended to romanticise politics as if the ghosts of legends past will carry it on their wings. Longman was held by Labor and thought to be safe.

In an address to the Washington Harvard Club on Friday, former Prime Minister Mr Turnbull said that since he was ousted from the role in 2018 “the liberal, or ...

Cancel anytime. Cancel anytime.

Scott Morrison says he believes Donald Trump would be more “colourful” to have a beer with than Joe Biden when he was asked to pick his preference between ...

I love going to AFL but I don’t pretend to be something I’m not.” “My personal opinion on it is, is I don’t want to see the destructive, divisive debate that we’ve seen in the United States over decades and decades and decades, have a place here in Australia,” Mr Morrison said. “Would you resign for the good of the Coalition if it was a condition if it was the condition of the teal independents?” Scarr then asked. “That’s a good question, I think it is a safer place today than it was two years ago because of the changes that have been made” Mr Morrison said. “If you want chaotic parliament, if you want a government that has to bargain for its existence every day in one of the most incredibly difficult and challenging security environments, and for it to be done with weakness and without strength then vote for the teal independents,” Mr Morrison said. “I’m planning on staying in parliament because I’m planning on winning the election.”

Independents report 'misleading and unauthorised' campaign signs; Scott Morrison won't say if he will resign in case of hung parliament; Anthony Albanese ...

First Dog takes his stick to the election piñata: Here’s the background to the story. We are, quite literally, in this together. What better time to get started on your election night party planning? We need to continue to provide opportunity. I can tell you what those concerns are, the cost of living. The policy brief says a re-elected or incoming Australian government should commit to a long-term regional health policy for the Indo-Pacific, with assistance focused on a range of areas including improving the quantity and quality of the health workforce, particularly at the primary care level. Provide students with information about the religion of Satanism, including belief in Satan as a supernatural being, the canons of conduct and the tenets ... [and] to help students analyse the information and critically evaluate the religion of Satanism. This is about building a healthier world, and we know it starts by recognising the strong cultural, economic and trade ties we have to our closest neighbours in the Indo-Pacific. To make sure we go forward (and) as we go forward, we remain a country of aspiration and a land of opportunity. Labor leader Anthony Albanese has been in Parramatta this evening – the candidate there is Andrew Charlton, and Labor has been accused of parachuting him in to the seat. Lots of these communities have an aspiration for hard work, to support their families, to build a better life for their kids and in many cases to build a business.

The prime minister has visited 16 manufacturing and engineering worksites during his frantic first month on the hustings.

The majority of his public appearances have been in NSW and Queensland, although he notably chose Perth for Labor’s official campaign launch. Sign up to our Election Brief newsletter. “Well, I’ll tell you what I did yesterday,” he said. Then there was a speech to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, meetings at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Sydney CBD, a trip to the electorate office in Marrickville and an appearance on the ABC’s Q&A. Mr Albanese’s campaign performance has been criticised after he failed to name the official cash rate, misstated the unemployment rate and on Thursday had to resort to notes handed to him by a staffer for details of Labor’s six-point plan to improve the National Disability Insurance Scheme. “I got up in the morning, I did breakfast TV. I did radio into Victoria. I went to a Smart Energy Expo. And at the convention centre ... then did a press conference.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese will go head-to-head again in the second leaders' debate of the election on Sunday ...

Mr Albanese was declared the winner of the first debate held in Brisbane last month. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese will go head-to-head again in the second leaders’ debate of the election on Sunday night in Sydney. The second leaders’ debate of the election will get under way on Sunday night.

Mark Wooden reportedly said Labor was playing 'political games' by saying it would lift wages.

It advises members to “avoid involvement in political controversies” including by refraining from expressing views on politically sensitive topics. McManus labelled it an “extraordinary political intervention right in the middle of the federal election campaign” likening it to a Reserve Bank board member commenting on the political debate about interest rates. In a letter to Morrison on Friday the Australian Council of Trade Unions claimed that the comments from Wooden, an expert member of the commission’s minimum wage panel, could “undermine the independence and impartiality” of a review that sets the pay of 2.2 million Australians.

The prime minister is such a liability in progressive Liberal seats that he's spending his efforts scouting to win marginal Labor seats.

By bad-mouthing the idea of a meaningful integrity agency as a “kangaroo court” and a “public autocracy”, he is seen to be opposed to integrity and, by implication, tolerant of corruption. Usually known as a “hung parliament”, Steggall prefers to call it a “parliament of balance”. The teals could end up as the pivot point in deciding the balance. I can’t genuinely criticise the government position and then turn around and say Morrison is the man to lead Australia for the next three years. And by his mishandling of demands for justice and respect, he’s seen to be disrespectful of women. In Labor’s case, if it can get to 74, it expects the support of the Greens’ Adam Bandt and Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie to guarantee confidence. On the current electoral state of play, each of the major parties is having difficulty assembling a majority of seats for the next parliament. “To describe seats as historically Liberal is assuming the current Liberal Party reflects the values traditionally associated with the Liberal Party.” The prime minister is such a liability that he spends his efforts scouting to win red seats in anticipation of losing traditionally blue. It’s “incredibly insulting” to the people who voted for her, many of them formerly lifelong Liberal voters. Zali Steggall is not the first independent, progressive liberal to take a once-safe Liberal seat. The colour symbolises Steggall’s political pigmentation, she says – it’s a mix of blue and green. The Liberal Party and its conservative predecessors had held the area around Sydney’s northern beaches seat of Warringah for as long as the federal parliament had existed.

The fourth week of the federal election campaign saw the prime minister and Opposition leader cover plenty of ground. Here are the key moments.

By Thursday though, Mr Albanese was in the spotlight for a policy stumble, after failing to recite his party’s six-point plan on the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Popular WA Labor Premier Mark McGowan lent a hand to his friend and colleague, receiving a raucous welcome on stage before warming up the crowd for his federal counterpart. The prime minister day-tripped from the east coast to the South Australian electorate of Boothby and also visited Melbourne Liberal marginal seat Chisholm and seats the coalition wants to win like Parramatta in Sydney and Cowan in Western Australia. This was Oppositon leader Anthony Albanese’s chance to make his pitch to voters, using the theme “better future” to rally the crowd of around 600 party faithful in a packed room at Optus stadium. Here are the key moments. By Thursday though, Mr Albanese was in the spotlight for a policy stumble, after failing to recite his party’s six-point plan on the National Disability Insurance Scheme. This week the atmosphere hit wall-of-noise territory, with Mr Morrison regularly speaking right through interjections as journalists tried to get a clear answer and cut through the talking points. Labor hopes it can snatch the marginal liberal-held seats of Swan and Pearce and sandbag its seat of Cowan, held by Anne Aly on a less than 1 per cent margin. Popular WA Labor Premier Mark McGowan lent a hand to his friend and colleague, receiving a raucous welcome on stage before warming up the crowd for his federal counterpart. The prime minister day-tripped from the east coast to the South Australian electorate of Boothby and also visited Melbourne Liberal marginal seat Chisholm and seats the coalition wants to win like Parramatta in Sydney and Cowan in Western Australia. This was Oppositon leader Anthony Albanese’s chance to make his pitch to voters, using the theme “better future” to rally the crowd of around 600 party faithful in a packed room at Optus stadium. This week the atmosphere hit wall-of-noise territory, with Mr Morrison regularly speaking right through interjections as journalists tried to get a clear answer and cut through the talking points.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese and Labor are today focussing on keeping live sport on free TV, rather than behind the paywalls of multinational streaming ...

Scott Morrison is setting a cracking, high-vis pace: Scott Morrison has visited 16 manufacturing and engineering worksites during his frantic first month on the hustings. However, this was interpreted in some sectors as Labor dumping the policy altogether. But in his evidence Mr Bekier blamed managers below him for the wrongdoing, but not the board of directors. Here are some of this morning’s headlines: “Every Australian should get to see major sporting events,” Mr Albanese said in their release. They say the Morrison government’s track record shows it can’t be trusted to maintain free content and services: Morrison commits $20m to get tourists back on the beers: Wine, spirit and craft beer makers will get a $20 million boost under a tourism promotion program to be announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Perth on Saturday. That’s more funding.” That’s not a cut. Although Labor took a policy of phasing out live exports over five years to the 2019 election, Mr Albanese said the “policy had changed” and there was no deadline now for winding up the controversial trade. “Tourism is key to our plan and this funding will help bring in more tourists to local businesses, meaning more people touring our breweries and wineries, more people buying products and ultimately businesses employing more people,” he said from the campaign in Perth. “Small target means a small leader, a small leader is a weak leader and weak leader is a risk to Australia, our economy and our security, and if you can’t hack the campaign then I think people are starting to think is this guy really up to it?”

The Reserve Bank of Australia says wages will not grow in real terms until late 2023. A key Liberal senator has renewed his call for religious freedom laws ...

The pledge would see businesses receive up to $100,000 in matched funding for facilities such as restaurants and viewing platforms. Trade Minister Dan Tehan said more than 60 per cent of distilleries were in rural and regional Australia, and Australian wineries spread across 65 regions, “so these programs will support regional Australia to diversify their tourism offerings, which is a key plank of our long-term tourism strategy.” “Tourism is key to our plan and this funding will help bring in more tourists to local businesses, meaning more people touring our breweries and wineries, more people buying products and ultimately businesses employing more people.”

Scott Morrison has taken a heavy swing at Anthony Albanese during a speech in Perth, calling the opposition...

"And a weak leader is a risk to Australia. Our economy and our security." "A small leader is a weak leader," Morrison said. Anthony Albaneseduring a speech in Perth, calling the opposition leader "weak".

The Coalition has suffered significant falls in its primary vote in Victoria, NSW and Queensland according to new polling, with former Prime Minister ...

- The Star Entertainment Group announced the resignations of three of its most senior executives as the casino operator prepares for an imminent makeover of its board. - The Coalition promised to open up another 1500 jobs in Australia’s defence manufacturing industry around the county by expanding a program that creates occupational pathways for school-leavers. “It is not about gotcha questions.”

Underdog Scott Morrison is hoping to pull off another “miracle” election win, ramping up his campaign and pushing his policy strengths.

In a speech to the chamber of commerce in Rockhampton, however, it’s clear which voters Morrison is courting. He has recent history, and his faith, to draw upon: “My beliefs know that there is never any shortage of miracles.” “Of course the things she said were insensitive and she has acknowledged that,” he says. “The government has a lack of policy ambition,” says another insider. I want us to be the lead energy exporter for the next generation of energy.” “They want to create the image of energy, activity, momentum,” a Liberal MP says. The difference between then and now is that Morrison is no longer a novelty to voters. Morrison proved the polls and betting markets spectacularly wrong in 2019, achieving a victory he famously described as a “miracle” in his election-night speech. “It’s obvious, of course we’re the underdog,” he says of his contest with Anthony Albanese and Labor. “He wasn’t there because he wanted to wear the robes and chains or host the mayoral ball and all that sort of rubbish. But if you went into it and got satisfaction out of the job because of your ability to make a difference, do the things you wanted to do and give it your best, well … you’re in a situation where you’re probably not as prone to that.” “I got into politics through the example of my late father, who was a local mayor.”

Scott Morrison has spent his second full day of campaigning in Western Australia as he aims to hang on to crucial marginal seats.

"I did see (the report) in the paper, I don't know what it's based on. We need to stand on our own two feet." "We need to continue to provide opportunity. "I did see (the report) in the paper, I don't know what it's based on. And that's what I've spent my whole life doing as an economist and a business owner - building stronger economies and stronger communities." "Those aspirations that many people in this community have fit well with my experience. We need to stand on our own two feet." "We need to continue to provide opportunity. And that's what I've spent my whole life doing as an economist and a business owner - building stronger economies and stronger communities." "Those aspirations that many people in this community have fit well with my experience. To make sure we go forward (and) as we go forward, we remain a country of aspiration and a land of opportunity." To make sure we go forward (and) as we go forward, we remain a country of aspiration and a land of opportunity."