And that’s where we’ll leave today’s news blog.
But come back this evening for the leaders’ debate. We’ll be running a whole new live blog to capture all the action out of Sydney. Join us from 7.30pm.
In the meantime, here are the headlines from today:
Anthony Albanese has announced a plan to launch a free 24/7 telehealth service under Medicare as part of the Labor Party’s final-week election pitch.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has talked tough on crime at a Coalition campaign rally in Melbourne where he told supporters not to listen to “hate media” such as the ABC and the Guardian.
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie said working holiday visas won’t be part of the Coalition’s immigration crackdown if elected.
Former Liberal PM John Howard addressed the Mackellar campaign launch on Sydney’s northern beaches, backing Liberal candidate James Brown.
The Bob Brown Foundation held a rally in Hobart today in support of independent candidate Peter George who is campaigning on a platform to end salmon farming in Tasmania.
Australian Catholics have gathered in churches around Australia to commemorate the life of the late Pope Francis.
Updated
So good, so good, I got you! James Brown addresses Liberal faithful in Mackellar
Going back to the Liberal launch in Mackellar, candidate James Brown was strong in his praise for John Howard, who called the former Liberal PM “the reason I joined the party”.
Brown said people in Mackellar were patriotic and “intensely proud” of being Australian, pointing to the many flagpoles in local front yards. He also spoke of his military service, and said he wanted to “start doing more for the people of Mackellar”.
The candidate spoke about cost of living and mental health support as some of his main campaign issues, backing Peter Dutton’s policies on both.
Brown praised Dutton as “the hardest working man in Australian politics” – stopping for effect, or applause, but being greeted by a pregnant pause before the audience took the cue to clap.
Brown also made a few jokes about his campaign posters being defaced with graffiti, and even covered with the image of American funk and soul singer James Brown.
Updated
