What we learned, Monday 21 April
Thanks for spending your long weekend with us – that’s where we’ll leave the blog for today. Here is what we learned on day 25 of the campaign trail:
Anthony Albanese began the day in the seat of Gilmore, where Labor is facing a tough battle to hold on to its seat on the NSW south coast.
The PM said there was “more to do” to tackle gambling advertising, as reports emerged that he overrode his cabinet to shelve reforms.
Albanese was also scathing of the Coalition’s continued calls for a briefing on Russia’s request to station aircraft in Indonesia, which the Indonesian government has ruled out.
Peter Dutton, meanwhile, visited his 12th petrol station of the campaign in the Melbourne seat of Dunkley.
The Coalition continued its campaign on crime, pitching a promise for a national child sex offender registry scheme and a commitment to bolster border protection against illegal drug imports.
The health minister, Mark Butler, argued that Peter Dutton promised a public register as minister for home affairs but “didn’t deliver it.” Meanwhile Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie accused the Coalition of “running through the same narrative” on crime.
Dutton said he would have “more to say” about the Coalition’s domestic violence policy soon.
The AEC is investigating the distribution of 47,000 unauthorised pamphlets opposing Allegra Spender, the member for Wentworth. She told reporters the pamphlet “spreads false, misleading and offensive claims about me” anonymously, and is “designed to undermine me and to benefit my political opponents”.
Labor has promised to provide greater oversight of the nation’s export abattoirs if re-elected.
Former PM Malcolm Turnbull argued that “nobody in their right political mind would ever make changes” to the capital gains tax. He also accused Dutton of being “Trump-like” and said the Coalition’s nuclear policy was a “really bad idea.”
Early voting will officially open tomorrow, ahead of the 3 May poll.
Krishani Dhanji will be back with you bright and early tomorrow morning. In the meantime, take care and enjoy your evening!
Updated
Liberal candidate for Wentworth says it’s important all election material has ‘appropriate authorisation’
Ro Knox, the Liberal candidate for Wentworth, has issued a statement amid the AEC investigation into flyers targeting independent MP Allegra Spender.
The statement reads:
We’re running a properly authorised campaign and strongly believe it’s important for all election material to have the appropriate authorisation.
Updated
