What we learned today, Thursday 19 May
One more dawn, one more day, one day more! That was the penultimate day of campaigning ... unless of course you include actual election day. But let’s not. Here are today’s headlines:
- Labor revealed its costings, and a $7.4bn increase to the deficit. The Coalition immediately went on the attack.
- Here’s Katharine Murphy’s take on what effect those costings might have.
- The Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, and the prime minister, Scott Morrison, set a brisk pace in the last hours of the campaign – Josh Butler and Paul Karp are with them.
- Guardian Australia has taken a stand on the election: say no to spin and inaction.
- The Australian Electoral Commission is still dealing with staff shortages that might force people to drive for hours to vote. It also conceded that an anomaly is set to stop tens of thousands of people from voting.
- The parties are focused on the marginal seats. What’s the vibe outside Canberra?
- What now? What’s monkeypox, and should we be worried?
- And we asked: Does this incredibly annoying election ad actually work?
Amy Remeikis will be back in the morning along with the whole team to see what shenanigans and desperate manoeuvres are afoot as we head towards an electoral climax.
Updated
The Australian Electoral Commission has come under fire today, but you can’t fault their social media response. They’re answering your questions here:
We share your passion for voting. We’re here to provide you with the facts about your options. Please see thread: https://t.co/jvJHlRiz8V
— AEC ✏️ (@AusElectoralCom) May 19, 2022
