What we learned today, 19 April
It was a messy day today (although sometimes in the thick of an election campaign it always seems messy). Here are the highlights:
- Energy minister Angus Taylor told News Corp papers that Labor’s electricity policy would push up prices, but “did not explain how the numbers were reached or who did the analysis”.
- The stories about Liberal candidate for Warringah Katherine Deves keep rolling out, but she says she’s going nowhere.
- Labor has vowed to end the cashless welfare card, while the Coalition has called accusations it will roll the card out to pensioners a lie.
- Paul Karp has compared Labor and the Coalition’s asylum seeker and refugee policies.
- Labor’s Bill Shorten has spent the day talking about the NDIS.
- Both sides say they won’t be doing any deals with independents.
- Catch up on everything else politics-flavoured in today’s election briefing.
Tomorrow there’ll be fallout from the late breaking news that China has signed a security agreement with Solomon Islands. We’ll catch you up on anything that happens in the Pauline Hanson vs Bob Katter vs Clive Palmer vs Campbell Newman shemozzle, and then tomorrow night is the the first leaders’ debate of the election.
Deep breaths, sleep well, see you all then!
Updated
From the ABC’s foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic:
Breaking - this has now been confirmed by Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele. He says Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare will make a formal announcement in coming days HT @WasukaEvan https://t.co/jNlgJt1BKM
— Stephen Dziedzic (@stephendziedzic) April 19, 2022
