Liberals launch new housing policy – as it happened

‘The Liberals hate the superannuation system,’ former Australian prime minister Paul Keating said in a statement on Sunday. The Australian federal election will be held next Saturday 21 May. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

8.52am BST

What we learned: Sunday 15 May

With that, we will wrap up the blog for the evening. What a day! One working week to go. Here were the major developments:

• The prime minister fronted a crowd in Brisbane today at the Liberal party’s official campaign launch, attended by former PMs John Howard and Tony Abbott. The biggest announcement was a super scheme for first-home buyers, allowing Australians to invest up to 40% of their superannuation to a maximum of $50,000 to help purchase their first home.
• Unions and major industry groups have delivered a mixed response to the Coalition’s scheme. The ACTU labelled it a “shameless attack” on the superannuation system, the McKell Insitute called it “policy madness” and Industry Super Australia said injecting super into the housing market would be like “throwing petrol at a bonfire”. Labor MP Jason Clare said you “shouldn’t have to raid your super to buy a home”, while former PM Paul Keating said it was “another frontal assault by the Liberal party on the superannuation system”.
• The Property Council Australia, Housing Industry Association and Retirement Living Council of the Property Council of Australia said it would help older Australians find more suitable housing while freeing up supply for younger Australians.
• Cricket great Andrew Symonds died in a car crash last night. Tributes are flowing in for the sportsman, including from former captain of the men’s Australian team Ricky Ponting.
• A gunman has been shot dead in Queensland during a stand-off with police at Ipswich. An investigation is under way into the fatal incident.
• A man is missing after swimming in the Brisbane River this afternoon. Police say there is concern for the man’s safety as the river is moving quickly following storms.
• And in a reminder we are not passed the pandemic, some 20 people have died with Covid across the nation today.

Updated at 8.55am BST

8.39am BST

⚠️Final #Flood Warning issued for the #OraraRiver. #CouttsCrossing peaked near the minor flood level (5.0 m) around Sunday midday and is now falling below the minor level. See https://t.co/AdztI2rqg1 for details and updates; follow advice from @NSWSES. #NSWFloods pic.twitter.com/flFc4EK59P

— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) May 15, 2022