Residents in regional Australia are telling the ABC prices for fuel, food and homes are rising sharply as the election approaches.
Take a look back at Thursday's events as they happened in our blog.
Key events
- Cost of living skyrocketing in regional Australia, and young people feeling the brunt of it
- What will Dutton do to improve relations with Solomon Islands?
- To Dutton - why have you hung the Chief of the defence force out to dry?
- Why does the public find out about projects being cancelled in Senate estimates?
- What does the Coalition mean when it says Labor would appease China?
- Do either men believe we can speed up getting nuclear subs?
- Will either consider boosting the defence budget?
- Is Australia less safe today because of the Solomons-China pact?
- Peter Dutton awards US company $140 million contract to develop unmanned navy submarines
- What are your thoughts on where the major parties stand on climate change?
- Here's where you can watch today's Defence Debate
- Stuart Robert pressed on the whereabouts of Alan Tudge
- Penny Wong responds to Solomon Islands PM lashing out at Australia
- Peter Dutton and Brendan O'Connor to face off in Defence Debate
Live updates
By Caitlyn Davey
That's all folks
Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back with more election updates tomorrow.
Stay tuned on everything election with our Australia Votes page.
By Caitlyn Davey
Don't forget: Anthony Albanese is on Q+A tonight
By Caitlyn Davey
Labor wants to talk the economy, but details get in the way
Analysis by political reporter Tom Lowrey, who is following Labor on the campaign trail.
Anthony Albanese has made his economic pitch to some of the country’s top business figures at a lunch in Sydney, arguing he can strike the balance they are looking for – growing the economy, without further pumping up inflation.
And the reception from the room was pretty warm – fielding questions on issues like manufacturing and tax policy.
This week’s interest rates hike means that, somewhat unusually for a Labor campaign, Mr Albanese is happy to keep economic management front and centre.
Labor knows the cost of living is front of plenty of voters minds, and they’re keen for things to stay that way right to polling day.
But this morning’s press conference got derailed from that message, over a question on Labor’s NDIS policy.
Mr Albanese was asked if, given he had referred to Labor’s six-point plan to reform the NDIS yesterday, he could list those points.
While not admitting so, it became clear he couldn’t off the top of the head, though he did try and address the policy’s central themes.
Later in the press conference, a campaign staff member quietly handed him a policy booklet – and when asked again if he could recall the points, he listed them.
A photographic memory is not a prerequisite for the Prime Minister’s office.
But the question came from a suggestion made that the Labor leader is not across the detail of some of his key policies, after occasionally passing questions in press conferences to frontbench colleagues.
It is perfectly reasonable to refer questions on policy detail to those directly responsible for the policy.
But it’s expected a leader is broadly across the policy, without necessarily remembering every detail.
That’s why the decision by campaign staff to try and quietly slip briefing notes into his hands might speak to a nervousness in the campaign, that these sorts of moments leave Mr Albanese looking vulnerable.
By Caitlyn Davey
By Caitlyn Davey
Exporters and rights groups unhappy with Labor position on live sheep exports
Australian Livestock Exporters' Council chief executive Mark Harvey-Sutton said Labor's position on banning live sheep exports is "disappointing".
"There's many reasons livestock volumes change over time, including price and market supply," he says.
"To call the industry a declining industry does not give due respect to its importance, both to our producers or trading partners."
Earlier this week the Australian Alliance for Animals said Labor had already told it of its post-election plans.
The rights group was also disappointed.
"They haven't put a timeline on it, so it doesn't effectively meet the policy we were putting to them of phasing out the trade within three years," spokesman Jed Goodfellow said.
In 2020-21 Australia exported more than 600,000 sheep, more than half of which were sent to Kuwait.
Almost all of the sheep were exported from Western Australia.
By Caitlyn Davey
Labor confirms plan to end live sheep exports if Albanese becomes PM
Australia's $92-million live sheep export industry will be shut down if Labor is elected at this month's federal election, the Opposition has confirmed.
For months Shadow Agriculture Minister Julie Collins has refused to say whether the party planned to end the live sheep trade in a policy Labor took to the last federal election.
In a statement to the ABC today, a Labor party spokesperson confirmed it would ban the trade, which they said had been waning for more than 20 years.
"An elected Albanese Labor government will phase out live sheep exports in consultation with the industry and the West Australian government on what needs to happen given this decline," the statement says.
"This includes consideration of the impacts for the entire value chain of the industry."
By Caitlyn Davey
A 'sign of the times' to televise debate in Kooyong
That's a statement from ABC's state political reporter Richard Willingham who's covering the debate.
By Caitlyn Davey
Independent gaining ground against Liberal opponent in Victorian electorate of Goldstein
Elections in the wealthy south-east Melbourne electorate of Goldstein are usually pretty predictable - the seat's been held by the Coalition for decades. In this election, however, Liberal Tim Wilson is being challenged by one of the so-called teal independents.
By Caitlyn Davey
Frydenberg to debate Ryan
In Melbourne, the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is facing off against independent candidate Monique Ryan in a debate televised on Sky News.
It’s a sign of just how tight the once safe seat of Kooyong, in Melbourne’s inner-east, has become.
So far candidates have been grilled on the economy and climate change.
Dr Ryan has attacked Mr Frydenberg’s record on climate change, dismissing characterisations that Mr Frydenberg is a “moderate” Liberal, highlighting how he works with Barnaby Joyce.
The Treasurer has attacked Dr Ryan’s economic credentials, accusing her of lacking a tax policy.
Dr Ryan is one of the “teal independents”, whose grassroots campaigns have been partially funded by the Climate 200 group.
By Jessica Riga
That'll do me
But the blog is still runnin'!
Thanks for your company so far today. I'll now be handing over to my wonderful colleague Caitlyn Davey.
By Jessica Riga
By Jessica Riga
Cost of living skyrocketing in regional Australia, and young people feeling the brunt of it
If you thought the cost of living was getting bad in the city, spare a thought for people living in the country. Triple j Hack have been traveling through regional Australia ahead of the election, and hearing how pricey things like fuel, food and housing have become.
Reporter Ellie Grounds has been chatting to young people in Mount Isa, Queensland (Kalkadoon country).
The cost of groceries is a big issue.
“If you visit Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast you’re like, what? Capsicums aren’t $14.90 a kilo?,” said 27-year-old Laura.
“I had someone tell me they saw a cauliflower for $10 the other day,” Ellie put to Laura.
“Yeah look I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Catie works at her family’s supermarket and tobacco store, and says most young people she knows in Mount Isa are pretty much living paycheck to paycheck.
“We all are making ends meet for groceries and fuel, but there's nothing after that,” says the 23-year-old.
“Like you barely make rent. So when you think about trying to own a home, it seems impossible, when you can't even save $100, $200 a week?”
And things are even tougher for the First Nations community in the area, who’ve been hit particularly hard by the rising cost of living.
“Some people have to choose between rent and food,” says local Indigenous man, Casey.
“So they have no choice but to go without one or the other. That's why there's a lot of demand for services in town. Specifically homelessness and food providing services.”
- You can tune into triple j Hack weekdays at 5:30pm AEST
By Jessica Riga
Some more of your thoughts on where the major parties stand on climate change
Earlier today, before the Defence Debate, I asked for your thoughts on where the Coalition, Labor and the Greens stand on climate change.
Here's a quick run down on their policies so get you up to speed. You can submit your comments using the blue button above.
The Greens policy of reducing emissions to net zero by 2035 is the ONLY one that is actually informed and in line with the science. Net zero by 2050 is far too late. We need to be transitioning out of fossil fuels NOW and certainly NOT opening 114 new coal and gas mines. We need to stop all new fossil fuels projects and instead by focussing on electrifying everything and upgrading the grid. Neither of the major parties have a plan of this. They should be meeting with Saul Griffiths who HAS laid out a plan of how to do it. We have everything we need already. We do not need to be depending on new technologies that are not in existence yet. What we DO need is the political will and belief that Australians deserve a thriving future!
-Angela AC
By Jessica Riga
Labor leader Anthony Albanese is on Q+A tonight
By Jessica Riga
And that's it for the defence debate
Can't get enough debating?
The next leaders' debate between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is happening at 8:30pm this Sunday, May 8. It will be broadcast on Channel Nine.
As always, we'll be blogging every minute of it right here.
By Georgia Hitch
Dutton's closing comments
Dutton: "Our country is grappling with security challenges of scale and complexity that we've not experienced since the Second World War. Australians have a choice about who will lead our country through a dangerous and uncertain time. It's a choice between an experienced Morrison government that has invested in our security, has made tough decisions and has atrack record of keeping us safe and our country safe. Or the alternative? A Labor Party with a weak leader and a track record of failing to properly fund our Defence Force."
"It's a choice between a Morrison government with a strong choice and a Labor Opposition that has no plan to keep us safe. Under the Coalition, defence spending has increased by 60%. Navy spending is up by 76%. Army up by 49%. And Air Force by 132%. Under Labor, defence spending was cut and it was cut and it was cut further. They delayed or cancelled or cut 160 projects. The truth is that Labor can't manage the economy and they can't manage national security. They did it in the Defence Force just like they did it in our national security and law enforcement agencies."
By Georgia Hitch
Time for closing remarks
Shadow Defence Minister Brendan O'Connor is wrapping up first:
"This is a very important debate and it's a very important time for the Australian people to make a decision about who is best equipped to defend this nation. Who is likely to engage, not just hard power investment in defence, and to that extend tent, we agree with the government, but who is going to employ diplomacy? Who is going to invest within the region and internationally? Who is going to make sure that we are engaging fully, sincerely, with our neighbours. They're not just our neighbours, as I said before, they're our friends.
"Which government really believes in investing and enhancing local defence industry to manufacture defence assets here? I would say in answer to that question, it is a Labor government is more likely to be engaged in diplomacy as well as investing in defence.
"So the Labor government that is more likely to be investing in defence local industry, making sure that we have enforceable provisions to allow for local content in those very large contracts. I think that the government has dropped the ball."
By Jessica Riga
And here's Brendan O'Connor's reply
I think that is fair to say that Scott Morrison should have put in more effort, put in a phone call to the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands.
He should explain to the Australian people who "red line" means. And that's why you might be getting a sponsor we are getting a response from the Solomon Islands after the rhetorical red line reference was never explained. I saw the briefing from the Government as to whether something has changed so significantly as to allow the Prime Minister to invoke that phrase.
But I don't suppose that there is. I think it is just a rhetorical flourish. But it's really that lack of engagement. The fact that the Foreign Minister wasn't in a position to visit. It's been a long time since a senior ministerial visit to the Solomon Islands and I think that we've dropped the ball, frankly.
And that's the last question! Onto closing remarks now.
By Jessica Riga
What will Dutton do to improve relations with Solomon Islands?
This question comes from Lucy Murray from SBS News.
Q: My question is to Minister Dutton. You said just before that the Solomon Islands Prime Minister has not said a word of criticism for Mr Morrison. But yesterday, Manasseh Sogavare said his government is being treated like kindergarten students with guns in need of supervision. Clearly, he's angry. What will your government do to improve relations?
"A couple of points. Firstly, I don't believe that those criticisms were directed towards Australia, because the relationship we have with the Solomon Islands is an incredibly important one, and it will continue to be so.
"The Prime Minister has literally, and I know that there's a trendy pile on of Scott Morrison in different parts of the media and around the country at the moment. But Scott has gone out of his way to form those personal relationships at different fora through bilateral discussions, and he genuinely believes in the family of the Pacific. And I heard him relay conversations that he's had with different Pacific Island leaders in National Security Committee discussions. So I can understand the pressure that Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is under at the moment, but in Australia, as he said, he finds a good friend.
"He finds somebody that is reliable. He's not suggesting that we can't provide support to the Solomon Islands. We've got ADF and Australian Federal Police on the ground in the Solomon Islands now. And that will continue to be the case. We haven't withdrawn effort. We haven't been asked to withdraw.
"We were requested to go there. And the NSC took a decision that we would do exactly that, because we wanted to help a friend. But China operates by very different rules. And if you want to pre tend that this is a problem of Australia — well, pretend it's a problem of Japan in the East China Sea, and pretend it's a problem for India on the land border where the Indian troops have been killed.
"And pretend that it's a problem of the Philippines that are at odds with the Chinese Government at the moment. And pre tend that it's a problem of Vietnam where their waters are being fished out. I mean, this is an issue worldwide. Talk to the Sri Lankans where the port has just been taken back because they can't meet the debt repayments to the Chinese government. We're living with that reality. And you can dance around the different half sentences and nuance here and the nuance there. Our country face as very uncertain time and now is not a time to risk a change of Government to a weak Government at the next election."
By Georgia Hitch
O'Connor's response
Even though the question was to Peter Dutton, O'Connor has been given the opportunity to comment too.
"I think it is fair to say to not comment on certain matters there and we support the Office of the Investigator. I do think, though, and it was before Peter's time. He's only been in the job for just over 10% of the government's term in defence. And he's number six. But in fact, when Linda Reynolds was defence minister, I think it was unfortunate that she chose not to appear with the CDF when the Brereton Report was publicised.
"I remember being on Insiders about to be interviewed by David Speers and I couldn't believe it, but there was the CDF taking the guest appearance instead of a minister, instead of Minister Reynolds. It shows that the government is willing to walk away from political leadership on that issue and they should not have. I'm not saying that that has happened with Peter, but I do say that it did happen at the time of the Brereton Report was published, publicly. And I do think that the government should have stood aside next to the Chief of Defence Force and answered the questions about that matter.
"Otherwise, to the extent that Peter answered that we can't talk about the matters until there's a proper investigation under way, I accept that proposition."
