Laura Tingle laments ‘stupid and depressing’ election campaign as Morrison dodges ABC debate

The ABC’s Laura Tingle and Scott Morrison at the National Press Club in February. The PM has declined invitations to speak to the press club during the election campaign. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

For the veteran political correspondent Laura Tingle, elections are “stupid and depressing”, and this one has been no different. What with Anthony Albanese “basically just going around and kissing babies” and Scott Morrison avoiding all the places where “voters hate him so much”, it’s been a “strange campaign”, the ABC stalwart told Malcolm Farr on the Judith Neilson Institute’s election podcast.

She said press conferences may seem “shouty and aggressive” but the travelling circus was doing its best under difficult circumstances.