CRITICAL ANALYSIS
New reports are revealing issues with Labor’s election policies, from uncosted promises to environmental impacts. The Age reports that Labor’s $1.5 billion plan to “unlock” gas would create more emissions than the Adani coal mine and that its promise to fix aged care “would cost billions”. Meanwhile, the ABC reports that the uncosted integrity commission could blow out Labor’s budget by hundreds of millions.
The government is today planning to leap on figures showing Labor’s business tax breaks($) will mostly apply to big business and multinationals, The Daily Telegraph reports. According to PBO modelling of a similar policy, 98.5% of the $13.2 billion tax cut will go to big business. On the flipside, a new ANU analysis has found that Labor’s tax increases will have “virtually no impact” on the wealth of the bottom 50% of households, with around 70% of the fiscal impact to be felt by the top 20%.
WAGE PUSH
Bill Shorten plans to start pressing for higher wages immediately if he wins Saturday’s election, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. Shorten and Labor employment spokesman Brendan O’Connor wrote to Fair Work Commission president Iain Ross yesterday, saying they would be submitting a proposal to increase wages on their first day in office.
Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele O’Neil is expected to appear before the commission on Wednesday to argue that the minimum wage should be increased by 6%, or $43 a week. A spokesperson says this is the first attempt by an ACTU president to address a minimum wage case since Bob Hawke.
CARDS ON THE TABLE
Scott Morrison is calling on independent candidates to put their cards on the table and declare which side they would back ($) in the event of a hung parliament, The Australian reports. Morrison last night said it was “reasonable and fair” to ask, because “you never know what you’re going to get”, referring to independents challenging Liberal strongholds unlikely to go to Labor.
“People vote for an independent thinking they’ll respect the wishes of their local electorate ultimately about who should form a government, and they end up going and putting the Labor Party in,” Morrison said, repeating fears stoked by Peta Credlin in a weekend op-ed ($).
[free_worm]
THEY REALLY SAID THAT?
I always don’t mix my religion with politics.
Scott Morrison
The Prime Minister may always not mix religion with politics, but moments later declined to say whether gay people go to hell, as a Perth press conference turned to same-sex marriage.
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Sweden reopens rape case against Julian Assange
Welfare groups slam negative gearing ‘scare campaign’
Officeworks Hornsby refuse to print Fraser Anning Party Warringah candidate’s leaflets
Nick Kaldas to head NZ mosque inquiry ($)
Sydney’s 24-hour trading plan to ‘set up the city’s future night-life’
‘A lasting impact’: Push for Australia-wide missing persons status
China’s activities in key marginal seat affect Labor, Liberal candidates
China retaliates with tariffs in defiance of Trump warning
Queensland Government knew about child safety fears in watch house, emails show
Nearly a third of voters oppose Labor’s franking credits policy, despite few being affected by it
ALP franking credit plan on nose in key Tasmanian marginals ($)
Greens candidate says Bryant not guilty of Port Arthur massacre ($)
‘Racist and personal’: Labor condemns flyers targeting Muslim candidate
CRIKEY QUICKIE: THE BEST OF YESTERDAY
Floundering Liberals embrace interventionism as the walls close in
“Conducting an intergenerational war on behalf of older generations against young people isn’t a good look for the government in a tight election contest. So the Liberals decided to make as a centrepiece of yesterday’s hoopla-free campaign launch a policy to… help older generations on housing. Better yet, Labor agreed to support it. Politicians, huh? Can’t live with ’em, can’t live with ’em.”
The progressive challengers taking the fight to Tanya Plibersek
“Munro has proven she’s willing to speak out against policies she doesn’t believe in. Not only has she campaigned for marriage equality within her party, but she’s also been a vocal opponent of Sydney’s lockout laws. Munro left her role as a staffer for the Berejiklian government after being seen at a Keep Sydney Open rally wearing one of their T-shirts. Despite her former employer’s stance, she has continued to voice her opposition to the laws and her support for the small businesses affected.”
A political hit job gone wrong: how News Corp created its own existential crisis
“A week away from knowing who’s going to win Australia’s election, we already have a pretty good idea who’s lost: looks like it’s the US-owned News Corp.
Labor has sensed the moment, linking billionaires Palmer and Murdoch with Morrison. In the election play, Palmer is cast as the bumbling pantomime villain. Murdoch is cast as the Bond villain, a global spectre haunting Australia.”
THE COMMENTARIAT
Latest first home buyers policy is shortsighted and likely to create a bubble — Daniel Wild (The Daily Telegraph): “The now-bipartisan bank deposit subsidy scheme is a shortsighted policy which, far from solving the problem of housing affordability, is likely to push up house prices and make housing less accessible for first time buyers.”
The most difficult question of all on election day — Peter FitzSimons (The Age): “For while the bulk of the population is fairly evenly divided as to who to vote for – surely we can at least unite in our common angst on one particular question. That is, if we vote below the line, who do we put second-last on the ballot paper?”
For me, the choice next Saturday is clear — Amanda Vanstone (The Sydney Morning Herald): “My own view is that if Shorten is elected we are all losers, big time. As usual when things go pear-shaped those lowest down the ladder will be hit hardest. But whoever wins, the day after, spare a thought and some gratitude for all the candidates who gave it their best and gave us the choice.”
HOLD THE FRONT PAGE
WHAT’S ON TODAY
Sydney
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Julia Gillard will speak at a Women in Leadership Town Hall, drawing on the insights from her political career and as the inaugural Chair of Kings College London’s Global Institute for Women’s Leadership.
Adelaide
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Environmental activist Jane Goodall will give a lecture exploring solutions for the future of our planet and its inhabitants.
Melbourne
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Belle Gibson will appear in the Federal Court over her failure to pay a fine relating to her breach of consumer laws.
Canberra
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ANU Learning Communities will host an election Q&A featuring candidates representing ACT electorates.
The usual “let’s apply scrutiny only to Labor policies” going on once again.
The ABC report on the integrity commission cost is particularly egregious. And reporting it as blowing out the budget by hundreds of millions is just grossly irresponsible. The actual article says “Transparency International has costed a “realistic” anti-corruption body at about $45 million per year, and one with expanded corruption prevention functions at $105 million per year.”
And you spin that out to the idea that it could cost Labor’s budget hundreds of millions, presumably by expanding that out over many years.
And then you wonder why “lefties” think the media stinks.
Hey Arky just imagine the headlines if the roles were reversed….”Libs save taxpayers $400M – no more Barrier Reef party for Labor mates”