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SBS to livestream election debate in Mandarin and Arabic
By Amelia McGuire
For the first time, Mandarin and Arabic speakers will be able to watch a translated stream of a federal election debate.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition leader Anthony Albanese will face off for the first time at 7pm in Brisbane. The debate will be broadcast by Sky News. The translated streams will be available on SBS On Demand.
For English speakers without subscriptions to Sky News, a stream of the debate will be accessible via news.com.au.
Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese.Credit:James Brickwood and Alex Ellinghausen
Morrison vs Shorten: How the 2019 leaders’ debates played out
Ahead of tonight’s showdown between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition leader Anthony Albanese, let’s take a look back at the leaders’ debates back in 2019.
With polls predicting a big election victory for former Labor leader Bill Shorten, he went on to win the popular vote in both televised leaders’ debates against Morrison, after using his closing remarks to tell Australians the economy was not working for them.
The first debate saw one “gotcha” question over the price of an electric car but produced few fireworks, as both leaders played to their strengths and argued in good humour.
Morrison pressured Shorten by interrupting him with questions, a tactic that appeared effective during the debate but may have backfired when audience members cast their verdicts
It was in the second debate days later that Morrison provided the most memorable moment during a heated discussion on tax policy.
The pair were free to roam the stage during the contest and at one point Morrison stood close to Shorten while grilling him over a proposed Labor policy.
Shorten stepped away and quipped that Morrison was a “classic space invader”. The line prompted laughs from the crowd and the debate’s host, Sky News journalist David Speers.
Asked about the encounter the following day, Morrison said he was “simply trying to encourage [Shorten] to tell the truth and to look me in the eye”.
Kristina Keneally declared the encounter Morrison’s “Mark Latham moment”, referring to Latham’s aggressive handshake with then prime minister John Howard on the eve of the 2004 election which many believe damaged Labor’s chances.
Of course, in 2019 Morrison claimed election victory in a stunning political “miracle” that devastated the Labor Party and forced Shorten to step down as its leader.
‘Reprehensible’: Dutton hits out at Wong over comments on the Solomon Islands
By Cassandra Morgan
Defence Minister Peter Dutton maintains Australian officials’ decisions have been in the country’s best interests when it comes to the Solomon Islands, as he hits out at Labor foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong for criticising the government on the issue.
Wong has labelled Australia’s inability to dissuade the Solomon Islands from signing a security agreement with China as the “worst failure of Australian foreign policy in the Pacific” in almost 80 years.
Speaking on ABC Radio Melbourne moments ago, Dutton said the opposition hasn’t had the briefings that those on the National Security Committee have been privy to.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“The convention normally is that a foreign affairs spokesperson like Penny Wong would actually conduct yourself in a way that was befitting her position going into an election, but that seems not to be the case,” he said.
“I know Anthony Albanese is staying quiet on this issue, but Penny Wong is out there taking it up for the leader of the opposition.
“I think if you look at what we’re doing, we’re trying to make every decision possible to keep peace in the Indo-Pacific.“
Dutton said Wong was “damaging our national interest” at the moment and it was, “frankly, reprehensible”.
Dutton said Australia had to be realistic about what was going on in its region. He said the Solomon Islands made a commitment they won’t have a military presence there, “and I’m sure that’s their intention”.
“I think the difficulty is that if you look at what President Xi has done, and the path he has China on now - a very different path than it was, say, 10 years ago - [that’s] quite a remarkable change,” he said.
Dutton said it was perfectly appropriate for Pacific Minister Zed Seselja to go to the Solomon Islands over Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne.
Liberals resigned to Katherine Deves remaining as Warringah candidate
By James Massola and Alexandra Smith
NSW Liberals say they’re resigned to embattled Katherine Deves remaining the party’s Warringah candidate, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison dug in to support her and declared Australians were “fed up with having to walk on eggshells”.
Ahead of candidate nominations closing at midday on Thursday, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said he had learned “don’t send text messages” after a message he sent Morrison backing Deves was leaked.
Deves has faced calls from within the Liberal Party, led by NSW Liberal Treasurer Matt Kean, to stand aside because of her views on transgender people and women’s sports, and for inflammatory past comments on the issue that have invoked Nazism and the stolen generation.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Katherine Deves and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age spoke to five Liberal MPs at state and federal level on Wednesday, who asked not to be named so they could discuss internal party matters, and all expected Deves would not be removed from the Liberal ticket before nominations closed.
Deves has declared she is “not going anywhere” and accused her critics for “vile” bullying.
You can read the full report here.
Payne Solomons visit isn’t the ‘fundamental issue’, says Pacific Minister
By Amelia McGuire
Pacific Minister Zed Seselja says the focus of the Solomon Islands’ decision to sign a security agreement with China should be on how Australia can sustain relations with the Pacific Islands neighbour, not on whether to send Foreign Minister Marise Payne to visit.
Labor and former foreign minister Julie Bishop have both criticised the government for not sending Payne earlier but Seselja told the ABC, “the fundamental issue is how we can continue to engage at every level with the Solomon Islands government.”
Solomon Islands PM Manasseh Sogavare met Australia’s Pacific Minister Zed Seselja in Honiara this month.
“We have a disagreement on this, as friends and a Pacific family [we] will continue to express that.
“We will ask for the Solomon Islands government [that] they be transparent about what is in the agreement,” he said.
Seselja said it was important to continue to monitor the extent of the security pact as Australia has had “good assurances” there will never be Chinese military bases in the region and Australia will continue to be the security partner of choice.
Western Australia Premier in COVID-19 isolation
By Holly Thompson
Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan has announced he is in isolation after a family member tested positive to COVID-19, as the state records 8080 new cases.
In a statement, McGowan said he had taken a PCR test at Rockingham General Hospital, which had returned a negative result on Wednesday morning. “I will continue to follow the health guidelines as so many Western Australians have done during this pandemic,” he said.
WA Premier Mark McGowan.Credit:Flavio Brancaleone
“I’ll be working from home for the duration of my isolation period as required.
“I would like to thank the committed staff at our testing clinics across Western Australia who are doing a vital job in detecting and monitoring the spread of COVID-19,” he said.
Today’s headlines at a glance
By Amelia McGuire
The 10th day of the federal election campaign has shaped up to be a big one. At 7pm, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition leader Anthony Albanese will face off in the first campaign debate in Brisbane.
Here’s a quick summary of what’s happened so far.
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison defended the government’s Solomon Islands strategy after the Pacific Islands nation signed a security pact with China, saying it was not Australia’s right to dictate terms to the Solomon Islands because the two countries are “siblings” not “children and adults.”
- Morrison was asked why Foreign Minister Marise Payne attended a business dinner in Sydney instead of visiting the Solomons after the announcement of the China deal. He said it was a strategic decision to send Pacific Minister Zed Seselja – who is not a member of federal cabinet – to represent Australia.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce expressed a different opinion to Morrison about the Solomon Islands security pact with China. Mr Joyce on Wednesday afternoon suggested it would lead to China establishing a military presence in the Solomons.
Former Coalition Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also contradicted Morrison’s claim and argued the current Foreign Minister Marise Payne should visit the Solomons as soon as possible.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison with the Solomons Islands leader Manasseh Sogavare.Credit:ninevms
- Household contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Victoria and New South Wales will no longer need to isolate for seven days as of this weekend, following a series of changes to the state’s pandemic rules. Unvaccinated travellers to NSW will no longer be required to hotel quarantine.
- The country recorded 38 deaths and 50,966 new cases of COVID-19.
NSW and Victoria have changed the COVID-19 close contact isolation requirements.Credit:Kate Geraghty, Joe Armao
- The Australian charities’ commissioner warned the sector against endorsing political candidates for the upcoming federal election, after the chief executive of Guide Dogs Victoria appeared in promotional material supporting Josh Frydenberg’s re-election.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.Credit:James Brickwood
Labor will become the first major party to formally launch its federal election campaign in Western Australia. Anthony Albanese confirmed the party will launch its campaign in Perth on May 1 with Labor Premier Mark McGowan to play a role in the proceedings.
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan and Opposition leader Anthony Albanese. Credit:Matt Jelonek/Getty Images
Australia records 38 deaths and 50,966 new cases of COVID-19
By Amelia McGuire
The country has recorded 38 deaths and 50,966 new cases of COVID-19 as New South Wales and Victoria prepare to ease household close contact restrictions.
Here’s a state by state breakdown of today’s COVID update.
- NSW- 15 deaths and 15,414 new cases.
- VIC- 14 deaths and 10,628 new cases.
- QLD- six deaths and 8,995 new cases.
- SA- two deaths and 4,256 new cases.
- NT- one death and 594 new cases.
- WA- zero deaths 8,080 new cases.
- TAS- zero deaths and 1,819 new cases.
- ACT- zero deaths and 1,180 new cases.
Solomons security pact with China ‘deeply disturbing’, Bishop says
By Mike Foley
Former Coalition foreign minister Julie Bishop has contradicted the prime minister’s claim that it was “false” to say the Solomon Islands security pact with China could lead to a military presence on the islands.
Bishop also disagreed with Scott Morrison over his diplomatic strategy, arguing that Foreign Minister Marise Payne should visit the Solomons as soon as possible.
“It is deeply disturbing,” Bishop said. “It’s the great power competition playing out between the US and China in our region.”
Former foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop.Credit:Andrew Meares
“While we don’t have the details, this could well mean there could be Chinese military bases on the Solomon Islands and that really changes the dynamic in our region.
“I believe our foreign minister should be on the next plane to the Solomon Islands to talk with the government to see what’s actually been agreed.”
Earlier today Morrison said it was a strategic decision for Pacific Minister Zed Seselja, who is not a member of federal Cabinet, to represent Australia instead of Payne.
“I’m very conscious of how visits are perceived within the Pacific. This was a calibrated way to address this issue with the prime minister,” he said.
“One of the things you got to be very, very cognisant of is there is a long history of frankly countries like Australia and even New Zealand and others coming around and treating Pacific Islands like they should be doing what the big countries should tell them to do.”
Joyce says China could establish military presence in Solomons
By Mike Foley
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has expressed a different opinion to the prime minister about the Solomon Islands’ security pact with China.
Joyce on Wednesday afternoon suggested it would lead to China establishing a military presence in the Solomons.
“They’ve decided to have a pact with China – dual purpose – which means China is able, if they follow this through, to set up a military base there ... That’s a very bad day for Australia. We don’t want our own little Cuba off our coast.”
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
At a press conference on Wednesday, Morrison said it was a “false claim” to infer the deal would result in a Chinese base being built in the Solomons.
Morrison was asked this afternoon why Pacific Minister Zed Seselja was sent to the Solomon Islands after the deal’s announcement. Foreign Minister Marise Payne was hosting a private fundraising event for the Coalition in Sydney.
He said it was a strategic decision for Seselja, who is not a member of federal cabinet, to represent Australia.
“I’m very conscious of how visits are perceived within the Pacific. This was a calibrated way to address this issue with the prime minister,” he said.
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2022-04-20 08:28:06Z
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