Day 19 of the Federal election campaign and we had a leader's debate. General assessment was that the night was won by Bill Shorten, partially because he had big policies to defend and actually did so, and showed that Morrison policy cupboard consists of "stop the boats" and "tax cuts" (for the rich; $77 bn actually, but people aren't talking about that). Hilarious gaffe (in my opinion) was Morrison's closing statement that the election comes down to... who do you trust to manage the economy? Given this government's utterly dismal record on economic management, he may have driven voters to Shorten's arms.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-29/scott-morrison-bill-shorten-perth...
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/apr/18/high-income-earne...
In hyperbole stakes it's hard to beat LNP education minister Dan Tehan's efforts today, when to complained that Labor's $4bn childcare policy was COMMUNISM. Apparently, because taxpayers pay for it. Like defense, infrastructure, and politician's wages. Perhaps Dan Tehan's a crypto-communist? Perhaps Bill Shorten is planning on introducing the Australian Soviet Medal of Motherhood?
Or maybe it's just a well-funded social welfare policy that gives those children who start off in life less well-off a bit of a boost from which we'll all benefit in the future.
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/government-labels-labor-childca...
Labor may have lost a candidate! Specifically, Northern Territory Senate candidate Wayne Kurnoth is expected to step down after The Australian has revealed that he shared a conspiracy theory that claims the world is being run by a secret society of Jewish shape-shifting lizards. Personally, I am in favour of the world being controlled by Jewish shape-shifting lizards. They'd probably do a better job.
In another note, Clive Palmer might be losing up to 19 candidates due to failures to provide Australian Electoral Commission birth details of parents or grandparents.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/labor-candidate-to-resi...
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/apr/28/question-mark-ove...
In a crazy interview, Palmer also said that he intends to be Prime Minister. But then that it doesn't matter who is Prime Minister. Then, in an epic display of humility...
"My wealth is four thousand million dollars, do you think I give a stuff about what you personally think?"
https://twitter.com/TheTodayShow/status/1122615758570131456