Australian news and politics recap: Dutton targets ABC, Guardian as ‘hate media’ telling voters not to listen
Scroll down for the latest news and updates.
Key Events
Dutton urges supporters to ignore ABC and Guardian and other ‘hate media’
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton concluded his campaign speech by urging supporters to dismiss media narratives, framing the Coalition as champions of “forgotten Australians” ahead of the federal election.
“What you have been told by the ABC, in the Guardian and the other hate media...Forget about that. Listen to what you hear on the doors. Listen to what people say on the pre-polling. Know in your hearts that we are a better future for our country,” he said.
“Know we stand up for the values that are important more than ever for families and small businesses. If we stay true to our values and have a strength of leadership, if we have the ability to be truthful with the Australian public, to stand up and to fight for what we believe in, to deliver our vision, to make Australians better off with our petrol cut, with our $1,200 back, to make sure they can buy a home, that is so important to us.”
“There are millions of forgotten Australians, people who are living here, in outer metropolitan areas, people who live in regional towns, they are just starting to stir and they understand their vote will count more than ever this election.”
Labor defends new 24/7 Medicare hotline amid duplication concerns
Labor’s Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has defended the party’s pledge to introduce a free 24/7 Medicare health hotline, insisting it is not a “double up” of the existing government-funded Health Direct service.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will commit $204.5 million to launch the after-hours GP telehealth service, called 1800MEDICARE, which will connect patients to a registered nurse who can provide advice or refer them to another health service.
Asked on Sky News on Sunday why Labor would introduce something similar to the established Health Direct service, Ms Gallagher said the new hotline was designed to “supplement” the existing platform.
“We’re supplementing it essentially,” she said.
“Health Direct as it exists now, operates… essentially as an advisory line.
“This, then the extra investment in this, will mean that out of hours and on weekends, if that nurse thinks that you need to see a GP via telehealth, that will be able to be provided.
“It’s really looking at how we can ensure that people can get access to healthcare when they need it and without charge.”
She said the telehealth service would be free, would triage calls, and would refer patients to emergency departments or assist with emergency scripts if necessary.
Gallagher, Hastie says respective parties to release costings in coming days
Both major parties are expected to release their election costings in the coming days, after weeks of splashing billion-dollar promises throughout the campaign.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie told Sky News this morning that their respective party’ plans would soon be made public.
With just six days until polling day, questions remain about where savings will be found to fund the big-ticket pledges.
Ms Gallagher confirmed Labor’s savings plan would be included in its costings, saying: “We’re looking to release those in the next in the first half of this week”.
“You’ll see our costings and they’ll be there. The majority of the spending that we’ve done through this campaign, where we’ve done some additional spending, you’ll see the ways that we are going to pay for that,” she said.
“Labor have found savings through every budget, and we’ll continue that approach.”
Mr Hastie also told SkyNews they would come clean on their savings plan soon.
“Our costings will be released in due course. We want to have a balanced, reasoned and sensible budget, and our costings for all our policies, including defence, will be released in coming days,” he said.
It comes as about 1.78 million voters have already cast their ballots at pre-polling centres.
Free, 24/7 hotline pledged as Labor’s final health push
Australians could soon access free, expert health advice at all hours of the day, as Labor champions Medicare in one of its final campaign pushes.
If his party is re-elected, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will commit $204.5 million to launch 1800MEDICARE, a 24/7 nation-wide health advice and after-hours GP telehealth service backed by Medicare.
From January 1, Australians who call the number will be connected to a registered nurse who can provide advice or refer them to another health service.
Anyone who needs urgent GP care for something like an emergency prescription or treatment for a short-term illness or injury, can be connected to a free telehealth consultation with a GP between 6pm and 8am.
Dutton commences final push for 21 seats
Peter Dutton will embark on a last-ditch attempt to turn voter sentiment around in the final week of the election campaign in a blitz of dozens of seats across the country.
Just days out from the May 3 vote, the Opposition Leader will visit up to 28 key electorates, mainly held by Labor, as he makes his bid for majority government.
Mr Dutton will on Sunday evening go head-to-head with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the fourth and final leaders’ debate, to be held by Seven.
Polling throughout the five-week race has consistently shown Mr Albanese cement his lead as preferred prime minister over Mr Dutton, as the Coalition began to increasingly trail Labor on a two-party preferred basis.
The Coalition needs to gain 21 seats to secure a majority, and believes this election is winnable, as Mr Dutton fights for every vote.
The Opposition Leader will start the final push in Labor heartland in Melbourne’s west at a rally with hundreds of party faithful.
He will then begin crisscrossing Australia, where he will spruik the Coalition’s promised cost-of-living relief measures, economic management and national security message.
