Australian news and politics recap: Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg won’t rule out return to politics
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Key Events
Charges laid over Dutton’s office vandalism
Queensland Police have charged an 18-year-old woman in relation to the alleged vandalism of Peter Dutton’s Arana Hills office.
Police were called to a street in Mitchelton at around 2.30am on Tuesday following reports of four people “acting suspiciously”.
The vehicle fled but tracking dogs located a woman in Leslie Patrick Park.
After locating the woman, the grafitti on Mr Dutton’s office was discovered.
“An 18-year-old Chapel Hill woman has been charged with one count of wilful damage and is expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on May 20,” a Queensland Police spokesperson said.
SEE THE PICS: Dutton’s office attacked
Dutton’s office vandalised during election week
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s office in Arana Hills has been vandalised for the third time during the Federal election campaign.
Red paint was splashed over windows and the brick, with signs stuck to the building’s exterior.
Speaking from the scene, Sunrise reporter Georgie Chumbley said: “This is the third time that this office has been targeted in just three weeks.”
“Red paint splashed all over the doors, all over the scene, all over Peter Dutton’s face here.
“Some of the paint, there’s so much of it that some of it is still wet.
“There have been posters that have been plastered along the walls here and a sign spray-painted along the ground. An incredible act of vandalism.”
Taylor says Coalition costings to come ‘in next couple of days’
Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor, just four days out from the Federal election, says the Coalition’s costings will come “in the next couple of days”.
The vague answer, given on Channel 7’s Sunrise, comes after Labor shared its costings on Monday.
“You will see them in the next couple of days, and (the) preview is (that) you will see a stronger budget position than Labor’s costings yesterday,” Mr Taylor said.
“Deficits as far as the eye can see. We are on our way to $2.3 trillion of debt and our credit rating is at risk now,” he said about Labor’s costings.
“That means that every Australian will pay more than before.
“That is exactly what Labor have done. You will see a stronger budget and lower tax (with the Coalition).
“We will support small businesses. That is what Australia needs right now”.
Minor party boost could give Dutton ‘narrow path’ to PM
Peter Dutton is running out of runway in his bid to win the election, but a rise in protest votes against major parties could see his prime ministerial aspirations get off the ground.
With four days until polls close, the opposition leader is seeking to defy the national polls in a come-from-behind victory to become Australia’s 32nd prime minister, as he blitzes marginal seats.
While Mr Dutton is facing a considerable challenge to unseat Anthony Albanese, former media chief to Scott Morrison turned consultant Andrew Carswell said a path to victory was still possible for the coalition.
“The path is narrow, though it’s narrowing by the day, but I think the best most can do is ignore the established polls out there at the moment, because what we’ll see on Saturday will be out of step,” he told AAP.
“While Labor is very much the short odds to be in minority government, it will be closer than people think.”
A Roy Morgan poll on Monday showed Labor remained on track to form a majority government, leading 53 to 47 per cent on a two-party preferred basis despite a slight improvement in the coalition’s position.
Despite Mr Carswell saying a majority government is “awfully difficult” for the coalition to achieve, a rise in support for right-wing minor parties could flow back to the opposition.
