Australian politics and news live: Albanese, Dutton final face-off in election debate confirmed for Channel 7
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Key Events
Dutton says food bank funding means ‘more mouths would be reached’
The funding announcement is part of the Coalition’s commitment to provide $50m over four years for food banks, which was unveiled in Peter Dutton’s Budget reply speech.
Mr Dutton said the funding would mean “more food and more mouths would be reached” and more homes would have better food security.
Dutton pledges $19.5m for food assistance
Nicola Smith reports Peter Dutton is in the Brisbane seat of Griffith to announce a $19.5 million funding commitment to boost support for Queenslanders experiencing food insecurity.
The Opposition Leader made a brief tour of the factory before helping to pack food like mixed vegetables, pasta sauce and noodles into cardboard boxes.
The state’s largest food relief charity supplies 26 million meals every year to struggling families and it says the new funding will be used to construct a new distribution centre.
CEO Jess Watkinson said the cash injection was “greatly appreciated.”
PM publicly condemns Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has publicly condemned a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday.
At least 34 civilians have died and more than 100 people, including children, have been injured.
The strike was conducted on Palm Sunday, a holy day for those of the Christian faith, during religious services and hit areas such as a university conference centre.
“Australia condemns Russia’s horrific attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, killing and injuring civilians including children,” he said in a statement.
“This gross violation of international law was carried out as many Ukrainians gathered for Palm Sunday - one of the holiest days of the year for those of the Christian faith.
“We stand unwavering in our support for Ukraine and for a just and lasting peace.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned the attack as an act of deliberate terrorism and genocide.
Dutton claims progressive group GetUp! shapeshifted into ‘deceptive’ Teal movement
Peter Dutton has accused the now washed up Get Up! campaign of shapeshifting into the background of campaigns run by the Teals.
Speaking at a press conference in the Brisbane Greens-held, former Liberal seat of Ryan on Monday, also accused Greens and Teals of deceiving voters across several seats across the country, including in his Queensland marginal seat of Dickson.
“The GetUp campaign which is now defunct has gone into the Teal campaign,” he said.
“And Teal campaign in my seat (of Dickson) … is spending a lot of money, is funded by a billionaire out of Sydney, is actually a Green trying to pretend to people … that she’s not.
“I can tell you a lot of feedback I have had is people are calling it out, and I think she’s actually been caught out lying on video as well. So that will all play out. But I have worked hard in Dixon.”
He also addressed Labor’s all out war in Mr Dutton’s own seat, with his opponent working hard to take the seat from the Liberal leader.
“Labor (are) put out a fundraising email which started this propaganda campaign,” he said.
“I wouldn’t fall for that.
“I think we can win Brisbane, I think we can win Ryan. I certainly think we’ve got a very good shot in Blair and Lilley, and I think if the Prime Minister is still continuing with the charade he can form a majority government, I think people are seeing through that pretty quickly.”
‘Mr Fix-it’: Peter Dutton promises to ‘fix Labor’s mess’ if elected
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has pinned himself as a Bob-the-builder type Mr Fix-it man this morning.
“I want to be a Prime Minister who can fix the economy that Labor has damaged,” he said during his press conference in the Queensland seat of Ryan on Monday morning.
“I want to be a Prime Minister who can fix the cost-of-living crisis that Labor’s created.
“I want to be a Prime Minister who can fix the housing dilemma that has been created over many budgets.
“We can fix up Labor’s energy crisis which is jacking up the cost of everything.
“We’re going to fix the problem and we’re going to help young Australians get back into housening.”
Nonna says Albo a ‘natural’ in the kitchen
Anthony Albanese joined forces with SA Premier Peter Malinauskas to serve up meals for delivery to Adelaide elderly and people with disabilities by local non-profit organisation Nonna’s Cucina.
The Prime Minister joked that it was federal-state cooperation in action, before promising the group $95,000 to upgrade their kitchen.
Nonna Rosa Matto directed the leaders and Labor’s candidate for Sturt Claire Clutterham to serve portions of vegetable slice, pumpkin and broccoli.
“You’re a natural!” she gushed to the apron-clad PM.
“We’ve got an opening for an apprentice.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong joined in to slide trays of meals onto the trolley ready for packing into heated bags and delivered within two hours.
She said a youth spent working hospitality jobs put her in good stead for the task.
Dutton accuses Labor of most ‘wasteful spending’ than any government of 40 years
Peter Dutton has again slammed Labor for ‘wasteful spending’, which has been a common attack line the Coalition have rolled out through the election campaign.
The opposition leader says Labor has been splashing cash more than any other government in the past few decades.
“A big spending by the Labor and Greens Government would be a disaster,” he said.
“We’re not supporting Labor’s wastefulspending because I don’t want inflation to go up.
“A big spending Labor-Greens Government is going to drive up the cost of inflation and the cost of interest rates.
“This is the biggest spending Government in 40 years. They’re the biggest spending Government because Labor can’t help themselves. They always tax, they spend.”
It comes as the Coalition have announced a suite of costly policies but little measures to pay for them.
One of their key measures to repair the budget - axing public service workers, was repealed last week after it didn’t wash well with voters.
Dutton says he doesn’t want ‘bank of mum and dad’ to be only path to home ownership
The Opposition leader has been asked if his son Harry Dutton would tap into the “bank of mum and dad” to help him buy a house.
It comes after Mr Dutton Jnr fronted media alongside his father and shared his ambition to own a home during his press conference in the Brisbane seat of Ryan.
Peter Dutton said he didn’t want first home ownership in Australia to be limited to people who had the privilege of loaning money from their parents.
“I don’t want to be accepting a situation where only mums and dads who can afford to give their kids help,” he said.
“I really strongly, firmly believe in home ownership. Home ownership is so critically important.
“Young Australians are putting off having kids at the moment because they can’t afford rent under Labor and they can’t afford to save for a house under Labor.
“Older Australians who have done nothing more than just worked hard, saved hard for their own retirement thought they maybe give their kids a bit of a hand, $10,000 or $20,000 maybe when they’re buying a house.
“They’re now putting off their retirement so they can stay working for longer to try to get a bit of money to help their kids with a deposit or maybe the monthly repayments.
“That’s what Mr Albanese has created - a huge mess.”
Opposition leader’s son speaks about home ownership ambitions on campaign trail
Peter Dutton’s son Harry Dutton has stepped up to the microphone during the opposition leader’s press conference in the Brisbane seat of Ryan this morning.
He was asked about his ambitions of home ownership as his father was talking about the housing policy Coalition unveiled at their launch on Sunday.
Mr Dutton junior is an apprentice carpenter, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Bruce Dutton, who worked in construction.
“It’s been great being on the campaign trail with him,” he said.
“Going all over and seeing all different people and all different industries.
“I am saving up for a house and so is my sister.
“But as you probably heard, it’s almost impossible to get in - in the current state.
“So I mean we’re saving like mad, but it doesn’t look like we’ll get there in the near future. But we’d love that.”
Dutton says PM’s 100,000 promised homes is ‘fictional’ empty pledge
Peter Dutton has labelled Anthony Albanese as a liar over his latest first-home buyer focused housing policy.
Mr Albanese pledged of $10b to build 100,000 homes exclusively for first-time buyers to move into from 2027 at his campaign launch in Perth on Sunday.
“I’m not going to accept the Prime Minister’s lie to the Australian people that somehow building 100,000 fictional homes is going to fix the problem. It’s not. We are the only party with a policy at this election which provides support to every Australian,” he said.
“I want to make sure that we can do everything we can if we’re fortunate enough to win the election to restore that dream of home ownership and this is the way we can do it.
“We hope that Australians can see some light past this dark period of the Albanese Government. Help is coming. People need to vote for the Coalition at the next election and we can deliver that.”
