Australian politics and April 23 recap: Albanese goes on the attack over Liberals’ $21b defence plan

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Anthony Albanese visited voters in Mandurah on Wednesday evening, attending a pre-polling booth in the seat of Canning.

Ava Berryman reports that voters said Mr Albanese’s presence didn’t sway the “easy” decisions they were making, though those filling out ballots wouldn’t be drawn on which way their vote had gone.

The Prime Minister stayed at the pre-polling station for about 10 minutes, during which a handful of voters cast their ballots.

He just missed running into Canning MP and shadow defence minister Andrew Hastie by about 20 minutes as Mr Albanese travelled to Perth from Collie to prepare for The West Australian’s Leadership Matters event on Thursday morning.

An elderly man has been “seriously assaulted” outside a polling booth in Sydney on the second day of early voting.

NSW Police were called to Liverpool Road in the inner-west suburb of Ashfield following reports of the assault.

The man, believed to be in his 80s, was treated by paramedics before being rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious condition.

Police arrested a 17-year-old boy at the scene, with a NSW Police spokesperson saying “he is assisting with inquiries”.

“A crime scene has been established at the scene, which will be examined by specialist police,” the spokesperson said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Mr Albanese said the Labor government had put in $57b additional funding over ten years in defence.

“We are following the Defence Strategic Review. We’ve turned AUKUS from an announcement into something that’s tangible, going forward.

“We’ve invested in our capability, but we’ve also invested in our relationships.

“So the defence agreements that we’ve had upgraded with Japan, with India participating in some of the processes that have taken place with Indonesia, with the Philippines, as well as with, of course, the United States and the United Kingdom have all been important.

“I haven’t seen any specific programs from this (Liberal) defence announcement today. I find it extraordinary that you try to get a headline with a big number, and then there’s nothing of what the big number should be invested in.

“What is it that they are saying we should invest in our capability, and how should we pay for it? They’re the big questions.”

Mr Albanese also pointed to plans to begin producing missiles made in Australia.

The Prime Minister has gone on the attack over Peter Dutton’s defence plan, labelling it a “media release in search of a policy”.

The Coalition’s defence plan involves investing an extra $21 billion in the next five years, increasing the overall defence spending to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product.

It would be a jump over five years from the current level of 2.04 per cent.

It has also set a goal of reaching 3 per cent within a decade.

Labor’s eight-year plan is to lift defence spending to 2.3 per cent of GDP by 2033.

“(Dutton) is unable to say where the money would come from, except for saying, confirming, that they will put up income taxes this election campaign,” Mr Alabanese said.

“It’s a choice between Labor that will lower your income tax and the Coalition that will increase your income taxes, but that doesn’t cover the amount that they’ve announced a well. So, on top of that, there’ll be more cuts needed.

“He also hasn’t been able to say what the money would be used for.

“It’s extraordinary that you make this announcement with a very large figure in the tens of billions of dollars.

“You can’t say what you will use the money for. You can’t say where all the money will come from.

“This is an Opposition that have not done the hard work, whether it’s defence policy, whether it’s nuclear policy, they can’t explain any of how it would actually roll out. And then they have a team that for most of the campaign are in hiding and haven’t been able to come forward at all and Mr Hastie is just one example of that.”

Anthony Albanese has been grilled over his continuing support for Labor’s candidate for the seat of Flynn, Helen Madell, after it was revealed in now-deleted tweets from 2020 that she had accused the late Pope Francis of providing “ongoing support for paedos”.

“She made a mistake that shouldn’t have happened and people, if they go back through their history in social media, I’m sure there’s lot’s of people have said things they regret.

“She has said she regrets it and that’s entirely appropriate.”

Mr albanese was asked why Ms Madell’s case was different to that of former Liberal candidate for Whitlam, Benjamin Britten.

Journalist: “He was disendorsed for saying that women shouldn’t serve in combat roles. So I guess this goes back to why. Why don’t you think Helen should be disendorsed for her comments?”

Albanese: “Helen Mardell regrets the comments that she’s made.”

Anthony Albanese is speaking in WA coal town Collie with Premier Roger Cook and State Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation Amber-Jade Sanderson.

The town is at the centre of Peter Dutton’s WA nuclear plan, but the Opposition leader has copped flak for not consultating with the community.

It’s a point Mr Albanese made sure to touch on.

“I, unlike the Leader of the Opposition, have actually met with people in Collie,” he said.

“I have been to businesses in Collie, there’s a whole critical minerals industry.

“Peter Dutton has not been anywhere near any of the nuclear power plants that he proposes the nuclear sites. He hasn’t been here.”

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and the Liberal National Coalition have buddied up, breaking a 30-year stand off.

One Nation has rewritten its how to vote cards, urging Pauline Hanson supporters to mark the Coalition candidate as their second preference on the ballot.

The Coalition has returned the favour, suggesting voters vote One Nation as their second preference in the vast majority of lower house seats.

Read the full story.

Labor is standing by its candidate for the central Queensland seat of Flynn, Helen Madell, who in now-deleted tweets from 2020 accused the late Pope Francis of providing “ongoing support for paedos”.

Housing Minister Clare O’Neil told Sunrise the tweets were inappropriate but excused the candidate for making them because she has counselled child sex abuse victims.

“Your question about the candidate — I mean, this is a person who has counselled child sexual abuse victims,” Labor frontbencher Clare O’Neil said.

​Read the full story​

Dr Chalmers said Labor is “the only party” with a credible, costed budget.

“They have just stumbled from one shambles from another,” Dr Chalmers said.

“In these uncertain time for the global economy, we (Labor) offer stability.

“The Opposition offer only risk.

“There is never a good time to take a risk.”

Mr Taylor said: “This election is about who can manage the economy better.”

“Our plan will estabilish a strong economy.”

Mr Taylor said that his background, from working on the farm to advising senior leaders in business, made him the best candidate to be Australia’s treasurer.