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Where do you want? Back-to-Back Bally in the first week of the campaign
The federal election campaign was just a week ago when Donald Trump reorganized his global trading order.
And in Australia, leaders overturned many positions. But in a campaign that is not inspired, where is the promise of hope?
Tony Barry and Barry Cassidy look into the impact of the new tariffs on Australia just four weeks after the election. They are also discussing Dutton’s plan to cut down on public sector workers.
Listen here:
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Updated with 21.00 EDT
Independent Sophie Scamps will begin re-elect bids with free concerts
Independent MP Sophie Scamp has revived the 2022 “Election Beat” concert. Lime Cordiale and Le Shiv are scheduled to take the stage today in the name of democracy.
The free community event in Sydney’s Northern Beach is expected to attract around 3,000 locals and will officially launch the Scamp reelection campaign.
She said traditional party politics is “no use to future generations.”
Millennials and ZS make up 40% of voters in this year’s election and are loudly listening to what they want to do in climate change, affordable housing, the economy working for them, and the future they can believe in.
The voice of the young man is now owned in Canberra by the same old vested interests and lobby groups. Politicians need to listen and engage young people in policy decisions rather than simply talking to them and making decisions that ultimately lead to a more unequal future for young people.
Oli Leimbach of Lime Cordiale said the band is playing gigs to “encourage people to vote for the Scamp.”
Certainly, we care a lot about live music (and so is Sophie), but we are marine enthusiasts and environmentalists, representing equality and integrity. That’s everything about Northern Beach and that’s why we vote for Sophie.
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Updated with 20.52 EDT
The NT government supports a coalition program to bring Darwin Port back to Australia’s hands
The Northern Territory government supported the coalition’s announcement to bring Darwin Port back to Australia’s hands.
Acting Prime Minister Gerald Marie, who previously appeared with Peter Dutton, said the ball was in the hands of Anthony Albanese to detail his plans.
Prime Minister Albanese has insisted that he will intervene directly, but has not provided details. Territories need certainty, not vague statements.
If Australians elect the Dutton Union Government, we will work with them to ensure that the Port of Darwin is managed for the greatest interests of the territory and the country.
Territory logistics and infrastructure minister Bil Yang said he had been working “in good faith” with the federal government since late last year, but “we don’t know what their plans are yet.”
At every stage of this, the CLP is fighting for the territory, which continues under the Dutton Union in Canberra.
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Updated with 21.06 EDT
Are you paying attention this week?
Me and Elias Visontey have put together a campaign quiz that covers all the gaffes, gags and the mediocre oddities.
Who will win the federal election? We don’t know, but fortunately, that’s not one of the questions. See how you pay for the fare:
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Updated with 20.55 EDT
Albanese and the UK’s priorities are debating Trump’s response to tariffs
Global fallout continues among the major US allies over the Trump administration’s fundamental tariffs.
The UK has the same 10% tariff rate as Australia imposed, and the baseline rate applies to all countries.
The ABC reports that Anthony Albanese discussed global responses with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and its efforts to prevent trade barriers from continuing to escalate.
A spokesman for the prime minister said it “reaffirmed the need to support free and fair trade and ensure that leaders do not escalate trade obstacles,” but a priority spokesperson said “a full trade war is extremely damaging and no one’s profits.”
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Updated with 20.07 EDT
So where is Dutton heading next?
He told reporters at the end of the press conference that he had the opportunity to photograph later today and that there was a “probably a gasoline stop.”
Peter Dutton at Carlingford’s “Gasoline Stop.” Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP
Dutton eagerly pumped the Bowser on a visit to Carlingford’s service station, northwest of Sydney yesterday, but perhaps Darwin’s servos have better lighting for the photos.
He also said the press pack had changed somewhat when we entered the second week of the campaign, telling reporters during his presser that the pace was “too fast.”
Welcome to our new face…Thank you for joining us here. I burned a few others. The pace is too fast. They rested. Some have been primed. It’s well done.
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Updated with 19.56 EDT
If you’re wondering what the Union’s work from Home Policy actually means, you can understand that it’s confusing.
Jane Hume, Minister of Shadow Finance and Public Services, introduced the policy on March 3rd. “If you can make an exception,” she said.
Since then, it has returned, and Dutton has declared that it applies only to Canberra civil servants.
Now he says “continues flexibility,” and appears to indicate an existing EBA that allows staff to work from home.
Therefore, if you are a civil servant outside of Canberra, or if you have the ability to work from home embedded in an enterprise contract, you will be exempt.
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Updated with 19.49 EDT
The final question comes from Andrew Provin. Andrew Provin may remember that in 2020, when Scott Morrison said he would not hold a press conference.
I know that eliminating public services is a bit of a political sport and has been around for decades, but you’ve added some kind of complexion to your home policy. You say it only affects people working in Canberra in public services.
Why can someone who works for the defense forces of Mr. Hasty’s town of Perth, who live outside the law, be able to work from home rather than from Canberra?
Dutton says “the majority of public services are in Canberra.”
Dutton:
Under the public services Mr. Rudd and Mr. Gillard, from that period until now, the way they increased the number of civil servants under this government has increased by three. In Canberra, local parts where civil servants work remotely have travel and a variety of dynamics. Whether it’s in Canberra or outside Canberra, there’s still flexibility.
Our point is that they want the most efficient one for taxpayers who are working harder than ever under this government. So I think people have reasonable expectations that when taxpayer dollars contribute to public services, they are providing public services in the most efficient way possible.
And he’s off!
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Updated with 19.47 EDT
Dutton points out the fact that women with children work in Canberra’s public services.
Yes, but we said we are also very pleased with the flexibility in the workplace… We must ensure that taxpayer money is most efficient from that investment in the wages of Canberra civil servants.
I think it’s dishonorable because the Prime Minister is there and Jim Chalmers and others are trying to scare women in workplaces around the country. I said if you have existing arrangements that occur in Canberra in public services, you have an EBA that allows work from home arrangements, we have not proposed to change them, and that is the reality.
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Updated with 19.45 EDT
Peter Dutton at a press conference in Darwin. Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP
On other issues, Dutton is asked about YouGov Polling, which was released last night.
“Would you like to reconsider your policy?”
He accused the government of “scaring Australians.”
Their response on Medicare to suggest that we cut money from hospital funds and Medicare when we are in government, that’s a complete lie… Why do they want to scare women when the policy doesn’t affect anyone except for Canberra’s civil servants?
Two-thirds of civil servants live outside of Canberra.
Dutton continues to talk about Medicare.
I think those who hear the Labour Party are lying at this point. I think that’s important.
Dutton says he is “strongly supportive” for his work from home, and the policy has not affected the private or public sector outside of Canberra, accusing the prime minister of “lying to Australian women.”
Why he is out there trying to deceive people, that is a question you have to ask him. But I think it’s actually quite late, and I think the Prime Minister is caught up in talking FIBS a few times now, and his record is beginning to build the words I don’t trust about some of these issues.
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Updated with 19.50 EDT
