Hello readers, and welcome to today’s election edition of Afternoon Update.
Most of the day 12 campaign action has centred on the Coalition’s gas plan and modelling estimates that it would drive down household gas bills by 7%.
The climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, condemned the Frontier Economics analysis as a “scamphlet”, describing the 15-page document as “alleged modelling” that included only 135 words on how it would affect electricity prices.
“I’ve seen longer menus in a restaurant than this,” Bowen said. Hours earlier, the Coalition energy spokesperson, Ted O’Brien, was vague about when the gas plan’s promised savings would kick in. He did acknowledge there was “likely to be a lag” on when it translated to lower power bills.
It comes ahead of another election debate, this time between the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, and the opposition’s pick for the job, Angus Taylor. You can follow that debate live on Guardian Australia’s election blog.
Today’s big stories
It’s Anthony Albanese with the pep in his step on Wednesday, after he was crowned victor of the first leaders’ debate in western Sydney.
The leaders remained in Sydney, with Dutton holding a press conference to promote his gas plan. He also updated reporters on the condition of his father, Bruce Dutton, who suffered a heart attack and was admitted to hospital hours before Tuesday’s debate.
Meanwhile, Albanese appeared at a press conference with state Labor counterparts, local MPs and the city’s mayor as a new inner-city dining precinct was officially opened.
The PM then shifted to offence mode, repeating attack lines on how Dutton cut spending on health and education when he was a minister in the 2014-15 budget.
What they said
“We’re watching the world being burned down by powerful men – we just didn’t know they would be such losers.”
The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, made this reference to Rebecca Shaw’s article for Guardian Australia as he made the case for Australia to “detach” from the United States, while addressing the National Press Club.
Bandt also said he would be “astounded” if Albanese doesn’t do a deal with the Greens or others to form a minority government, if he needs to.
The minor party is insisting on changes to negative gearing tax breaks if there is a hung parliament.
How social media saw it
Victory is in the eyes of the beholder. Or at least that’s the motto the Coalition appears to live by.
Just three minutes after last night’s debate ended, and about 40 minutes before host Sky News announced the official results, the LNP posted “congratulations Peter Dutton” on its Facebook account, with a photo of Dutton and “Sky News debate WINNER!”
It was not an isolated incident: Several official social media accounts for the Coalition declared Dutton the winner.
When the opinions of the 100 undecided voters watching the debate were released, Albanese was declared the victor.
Bizarrely, some of the LNP Facebook posts were still live on social media on Wednesday.
The big picture
With a relentless itinerary of jetting around the nation without pauses or weekend downtime – not to mention the end of daylight saving on Sunday – we probably shouldn’t judge politicians’ body clocks too harshly.
If drinking a morning beer is deemed acceptable at airports only, it’s perhaps fair to extend that generosity to the jet-setting Albo, who on Wednesday was scooping gelato at Sydney’s Paddy’s Markets well before 10am.
Watch
Every spring, bogong moths migrate hundreds of kilometres to escape the summer heat, travelling from low-lying breeding grounds in southern Queensland and western New South Wales and Victoria to mountainous caves and rocky crevices in the Australian Alps.
However, the species is under pressure from the climate crisis and from land clearing for farming.
Watch this video on waning bogong moth numbers, as Guardian Australia highlights the plight of our endangered native species during an election campaign that is ignoring broken environment laws and rapidly declining ecosystems.
And in other news …
Gaza and Aukus nuclear sub deal divide Labor and grassroots groups
Palau president backs Australia’s bid to host Cop31 climate summit after Dutton labels it ‘madness’
Not enough water available for Coalition’s nuclear proposal to run safely: report
Double murderer fails in bid to overturn Queensland’s no body, no parole laws
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: LIT. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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