Candidates are pushing hard on Thursday ahead of a campaign armistice over Good Friday and Easter, as the first official week of the election trial nears its end.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will start the day in Tasmania to announce a $220 million package for the forestry industry.
Mr Morrison says his government would never shut down native forestry and would work with state governments to establish permanent timber production areas.
“The pressures on the building industry and the uncertain international trade situation has made it clear that local wood products and local skills are critical,” he said.
But with the unemployment rate expected to drop mid-morning, and with economists predicting a rate starting with a three, it’s likely the government’s talking points includes spruiking their economic credentials.
Labor will likely use the release of the economic data to attack pay rates under the coalition government, with inflation outstripping wage growth.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese will be targeting marginal seats across NSW on Thursday, after touching down in Sydney on Wednesday afternoon.
Labor will again be proposing health reforms in what has been a health blitz for the first week of the election campaign.
Meanwhile, the Greens will be in the NSW Illawarra region to announce a plan to invest $500 million in green steel to shift Australians away from the use of coal and gas.
Green steel is made with hydrogen instead of coal, meaning its by-product is water and delivers the lowest carbon footprint possible.
Further up the NSW coast, Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce is in the Hunter region for two infrastructure announcements – one at Morisset in Lake Macquarie and one at Newcastle.
The first announcement is for $55 million to upgrade and expand the terminal at Newcastle Airport to increase capacity for international commercial and freight flights into the Hunter.
“Making Newcastle Airport an international gateway to the world will further enhance the Hunter’s capacity as a regional powerhouse that drives the development of our nation and makes us as strong as possible as quickly as possible,” Mr Joyce said in a statement on Thursday.
