Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese are both urging people not to vote for high-profile independents running against incumbent MPs in marginal seats which could hold the key to victory at next month's election.
Look back on how Tuesday's events unfolded in our blog.
Key events
- Which scare campaigns should you be looking out for in this election?
- Yesterday was the single biggest day for electoral enrolments in Australian history
- PM continues to back controversial Liberal candidate Katherine Deves
- What's all this chat about scare campaigns?
- Labor pledges funding for disaster relief organisation
- Labor accuses government of failing in management of NDIS
- Boat arrivals will never settle in Australia under Labor, Kristina Keneally says
- Labor shoots down Rudd ambassador reports
- Morrison's stumbles don't compare to Albanese's, Karen Andrews says
- Federal government must restore trust in NDIS, Bill Shorten says
- NSW Treasurer criticises Liberal Party's vetting process
Live updates
By Jessica Riga
We'll wrap up our live coverage here
Thank you for your company today!
We'll be back tomorrow to bring you the latest updates on the campaign trail, plus we'll be covering the first leaders debate! See you then.
By Jessica Riga
Which scare campaigns should you be looking out for in this election?
Both the Coalition and Labor are relying heavily on scare campaigns as they battle to attract the attention of voters ahead of the May 21 federal election.
The major parties have launched attacks on their opponents based on spurious claims and out-dated policies, both in person and via social media.
Scare campaigns often feature in elections, but such is their prominence in this election battle that they risk distracting from genuine debate over policies and ideas.
So which scare campaigns should you be looking out for in this campaign?
By Jessica Riga
What happens if the 2022 federal election gives us a hung parliament?
What happens if there is a hung parliament? Would independent parties end up getting a bigger say in the happenings?
-curious
Hey Curious,
Yep, if the federal election results in a hung parliament then the independents would have more sway.
And those those unaware, here's what a hung parliament is:
A hung parliament results when no party has more than half the MPs in the House of Representatives, which means no party can pass laws without gaining support from other parties or independent members of the House.
That support could come in the form of a formal coalition, or the governing party may have to negotiate with the other parties to get laws passed.
With a federal election five weeks away, there's growing speculation it could result in a hung parliament, with the polls showing both Labor and the Coalition struggling to get the primary vote needed to form a majority government.
Both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor Leader Anthony Albanese have ruled out doing a deal with independents to form government.
By Jessica Riga
In pictures: Scott Morrison continues his campaign in Perth
All these photos were taken by ABC News photographer Andrew Kennedy.
By Jessica Riga
Yesterday was the single biggest day for electoral enrolments in Australian history
Earlier today the Australian Electoral Commission said they had a huge day yesterday with everyone racing to enrol (or update their details) ahead of the deadline at 8pm local time.
Well, now the figures are in and the AEC says yesterday was the single biggest day for electoral enrolment in Australian history, with 214,000 enrolment applications.
According to the AEC, that means 96 per cent of Australia's eligible population are now enrolled to vote.
"The state of the roll is a modern democratic miracle, and not something you see in most places worldwide," the AEC said on Twitter.
We love to see it!
By Jessica Riga
Coalition says it would help farmers buy their first business if re-elected
The federal Coalition says it would help more farmers buy their first farm.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud says a re-elected Coalition government would act as the guarantor for 40 per cent of a commercial loan, capped at $1 million for eligible farmers.
Littleproud says the $75 million Future Farmer Guarantee Scheme would be trialled over 18 months, beginning on January 1st.
"We've got a situation in Australian agriculture where the average age is 62, in fact less than 10 per cent of farmers are under 47," he says.
"So we need to shift the dial to ensure there's a sustainable agriculture sector and its not just predicated on corporate Australia, its predicated on the family farm."
By Georgia Hitch
Is the government lying about electricity prices under Labor?
And back to the scare campaigns!
Scott Morrison's just been asked about a comment from Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers that we reported earlier.
He said that a claim by Energy Minister Angus Taylor that comments energy prices will go up by over $500 a year under Labor was "add[ing] fuel to the bin-fire of lies that this government tells about renewable energy".
Mr Morrison described Mr Chalmers as "sneaky Jim" and accused him of the "one who's been telling the lies".
By Georgia Hitch
PM continues to back controversial Liberal candidate Katherine Deves
Unsurprisingly the Prime Minister has once again been asked about the controversial NSW Liberal candidate for Warringah Katherine Deves.
Ms Deves has been forced to apologise as multiple now-deleted social media posts where she made a range of anti-transgender comments have resurfaced.
She was hand-picked by Scott Morrison after a bitter pre-selection battle that saw the Prime Minister and federal executive intervene.
Some in the Liberal Party, including NSW Treasurer Matt Kean, have renewed calls for her to be dis-endorsed by the party, but Mr Morrison has - and continues - to back her.
"I am not going to allow a pile on to her to silence her," he said.
"I will stand up with her, my team is standing up with her, and we will make sure that she won't be silenced."
By Georgia Hitch
No deals with independents, PM says
Scott Morrison has also ruled out doing deals with independent MPs if there's a hung parliament after the election.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese was asked if he'd work with independents if Labor wins and also ruled out working with independents.
"A vote for independents at this next election is a vote for chaos in our parliament," Mr Morrison said.
He invoked what he described as the "Forrest Gump principle" saying:
"You just never know what you're going to get," Mr Morrison said.
"A vote for independents at this next election is a vote for uncertainty and instability in these very uncertain times.
"That is why I don't support those votes for independence, and I have no plans whatsoever to be doing any deals with them."
By Georgia Hitch
Morrison takes aim at Labor pensioner scare campaign
It's not just Labor accusing the other side of scare campaigns, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says claims by the Opposition about adding pensioners to the cashless welfare card is completely untrue.
Some Labor MPs have claimed the Coalition will move to put pensioners on the cashless welfare card, which limits what people on welfare benefits can spend money on.
Mr Morrison says Anthony Albanese and the rest of Labor are spreading lies.
"The Labor party should stop frightening pensioners, it is an out and out disgusting lie," he said.
By Georgia Hitch
PM focused on resources
The Prime Minister's speech this morning focused on new announcements in the resources sector.
That includes $50 million for the government's already-announced "Trailblazer" program which is designed to help universities and industry work more closely on research.
The money will go to Curtin University to create a "new business and research partnership" with the government to improve the critical mineral supply chain.
The government says the partnership will create 1,300 jobs.
By Jessica Riga
Albanese asked about Katherine Deves' comments
Anthony Albanese says Katherine Deves's stance on transgender people is "divisive within the community but it's also divisive within the Liberal Party".
"I'll leave it to them to sort it out.
"You've got Trent Zimmerman in North Sydney, in the seat next to Warringah, saying that Katherine Deves should be disendorsed.
"Scott Morrison's last captain's pick before the last election was a fellow called Craig Kelly. And Craig Kelly is now running as an independent."
By Georgia Hitch
Scott Morrison is now also speaking
He's speaking in Perth after delivering a speech earlier this morning to the WA Chamber of Commerce.
By Georgia Hitch
What's all this chat about scare campaigns?
Anthony Albanese and his Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers spent a lot of their opening spiels at this press conference labelling comments by Energy Minister Angus Taylor about Labor's energy plan as a "scare campaign".
Handily enough one of our political reporters Melissa Clarke is writing a piece on all the scare campaigns to keep an eye on. Here's a bit of background from her (full article coming shortly!):
The Coalition, and Mr Taylor, is claiming the election of a Labor government would lead to household electricity bills rising, on average, by $560 a year.
That is based on Labor's 'Re-Wiring the Nation' policy, which would upgrade electricity infrastructure to accommodate the influx of renewable energy with a combined investment of $20 billion invesmtent from the Commonwealth and more than $50 billion from the sector.
But analysts have told the ABC it is does not appear the "modelling" takes into account wholesale electrcity prices lowering as a result of more renewable energy being able to enter the grid.
"That scare campaign is based upon a view somehow that renewables aren't the cheapest form of new energy," said Labor leader Anthony Albanese.
It's also not clear whether the figures put forward by the Coalition are compared to current electricity prices, future prices without investment in the transmission upgrades or future prices under the Coalition's policy.
Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers accuses Mr Taylor of "add[ing] fuel to the bin-fire of lies that this government tells about renewable energy."
By Jessica Riga
Albanese's thoughts on recent polling
Reporter: Labor is 6 points ahead, same as last time. The Coalition primary vote is behind Labor's but personal support for yourself has fallen. What do you make of these results?
Albanese: I'm not a commendator. That's your job to commentate on the polls and there'll be a lot of polling between now and election day.
By Jessica Riga
'I've been underestimated my whole life', Albanese says
In an interview this morning Anthony Albanese said the government has underestimated the Labor Party.
"I have fought for everything that I have got, I have a long period in public life. I have learnt something new each and every day.
"I lead a team that's united. I lead a team that has plans for the future. This government isstill relying upon scare campaign based upon a lie. Based upon the same untruths that they put forward during the 2019 campaign."
By Jessica Riga
Labor pledges funding for disaster relief organisation
After talking to victims of the recent Brisbane flood, Labor Leader Anthony Albanese is promising $38 million for Disaster Relief Australia, a veteran-led disaster response organisation.
He is also reiterating Bill Shorten's announcement from earlier about Labor's promise to launch a review of the NDIS if it wins government.
"Labor's proud of our creation of the NDIS and will always defend it," Albanese says.
By Jessica Riga
Labor Leader Anthony Albanese is now speaking in Brisbane
You can tune in by watching the live stream embedded at the top of the blog.
As always, key updates will be here in the blog.
By Jessica Riga
Morrison tries to separate state and federal Labor
Political reporter Stephanie Borys is following Scott Morrison's campaign in Western Australia today.
She said the Prime Minister used his election pitch to mining and industry leaders to separate state Premier Mark McGowan from the Opposition Leader.
"Think about this," Morrison says. "Federal Labor under Anthony Albanese is not the same as state Labor under Mark McGowan. They are two completely different things. They have very little in common especially when it comes to these important economic issues that are important to the future of Western Australia."
By Jessica Riga
Liberal candidate's comments 'absolutely disgraceful', NSW Treasurer says
Here's more on NSW Treasurer Matt Kean renewing his call for the Liberal Party candidate in the federal seat of Warringah, Katherine Deves, to be disendorsed, saying she is "not fit for office".
Kean told RN Breakfast this morning he believed Deves should be disendorsed immediately and he labelled some of her comments "outright bigotry".
"I do not believe she's fit for office. I do not believe that she is aligned with the values of the Liberal Party," he said.
Kean highlighted a number of Deves's posts, including one comparing a legal case overseas involving a transgender child to the "grudge trials of the Third Reich".
"To compare this issue to one of the worst atrocities in human history is appalling, absolutely disgraceful," he said.
"We live in a cosmopolitan, multicultural society where people are free to be themselves and that's a fundamental tenant of liberalism.
"This is not a one-off drunken Twitter rant, this is not a a statement made at university 30 years ago.
"This is a series of persistent positions held over a long period and in recent times."
Kean, a member of the Liberal's moderate faction, believes the controversy threatens the political fortunes of moderate federal government MPs Dave Sharma and Trent Zimmerman.
Both Sharma and Zimmerman face challenges by independent candidates in their inner-Sydney electorates of Wentworth and North Sydney.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended Katherine Deves, saying her concerns about transgender women in women's sport are "common sense" and he has hit out at what he called a "pile-on" of criticism.
