Despite the age-old saying to never work with children or animals, Scott Morrison has done both in the first three days of his election campaign.
The prime minister took his shot on Wednesday in the marginal Victorian seat of Corangamite which he plans on winning back from Labor.
A group of young basketballers lined up to meet Mr Morrison as part of his visit to the Wurdi Baierr stadium in Torquay, southeast of Melbourne.
The kids seemed to know the script as Australia’s 30th prime minister ran past their outstretched hands, trying to catch a high-five as he went.
Asked if there was anything that would make the stadium better, they replied: “seating!”
Hoping the adult voters in the room were listening, Mr Morrison grabbed the opportunity to spruik a $500,000 commitment for seating stands and a scoreboard at the stadium, if he’s elected come May 21.
The club presented Mr Morrison with his own Surf Coast Charger jacket before he autographed basketballs and several pairs of Crocs for the children.
The prime minister was joined by senator Sarah Henderson and Liberal candidate Stephanie Asher and the trio ran through training drills with the kids.
Senator Henderson lost the Corangamite seat to Labor’s Libby Coker at the 2019 election before being chosen to replace former communications minister Mitch Fifield in the upper house.
The government aims to win Corangamite back this year, along with maintaining Senator Henderson’s upper house seat.
It’s a shot the prime minister doesn’t want to miss.
And like elections, it wasn’t all slam dunks on the day either.
“Our teams are versing each other this weekend,” Mr Morrison told the kids, referencing the upcoming match between the Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks.
“We’ll win,” one shot back.
It’s tough being a Sharks supporter in Storm territory.
The trip to the court followed his Tuesday visit to Assistance Dogs Australia where he fed treats to support dogs in training.
