Crikey campaign scorecard: Scare campaigning sets the tone as campaign nears climax

WHO WON THE DAY?

Bernard Keane, Crikey politics editor: Every day the government spends denying it will privatise Medicare is a win for Labor. It’s brutal, cynical politics but very effective — especially when a high third-party vote means second preferences are going to play big role. Remember Bill Shorten incessantly talking about “trust” right at the start of the campaign? Well, now it’s ending on how much voters trust the government’s assurances on Medicare. Turnbull gave an excellent answer on the issue on Q&A last night, especially about his scepticism about government IT outsourcing, but whether that will cut through remains to be seen.

Sue Cato,businesswoman, founder of Cato Counsel and media commentator: As we enter the home stretch, the parties are settling into their roles. The Coalition are trying to make sure they don’t stuff up as they glide into retaining government. The Labor Party, having nothing to lose, have flicked the “switch to vaudeville” with the Mediscare campaign a sign that they will have a go at anything and its all care and no responsibility. And with less than two weeks to go we have to expect a shower of … negative ads. Raincoats everyone. Despite the great tradie debate and Turnbull doing a solid and safe job on Q&A, the loser of the day was Eddie McGuire. And someone get more throaties for the PM. Surely there is an ad there somewhere?

Dr John Hewson, former Liberal Party leader: Turnbull did well on Q&A with key messages and some good detail and policy defence. Looked prime ministerial. Shorten’s scare campaign over Medicare will be short-lived and will stand as his last desperate attempt to pull himself across the line. Turnbull should build momentum now through his launch next weekend.  It seems voters will give Turnbulll the benefit of the doubt — one Parliament to match his initial expectations. Only question is just how successful Xenophon and minor parties will be, especially in the Senate. Still watch Windsor for an upset.

Simon Brehney, director of policy at the Institute of Public Affairs: Overreach. It’s happening all over the world at the moment. Brexit will leave Britain in tatters. A Coalition government will end Medicare. Bill Shorten’s attack on the Coalition on this issue was described by the Prime Minister as “the biggest lie of the campaign”. Given Malcolm Turnbull has stated, over and over again, that “Medicare will never, ever be privatised” you’d have to say his assessment of the ALP on this issue is spot on. A Coalition win.

CASH TRACKER

Plenty from the government today as D-day draws closer. Labor slowed down a bit after yesterday’s big promises but still found some money for the arts.

Coalition: 

• $30 million to upgrade the M5 South West Motorway in Belmore;
• $50 million to fund the Smart Cities plan;
• $30 million for a Bowen Basin jobs package in Queensland;
• $15 million of additional funding for family violence services;
• $1.2 million over three years to boost disease control in the Australian thoroughbred industry; and
• $1.2 million to fix a dangerous intersection in Mackay

Labor:

• $8 million over four years increased funding to Regional Arts Fund;
• $1.8 over four years to support Expanded Sounds Australia;
• $32 million saved by redirecting Catalyst funds to the Australia Council;
• $20 million per year to the Australia Council from 2017;
• $2 million per year to expand school music programs; and
• $60 million over three years for the ABC to produce local drama

Savings

• $32 million saved by closing the Catalyst fund and redirecting into the Arts Council

CAMPAIGN DIARY

Malcolm Turnbull: The Northern Territory is where you’ll find Turnbull today, the PM is campaigning in the seat of Solomon, currently held by Natasha Griggs of the Country Liberal Party. He’s declared today a “day for celebration” as he prepares to hand over the Kenbi Land Claim deeds after settlement between the traditional owners and the Australian government was reached in April this year. He took part in a ceremony with members of the local indigenous population before taking time to meet some of the locals. Poor old Malcolm was struggling with the sore throat that hampered him on Q&A last night.

Bill Shorten: There’s no place like home for Bill Shorten, who spent the day on his local turf of Melbourne where he put the campaign to save Medicare at the top of the agenda. He began with a stop at Nova 100’s breakfast radio show to chat to comedians Chrissie Swan and Sam Pang, and former AFL star Jonathan Brown. He had previously been scheduled to appear on Triple M with Eddie McGuire, but cancelled in light of the host’s recent controversial comments, Shorten joked about his previous NRL gaffe, when he said he’d support Melbourne Storm in the State of Origin, before talking about his school days, where he was apparently a champion fencer. He also managed to get some campaign messages in, reaffirming his pledge to save Medicare from being privatised by a Coalition government.

The Greens: Richard Di Natale was in the seat of Braddon in Tasmania, where he visited the Tarkine rainforest, one of the last pieces of untouched nature. He was joined by Tasmanian Greens senators Peter Whish-Wilson and Nick McKim to announce their plans to protect the rainforest. The god of the wild Pan may be dead, but the Greens feel their Tasmanian campaign is alive and well. Back in Melbourne Greens MP Adam Bandt joined candidate for Batman Alex Bhathal to discuss the now very real chances of her winning the seat in light of recent polling. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young released plans to introduce a private member’s bill in the next parliament to allow media access detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru.

INDEPENDENT. ALWAYS.

Jacqui Lambie is the new Robin Hood, and the Jacqui Lambie Network is her band of merry men. They’ve turned their attention to attacking the rich, and the political elite, and called for reforms to end what they’re calling corruption in our political system. JLN Senate candidate, Crystal Peckett released an ad declaring our political and economic system to be “rigged in favour of the rich” and called for the establishment of a federal anti-corruption watchdog. She also brought back the Australian Democrats founder Don Chipp’s slogan of “Keeping the bastards honest”. Only time will tell if the JLN will ever reach the heights of the once powerful Democrats, but we advise Lambie fans not to hold their breath.

In other JLN news, Queensland Senate candidate, Marcus Saltmarsh has channeled Tony Windsor and brought his adorable canine companion, Frank, with him during the election campaign. While we can all agree Saltmarsh’s furry friend is very cute, he also plays an important role in the Senate candidate’s life. He’s an assistance dog, provided to help support veterans suffering from emotional or physical trauma. There have been an alarming 278 veterans commit suicide since 1999.

ISENTIA DAILY LEADER INDEX

The PM wins the media battle again, while both major party leaders are light years ahead of Di Natale. Turnbull’s social media mentions got a bump from his Q&A appearance.

ZINGER OF THE DAY

MALSPLAIN OF THE DAY

WHERE’S TONY?

It seems the former PM is eyeing off a return to the frontbench if the coalition is re-elected on July 2. It’s one of the worst-kept secrets in Canberra at the moment, although Abbott has said nothing to confirm the rumour. The word coming out of the Liberal camp is that he sees himself as defence minister in the next term of government. Given he’s still quite popular with the party’s conservative base, Turnbull would probably have to give him the gig if push came to shove. Unfortunately for Malcolm, he’d have to bump current Defence Minister Marise Payne out of the portfolio for no reason other than being the person who had Tone’s preferred job. That creates a new headache for Turnbull, who had actually taken steps to increase the female presence on the frontbench. Abbott clearly believes he still has a role to play in politics, and if the government is returned he will probably be sitting a few seats down from his old mate Malcolm for the next three years. Hey, it worked out pretty well for Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.

#FAKETRADIE FALLOUT

Day two of the “FakeTradie” saga (yes, you really did just read that), and we’ve seen all sorts of responses from news outlets, social media and political parties. Most of the dubious and illogical claims the ad makes are pretty standard for election advertising, so let’s pass over that and get to what makes this worthy of a second day in the news. Firstly, there was general mirth at the comically bad representation of a tradie working at a job site. Specifically the fact that he appears to be wearing an expensive watch and drinking from a ceramic mug, while his workbench is set up in an alleyway outside the fence of the actual work site. Then there’s the excruciating dialogue, trying to convince viewers that everyday Australian workers who value a “fair go” sit around and chat about the need to protect people who own investment properties. Finally, you have the ad’s ultimate pitch, that we should probably just stick with the current mob. Not exactly an inspirational message. The CFMEU have hit back with their own ad where they bring a group of “real tradies” to counter the negative message from the original.

This morning we finally found out that #faktradie is, as Liberal sources insisted, a real tradie. Andrew MacRae is a licensed metal fabricator, and to nobody’s great surprise, a Liberal supporter. According to MacRae’s friends, he’s managing to have a bit of a laugh at the whole thing, which they admit looks very contrived.

MALCOLM PONDERS QANDA‘S AGENDA

The PM faced up to the ABC’s Q&A program in spite of a croaky voice and sore throat that took some of the shine off his usually sharp and smooth Malsplainations. Mind you, he was as loquacious as ever, fielding questions on everything from Medicare to marriage equality and giving Kevin Rudd a run for his money in the verbosity stakes. His responses drew a mixed reception from a somewhat hostile audience, which he took in his stride, but he did take a dig at host Tony Jones who he accused of being a “very good spokesman for the Labor Party“. Jones has now done a clean sweep of leaders, annoying Bill Shorten, Richard Di Natale and now Malcolm Turnbull during this campaign. He must be doing something right.

BAD TIMING DEPARTMENT

A former receptionist in Bill Shorten’s office has reached a settlement over an unfair dismissal claim after she was made redundant earlier this year. Given the double dissolution election was called over disputed legislation to create an industrial relations watchdog, this isn’t the sort of distraction that Shorten wants during the final days of the campaign. All parties involved have signed confidentiality agreements so the story might run out of steam quickly, but expect a barrage of questions to come Bill’s way today.

KEYBOARD WARRIOR PLEADS GUILTY

Chris Nelson, the man who launched a Facebook attack on retiring Labor senator Nova Peris, has pleaded guilty to the charge of using a carriage service to cause offence. The 64-year-old chiropractor was thrown out of the Liberal Party after his Facebook post went viral last month. He initially denied making the comments, claiming his account had been hacked, but apparently he realised nobody believed him.

QUIRK OF THE DAY

Former balance-of-power MP, Rob Oakeshott has hit out at critics who labelled him and Tony Windsor as potentially destablising influences by pointing out that their own hands are far cleaner than many in the current Parliament. On an ABC radio interview this morning he suggested that there’s a number of Lady Macbeth characters on both sides of politics at the moment. Clearly he never saw any dagger before his eyes.

“I have never dragged down a first-term prime minister in Australia. There’s not a lot of people in politics at the moment who can say that.”

TWEET OF THE DAY

Eddie McGuire generally doesn’t hide from the spotlight, but he’s probably less than thrilled that Pauline Hanson decided to leap to his defence.

TL;DR

Turnbull is in Darwin where he’s officially handed over the Kenbi land title deed to the indigenous owners. Shorten is in his home town of Melbourne where he targeted several key seats. The Greens want to protect a Tasmanian rainforest and steal an inner-Melbourne seat.