Michelle Grattan speaks with Frank Bongiorno, a history professor at the Australian National University who gives his insights into the current battle but also takes the long views of campaigns.
Despite the treatment of women being hotly debated in recent times, they have been largely overlooked during the election - and that may have big consequences on May 21.
The positive nexus between Morrison’s economic agenda and his masculine leadership image in 2019 may have now turned negative. This reinforces Labor narratives that he’s uncaring and a poor performer.
The prime minister’s promise comes as moderate liberals in “teal” seats reveal deep voter dislike for Morrison, which they believe to be a drag on their vote.
Experts and undecided voters from pubs across the country awarded the debate to Albanese, in what was a much more civil contest than the previous debate.
Neither Scott Morrison nor Anthony Albanese has so far impressed with strong leadership skills - but the Labor leader may offer a different style of leadership that might suit the times.
The opposition has increased its winning margins in both Newspoll and the Australian Financial Review’s Ipsos poll, as Morrison and Albanese clashed in a shouty, fractious debate on Sunday night
In the often fiery debate, the leaders answered questions about the cost of living, aged care, national security and a federal integrity commission, among other issues.
The public don’t have much regard for journalists and many people will be critical of the “gotcha” questioning that found Anthony Albanese unable to recite the six points of his policy on the NDIS
Senior Lecturer in Political Science: Research Fellow at the Cairns Institute; Research Associate for Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland, James Cook University