Some old ALP hands have been recalling this week the appearances of Shorten during the Beaconsfield mining rescue, that brought the then union leader and political aspirant to the nation’s attention.
Spontaneous humour is harder for the modern politician, faced with 24-hour media coverage. But every now and then they give it crack, anyway.
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Political humour, like all humour, carries an innate risk: if it works, it can be spectacular, and it it tanks, it can be a catastrophe. Australian election campaigns have given us both.
Bill Shorten tearfully responded to the latest attack aimed at him by News Corp – a move that seemingly backfired for the Murdoch media empire.
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Lack of scrutiny of the Coalition, barrage of criticism aimed at Labor: News Corp’s coverage of the election campaign has been the definition of partisan.
At the May 18 poll, 40 of the nation’s 76 senators are up for election.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The Christian Democratic Party in NSW could play a key role in the election by funnelling support from voters in electorates with large East Asian populations to the Liberal Party.
Labor leader Bill Shorten and early childhood education spokeswoman Amanda Rishworth at the Deakin & Community Childcare Co-operative in Burwood, Melbourne.
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Morrison’s questions were on Labor’s superannuation and negative gearing policies; Shorten’s were on Labor policies too, as he challenged Morrison over cancer funding and child care.
After much back-and-forth over the logistics of the third debate, Shorten and Morrison finally faced off at the National Press Club, moderated by Sabra Lane.
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The Daily Telegraph story with the headline “Mother of Invention” backfired, handing Shorten the opportunity of a powerful moment on the campaign trail and drawing criticism even within News Corp.
A drop in prices of 0.5% is no drop at all.
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Unions and Labor have a long history of working together, but if the ALP wins office, unions will have to compete with many other groups to get what they want.
Bill Shorten with students at the CMA Training Group in Canberra. If he restores Sunday penalty rates, his success will come at a cost.
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Overruling the Fair Work Commission will give Labor what it wants, at the cost of diminishing the commission.
Scott Morrison ditched the hat, and Bill Shorten started smiling more. Yet, it hasn’t helped either candidate on the charisma front.
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As the campaign wears on, Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten have appeared increasingly stage-managed and rehearsed. Where is the charisma, wit and inspiring ideas?
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, with his wife Jenny Morrison, used a campaign rally at the Breakers Country Club in Wambarel to speak about online safety on May 5 2019.
Mick Tsikas /AAP
It’s easy to legislate for new offences and more incarceration. It’s harder – and more expensive – to ensure the community is safer in the long term. This involves addressing causes, not effects.
On industrial relations policy, the Coalition and Labor offer starkly different choices this election.
AAP/Nic Ellis
At this election there is a stark choice between the two major parties on industrial relations: the “small target” approach of the Coalition and the ALP’s more ambitious and detailed plan.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten at a manufacturing facility in Sydney. He’ll instruct the Fair Work Commission to replace the minimum wage with a higher “living wage”.
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Richard Eccleston on the electoral mood in Tasmania
University of Tasmania political science professor, Richard Eccleston, says a lack of a coherent energy policy could count against the Coalition in the island state.
Senior Lecturer in Political Science: Research Fellow at the Cairns Institute; Research Associate for Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland, James Cook University