The federal election has officially been called for may the third, kicking off a five-week campaign that will see Anthony Albanese go head-to-head with Peter Dutton, in a race for the prime ministership. As Mr Albanese seeks a second term for Labor, cost of living, energy, health and defence are all expected to be key topics leading up to polling day.
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00:00It was an early start as he visited the Governor-General at a Government House and with Parliament
00:09now prorogued, he is making his pitch to Australian voters, urging that after three years in office
00:15for Australian voters to stick the course.
00:18He spoke about a number of Labor's commitments going into this election, a number of those
00:22were made in the Budget this week, a 20% cut to HECS debt, that $8.5 billion investment
00:30into Medicare to increase the rates of bulk billing, around $689 million to go to the
00:37Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to reduce the cost of Scripps to $25 on the PBS, and some
00:44$650 million for urgent care clinics, some 50 being promised to be built around the country.
00:51At one point the Prime Minister even became emotional speaking about his mother and the
00:57importance of Medicare.
00:59Of course, a number of other cost of living measures that the Prime Minister spoke about
01:04that were also announced in Tuesday's Budget, that $1.8 billion commitment made for the
01:11energy rebate, the extension of that, that will kick in later this year and would cut
01:18power bills by around $150 for Australian families and small businesses.
01:25This was how the Prime Minister was shaping and putting his case forward to the Australian
01:30public.
01:31This is a time for building, building on our nation's strengths, building our security
01:39and prosperity for ourselves, building an Australia where no one is held back and no
01:46one is left behind.
01:49At this election, I'm asking for the support of the Australian people to keep building
01:55on the hard work that we have done and the strong foundations that we have laid.
02:02I'm asking you to vote Labor so we can keep building Australia's future together.
02:09And Pablo, how's the Prime Minister framing the choice between him and the opposition
02:12leader?
02:14Joe, interestingly, the Prime Minister was trying to sell a message of hope and optimism
02:19and trying to contrast that with Peter Dutton saying that his campaign and his pitch to
02:25voters is all about fear, referring to Peter Dutton's budget reply speech last night and
02:32even taking a veiled swipe, suggesting or implying that Peter Dutton was copying his
02:39approach to voters from other countries.
02:42He was asked about that as well.
02:44And the Prime Minister referred to Peter Dutton's vow to cut 40,000 public servants.
02:52And he was speaking about that contrast in saying that Labor is putting forward a hopeful
02:58and optimistic vision, while the opposition leader is putting forward a vision of division
03:07and of fear.
03:09And this is how he put that message.
03:13Over the last few years, the world has thrown a lot at Australia.
03:17In uncertain times, we cannot decide the challenges that we will face, but we can determine how
03:24we respond.
03:26Our government has chosen to face global challenges the Australian way, helping people under cost
03:33of living pressure while building for the future.
03:39Because of the strength and resilience that our people have shown, Australia is turning
03:45the corner.
03:46Now on the 3rd of May, you choose the way forward.
03:52So you can expect those messages to continue throughout the campaign.
03:57Interestingly, a big point of difference now going into the election only emerged this
04:02week after Tuesday night's budget, where the government announced its so-called top-up
04:07tax cuts at a cost of $17 billion to the budget over the next five years.
04:13When they are kicking, they have already been legislated this week, they would kick in from
04:18next year, leaving taxpayers around $5 better off and then $10 the following year when that
04:25benefit flows through.
04:27Peter Dutton was quick to declare that the opposition was against these tax cuts on the
04:33night that the Labor Party delivered its fourth budget, calling them a cruel hoax and election
04:39bribe.
04:40But going further, Peter Dutton also last night confirmed that a coalition would repeal
04:45these tax cuts, and that is a point that the Labor Party, the Prime Minister, the Treasurer
04:51have been making in the last few days, and certainly you can expect them to continue
04:55to do so throughout the campaign, Joe.