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The Vote: Inside Anthony Albanese’s election night
Almost a decade of conservative government in Australia has ended. Votes are still being counted, but it looks like the Liberal and National Party have suffered their worst result in decades. The Greens, independents and minor parties have had historic wins and will wield significant power in the new parliament.
The Vote: Inside the campaign bus on the final days
At this stage of the campaign, the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader can travel to three different states in a single day, visiting key seats and making announcements to win over undecided voters. Where are they going, what’s their pitch, and which campaign is more confident heading into election day? Today, Karen Middleton takes us inside the whirlwind final days of the campaign trail.
The Vote: Confessions of a former Liberal politician
What happens when the cause you’ve dedicated your life to, turns into something you can no longer support? That’s the question Fred Chaney, the former deputy leader of the Liberal Party, has had to confront this election. Now, he’s hoping people like his niece, who is running as an Independent in Western Australia, can teach the major parties a lesson.
The Vote: What are the Coalition actually offering?
On the weekend, the Coalition launched its campaign, just six days before the election. The centrepiece of the launch was a new housing policy, which it promises will help more young people to buy a home, by allowing them to take money out of their superannuation. But will the scheme really help new home buyers or is it too little, too late?
The Vote: Monique Ryan vs The Treasurer of Australia
On election night, the Melbourne seat of Kooyong could be one of the most fiercely contested in the country. The Treasurer of Australia, Josh Frydenberg, is facing what he’s described as the fight of his political life. His opponent was virtually unknown to most Australians a few months ago, but now polls show she has a chance at victory. So who is the woman taking on the Treasurer?
The Vote: Hiding the Aboriginal vote (Part One)
When Australia heads to the polls in a couple of weeks, 1 in 5 Indigenous people who are eligible to vote won’t be enrolled and so, they won’t be able to cast a ballot. Today, producer for 7am Ruby Schwartz travels to remote Australia to find out why some people are more enrolled than others.
The Vote: Why you won’t see a debate on the ABC
The latest leaders debate has been described as “messy” and a “joke” by observers. There’s one more debate to go before the election — but it won’t be hosted by the public broadcaster, the ABC — despite the organisation’s best efforts. In fact, the ABC has been effectively sidelined, as the rocky relationship between the government and the national broadcaster continues to play out. Today, Rick Morton on the ABC’s doomed bid to host an election debate and what it says about the relationship between the Morrison government and the media.
The Vote: What are Labor actually offering?
The Labor Party officially launched their campaign on Sunday, unveiling new policies and making their most comprehensive pitch to voters so far. But the policy offering remains slimmer than it was three years ago, which is part of what has been described as the party’s small target strategy. Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe on the Labor Party’s policy platform and the demographic data that shaped it.
The Vote: The climate kids are doomscrolling
As we enter the final weeks of the election campaign there’s one group of people more stressed, more disillusioned than most. Teenagers, desperate to see change but unable to vote to get their voice heard. Today, 7am producer Kara Jensen-Mackinnon on a day in the life of a teenager trying to make change happen before it’s too late.
The Vote: ‘The last time I spoke to Morrison he told me to go get f—ed’
As the election tightens, there is a very real possibility that neither major party wins the 76-seat majority they need to govern in their own right. For independents in this scenario, it’s an enormous choice – who do they support, what do they ask for, and who do they make prime minister? Today, we speak to someone who has made that choice, former Independent Tony Windsor, on how to navigate a hung parliament and how Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese would act in those negotiations.
The Vote: Who is Anthony Albanese?
With an election called, Labor leader Anthony Albanese has six weeks to convince Australia he would make a better prime minister than Scott Morrison. The challenge is to avoid the mistakes of the last Labor election campaign, but as a small target, can he still be inspiring enough to win over voters? Today, Karen Middleton on Anthony Albanese’s rebrand and what it tells us about Labor’s strategy.
The Vote: Who is Scott Morrison?
After years in public life, Scott Morrison can still seem hollow and one-dimensional. According to his biographer, this is deliberate. But with the election now running, Morrison faces one of the strange truisms of politics: that what helped him win last time could be what costs him victory this time.
The outsiders who could dominate the election
More than in any other election, next month’s poll will feature a defining number of independent candidates. They represent a new, well-organised reaction against the major parties. For the Liberals, they also represent a threat that may one day see the party split. Today, Margaret Simons on the independents who could go on to hold the balance of power.
Why Angus Taylor tanked Australia’s carbon market
A few weeks ago, Energy Minister Angus Taylor made changes to the Australian carbon market that crashed the value of government-issued carbon credits. The changes made it cheaper for big companies to pollute. They also cost the government as much as $3.5 billion. Today, Mike Seccombe on why Taylor did it and what it means.
Why no one’s calling Angus Taylor
Across Australia, energy companies are beginning to realise they need to rely less on fossil fuels, and redirect their strategy to renewables and green energy. But there’s one big barrier to this transition: the federal government. Today, Mike Seccombe on how the Morrison government lost the trust of the energy sector.
What happened to the Greens?
Climate change might be one of the biggest political issues on the agenda for the upcoming federal election, but the party most associated with environmental policy is struggling to cut through. According to the latest opinion polls, the Greens are finding it hard to connect with voters. Today, Mike Seccombe on the challenges facing Australia’s third party.
Scott Morrison vs. the Liberal Party
When Gladys Berejiklian spectacularly resigned as Premier of NSW, most people expected that would be the end of her political career. But then - she was publicly encouraged by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to make a comeback - to run for federal parliament. Today, Mike Seccombe on the real reason Scott Morrison wanted to enlist Gladys.
The Liberal MP abandoning Scott Morrison
The federal Coalition government holds office by the barest of margins - just one seat. Now, a popular and high profile Liberal incumbent has announced he won’t be recontesting his electorate, throwing the party’s election preparations into jeopardy. Today, Paul Bongiorno on why the Liberal MP abandoning Scott Morrison thinks Anthony Albanese might be a better Prime Minister for the country.
Who is Scott Morrison, really?
As the next federal election approaches, the question of whether the Prime Minister Scott Morrison can pull off another ‘miracle’ win looms large. But how much do we really know about our Prime Minister? Today, journalist and author Sean Kelly on what’s underneath the persona that Scott Morrison presents publicly, and what his Prime Ministership tells us about our national identity.
Why Labor is sending Keneally to Cabramatta
The move to parachute Labor frontbencher Kristina Keneally into the western Sydney seat of Fowler has exposed the rifts and rivalries within the party. But it's also raised a bigger question, is Labor doing enough to make sure its candidates actually represent their voters? Today, Karen Middleton on what is really driving the battle for Fowler, and what it says about the Labor party.
Are we heading towards a pandemic election?
The country might still be in the grip of a pandemic and ongoing lockdowns, but our major parties are already planning for a looming federal election. The Prime Minister has strongly hinted the nation could be heading to the polls in just a few months, and the political battle lines are now being drawn. Today, Paul Bongiorno on what the election will be fought over.
Why isn’t Labor cutting through?
As the major parties gear up for an impending federal election, which could be held this year, questions are being asked about whether Anthony Albanese is capable of securing Labor victory. Today, Chris Wallace on Labor’s election chances, and what they’ve learnt from the last two years.
The year that was (plus, Buon Natale from Paul Bongiorno)
Scott Morrison started the year bruised by his response to the bushfire crisis. But the pandemic has seen a big bounce in his approval ratings. With an election predicted for next year, will it be enough to secure another term? Today, Paul Bongiorno on how federal politics played out in 2020, and what’s coming next.
Mr. Morrison goes to Queensland
With the Queensland state election looming, the Prime Minister has hit the campaign trail. But just as he arrived it was revealed that the LNP Opposition leader had been referred to the election watchdog for alleged impropriety. Today, Paul Bongiorno on the growing political scandals around the country.