3 weeks Ago By Angus Thomson
We’re tracking the movements of both Albanese and Dutton throughout the campaign. Albanese finished yesterday in Melbourne, while Dutton’s last visit was a tour of a road building contractor site in Romsey, Victoria. Our correspondents and photographers on the campaign trail will be updating us on the leaders’ movements throughout the day.
This week our revered economics editor Ross Gittins wrote an essay for the Age and Sydney Morning Herald , in which he lamented the state of this election campaign in particular, and Australian politics in general. The essay was titled “They treat us like mugs”, and Ross did not miss with his critique of the timidity and cynicism of the two major parties’ campaigns. Gittins joins Jacqueline Maley in the studio, to talk through his searing critique.
The Coalition has promised to pour $6 million into Australian children’s online safety through a charity set up in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton made the announcement late last night, saying the money to the Alannah and Madeline Foundation would support its online safety resources, targeted towards children aged between four and 16. Peter Dutton on the campaign trail yesterday.
Credit: James Brickwood The charity, which works to prevent violence against children, was set up by Walter Mikac after his wife and two daughters - the foundation’s namesakes - were killed in the Port Arthur massacre in 1996. The anniversary of the massacre is April 28. “There is no more important matter for Australian society to consider than the protection of children.
I know that many parents are desperate for help to limit the impacts of harmful content that’s re-wiring impressionable young minds in a bad way,” Dutton said in a joint announcement with shadow communications spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh. “Today’s funding announcement to continue the work of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation is an important part of our plan to keep children safe.” Good morning, and welcome back to our live coverage of the 2025 federal election campaign.
My name is Angus Thomson, and I’ll be taking you through this morning’s headlines. With 17 days to go, here’s some of what is making news this morning: Senior Greens have backed Adam Bandt’s leadership of the party even if it fails to retain its trio of seats in Brisbane in the face of a $7 million right-wing assault and a cash and brain drain to the teal movement. Reports that Moscow had asked Jakarta for access to an Indonesian military base in the province of Papua thrust national security to the centre of the federal election campaign on Tuesday, but were quickly shut down by Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Indonesian counterpart yesterday afternoon.
“Reports of the prospect of Russian aircraft operating from Indonesia are simply not true,” Marles said..
