Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been on the backfoot today, coming under fire for comments made during the first leaders debate of the campaign.
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Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese faced off for the first time last time during Sky News' leaders debate last night. Questions surrounded the recent Solomon Islands-China security deal, the economy, cost of living, boat turn backs and the NDIS.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese was declared the winner of the debate, narrowly polling better among debate attendees, while Morrison was faced with backlash after saying he was "blessed" to have children who did not have a disability. The Prime Minister later apologised "for any offence that it caused".
Today, Mr Morrison was in the marginal Queensland seat of Longman, visiting a retirement village and then the seat of Bonner near Brisbane where he announced a $58.6 million in grants for nine projects under the defence industry priority for the modern manufacturing initiative.
The Prime Minister was also questioned about new allegations of rorting and pork-barrelling, first reported by ACM, after 8 of 15 community grants, adding up to $100 million, were provided to marginal seats.
Morrison evaded the questions from ACM, saying "I just don't buy it," denying the government was pork barrelling.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader visited the marginal NSW South Coast seat of Gilmore, also touring an ethanol distillery and then an independent living home in Nowra. Albanese hit out against the Prime Minister saying he has "gone missing" on the issues of a federal integrity commission and the Solomon Islands situation.
The Labor leader then arrived in Sydney and visited the seat of Bennelong, currently held by retiring Liberal John Alexander.
This afternoon, a car crashed into Queensland Labor MP Terri Butler's office in Brisbane before driving away, damaging the doors and glass. No one was hurt and the police are investigating if the incident was deliberate.
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