FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN: DAY 16
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WHERE THE LEADERS ARE CAMPAIGNING
* Prime Minister Scott Morrison: Starting the day in Townsville (Herbert)
* Labor leader Anthony Albanese: Isolating with COVID at home in Sydney. Labor frontbenchers to campaign in Far North Queensland.
WHAT THE COALITION WANTS TO TALK ABOUT
* The government will spruik its economic management in North Queensland, in addition to its investment in the region. Visiting Australia's largest garrison city, it may also discuss funding for veterans' services and its massive spending on defence.
WHAT LABOR WANTS TO TALK ABOUT
* Labor's seven-point plan to step up engagement in the Pacific and combat China's aggressive expansionism. It includes a $6.5m Australia Pacific Defence School, and an annual $8m funding boost to the ABC's international broadcasting program over four years.
WHAT IS MAKING NEWS
* Labor will unveil a seven-point plan to better engage with Pacific Island nations if elected. It will also maintain its criticism of the federal government over the Solomon Islands' security deal with China.
* Fresh polling shows Labor leads the primary vote 34 per cent to the Coalition at 32 per cent. On a two-party preferred basis, 50 per cent would vote Labor, 42 per cent the Coalition, while eight per cent of respondents are undecided. If undecided voters are excluded, the two party vote is 55-45 to Labor.
* The Greens will pledge to introduce laws allowing coal and gas companies to be sued for climate-fuelled flood damage. The party will also push for a $190 million a year fund for communities in the NSW Richmond region to build and upgrade critical infrastructure to reduce flood impacts.
THEY SAID WHAT?
"The only way you can preserve peace is to prepare for war. Curling up in a ball, pretending nothing is happening, saying nothing, that is not ... in our long-term interests and we should be very honest about that."
- Defence Minister Peter Dutton on Russia's war on Ukraine and how Australia needed to combat the rise of autocracies in the world.
"US president Teddy Roosevelt famously said that in international affairs, it's best to 'speak softly and carry a big stick'. Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton have it the wrong way round. They talk loud, but only carry a twig."
- SA independent senator Rex Patrick on the Solomon Islands security pact.
Australian Associated Press
