Lambie says Dutton has ‘overblown’ Indonesian matter
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie has also been up on ABC Afternoon Briefing this afternoon, where she said the Indonesian matter had been “overblown” by Peter Dutton.
She said that “certainly we need to keep an eye on it” because “Indonesia does buy a lot of arms from Russia.” But she said the matter had been “blown out of proportion.”
People are doing it tough. They’re very concerned, they’re on edge, it doesn’t help with stability … Let’s be clear and careful when we are speaking about national security issues …
Indonesia came out and said there’s nothing to see here, they seemed to have shut it down straightaway. Let’s just hope there is nothing to see here. Everyone would hope so.
Read more here:
Key events
Henry Belot
Coalition argument harkens back to 2022 campaign when Morrison accused Albanese of being too close to China
As we told you a few moments ago, the Coalition frontbencher Bridget McKenzie has suggested that Russia and China would prefer Anthony Albanese win the election:
I notice that, you know, the Russian defence minister had derogatory comments to make about the leader of the opposition, the alternative prime minister, Peter Dutton. That would make two world leaders who want to see Anthony Albanese re-elected, and that would be China and Russia.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard claims like this during or on the eve of an election campaign. In 2022, former prime minister Scott Morrison accused Albanese of being too close to China. In parliament, he described Albanese as a Manchurian candidate before withdrawing the remark. Morrison told parliament:
The Chinese Government has picked their horse and he’s sitting right there.
This rhetoric drew a significant public intervention by Australia’s respected former spy chief Dennis Richardson. He said the comments served China’s interests, not Australia’s, by politicising national security and “seeking to create the perception of a difference [between the major parties] when none in practice exists”.
Albanese is considering a proposal to send troops to Ukraine as part of a multinational peacekeeping force, as Europe considers a “coalition of the willing” to enforce any peace deal with Russia.
Last week, Richard Marles rejected a request from the Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian to “join hands” in resistance to US tariffs. Marles said Australia would pursue its own national interests.
Liberal senator says ‘autocracies like to see Australia weak’ and see Labor as ‘weaker of two options’
Host Patricia Karvelas has asked Andrew Bragg if he agrees with Bridget McKenzie’s comments that Russian and Chinese leaders want to see Anthony Albanese re-elected.
Does he see it that way, too? Bragg replied:
Look, I think the autocracies are working together. They like to see Australia to be weak, and they imagine that Labor would be the weaker of the two options. Their business is working together as autocracies to weaken democracies. That’s their agenda. I imagine they would see Mr Albanese as a generally speaking weak leader.
We’re going to bring you more context on this argument from the Coalition very shortly, so stay tuned.
Shadow home ownership minister says super for housing a ‘good idea’ no ‘matter what gender you are’
Andrew Bragg, the shadow assistant minister for home ownership, is next up on ABC Afternoon Briefing this afternoon.
He was asked about Clare O’Neil’s argument at the housing debate today, that the Coalition’s “super for housing” policy is entrenching gender inequality and raising house prices.
Asked if he was onto something – that women have to raid their super when they have less money in it? Bragg replied:
How do you raid your own money?
Host Patricia Karvelas said it’s there for your retirement, not for housing – that’s Labor’s argument. But she brought him back to the gendered element of the question, and Bragg said:
Sure. I understand that. But I find it a very jarring term, when people are saying you’re raiding your own money. The core of your retirement is your house, not your super fund. In Labor’s nirvana, the super funds own a whole lot of houses and they rent them out to people. We want people to own a house, not have to rent in retirement.
Doesn’t matter what gender you are, it’s a good idea. We think the super for housing policy is one of the best ideas in the marketplace. We think it stands on its own, no matter what Labor and Big Super cook up.
Lambie weighs in on major parties’ housing policies for first home buyers
Jacqui Lambie was also asked to weigh in on each of the major parties’ policies for first home buyers.
She argued the Coalition should have “got this all done 12 months ago”.
They have been in opposition for three years, they don’t look like they’re in opposition at all. They’re really struggling with that. They should have had costings, they had plenty of time to get it ready and looking like a real smart outfit. They failed to do the work to make them look like a credible opposition. That’s really worrying for me.
On Labor’s policy, Lambie said it “always scares” her when the government gets involved in building houses for first home buyers.
We need to be careful with first home buyers, make sure they don’t put themselves in too much debt. The unemployment rate is right down … With Trump and trade wars going on, I would be really careful what we’re offering, we don’t saddle these people with debt and give them false hope.
Lambie calling for Senate inquiry into Australia-US relationship
Jacqui Lambie and her running mate, Rex Patrick, are calling for a Senate inquiry into Australia’s relations with the US. Asked why she was doing this, Lambie responded:
Right now we’re going through quite a rough patch because of what’s happened with [Donald] Trump – they’re not with the people themselves, of course. We need to put this under a magnifying glass … Let’s have a good look at our relationship with the USA and get it out on the table.
Lambie says Dutton has ‘overblown’ Indonesian matter
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie has also been up on ABC Afternoon Briefing this afternoon, where she said the Indonesian matter had been “overblown” by Peter Dutton.
She said that “certainly we need to keep an eye on it” because “Indonesia does buy a lot of arms from Russia.” But she said the matter had been “blown out of proportion.”
People are doing it tough. They’re very concerned, they’re on edge, it doesn’t help with stability … Let’s be clear and careful when we are speaking about national security issues …
Indonesia came out and said there’s nothing to see here, they seemed to have shut it down straightaway. Let’s just hope there is nothing to see here. Everyone would hope so.
Read more here:
McKenzie says Russian and Chinese leaders want to see Albanese re-elected
Bridget McKenzie went on, telling the program:
I notice that, you know, the Russian defence minister had derogatory comments to make about the leader of the opposition, the alternative prime minister, Peter Dutton. That would make two world leaders who want to see Anthony Albanese re-elected, and that would be China and Russia. Great pack.
McKenzie is asked what she is suggesting by this – that there is foreign interference in the election? She answered:
The defence minister of Russia and the Chinese leader both have made very public comments that they do not want to see Peter Dutton as the prime minister of our country. I’m stating the facts.
But what are you implying by the facts? McKenzie simply replied: “I’m stating them.”
There was a back and forth, where McKenzie repeated her earlier remark. Asked if she is suggesting Albanese is not independent, she said, “not at all.”
McKenzie again went back to the briefing request and said:
I’m hoping [Albanese] gives the opposition a briefing on this matter as soon as possible, given his defence minister has gone on the public broadcaster and told us all about a conversation he had with Indonesia yesterday, his Indonesian counterpart. We think he could have given the courtesy to the opposition.
McKenzie says opposition has not received briefing
Bridget McKenzie says the opposition has not yet been given a briefing about the government’s conversations with Indonesia, over the reported request by Russia to base aircraft in the country.
Speaking with ABC Afternoon Briefing just now, the Nationals senate leader argued the protocol for caretaker mode means that on matters of national security, you need to “ensure both sides are cognisant of the facts and the information they need to make an appropriate response.”
We have been seeking an urgent briefing from Anthony Albanese and his ministers on the reports from yesterday, and we are yet to receive that. It makes it very hard for us to respond in a way that is in our national interest, without those briefings.
McKenzie said it was “appalling” that Richard Marles could not say whether or not a briefing had taken place.
Asked if she is suggesting the government is deliberately delaying or blocking access to this briefing, McKenzie said when she was emergency management minister, she provided briefings:
It sounds like [Marles] had a conversation with the Indonesian counterpart that satisfied him … Well, Richard, if you’re so happy with the answer, you won’t be afraid to share a confidential security briefing with the appropriate shadow ministry and Peter Dutton.
Henry Belot
Muslim Votes Matter endorse Greens in Banks and Werriwa, may preference Coalition over Labor
The advocacy group Muslim Votes Matter has endorsed Greens candidates in the south-western Sydney seats of Banks and Werriwa.
The group – which is campaigning for candidates in 32 seats that are predominantly Labor held – has already endorsed Greens candidates in the seats of Wills, Bruce, Moreton and Sturt.
Ghaith Krayem, the national spokesperson for Muslim Votes Matter, said the endorsement decisions were based on the incumbent MPs positions on the war in Gaza. The seat of Banks is held by the shadow foreign affairs minister, David Coleman. Werriwa is held by Labor’s Anne Stanley. Krayment said:
We believe Banks is on a knife-edge and that the Muslim community has the ability to swing it and remove the incumbent. We intend to mobilise and do our utmost to remove Coleman from his position.
In Werriwa, Krayem said the group may urge people to preference the Coalition above Labor to send a message that the Muslim community can have an impact on elections.
We’ve gotta give serious consideration to preferencing the Coalition in Werriwa to really drive home that message. That is something we will give serious attention to. This is about holding incumbents to account for ignoring the most important issue facing our community.
Marles unsure whether Dutton has been briefed on Russia-Indonesia matter
Richard Marles said he isn’t sure whether or not a briefing on the matter has yet been provided to Peter Dutton – who has requested one. He told the ABC:
We have been incredibly open through the last three years in the terms of the briefings that we have afforded to the opposition in relation to all of these matters. What is absolutely clear is that when Peter Dutton yesterday asserted the president of Indonesia had said something when he clearly had not … is shooting from the hip in the most dangerous way.
Marles says there is nothing to ‘smooth over’ with Indonesia
Continuing to take questions on the matter, Richard Marles said he was “really comfortable with the way in which in we have interacted with Indonesia in respect of this”.
He also rejected the notion there was “anything to smooth over” with Indonesia.
We have a really close relationship with Indonesia. I literally had a conversation with my counterpart less than 24 hours ago. That was exactly the assurance I would want to have in respect of where Indonesia is at with this.
At a press conference earlier today, Peter Dutton said the prospect of “having Russia with the greatest presence in our region is very real and there are a lot of questions the government still has to answer”.
Marles responded, saying “I don’t accept that,” and labelled this a “very dangerous comment on the part of Peter Dutton.”
We are aware of Russia’s presence, which has been around for a long time. And we are very aware of it, very mindful of it, we manage it … What matters though is that we build the strongest possible relationship that we can with our neighbours.
Marles says Dutton ‘doesn’t have the temperament’ to be PM
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, is speaking with ABC Afternoon Briefing about reports Russia asked Indonesia to station planes in the country – a request Indonesia assured Australia it did not accept.
Asked if the Australian government knew about the Russian request for an Indonesian airbase, Marles did not answer directly:
I’m not about to go into what we do and don’t know in respect of what is happening in the region, because so much of that exists in the classified space. What is important here is I was able to talk to my counterpart, the defence minister of Indonesia yesterday, and he made unequivocally clear there’s no prospect of Russian aircraft operating from Indonesia.
Marles said it matters that “we handle these things in a sober and calm way” and took aim at Peter Dutton for “recklessness” in his commentary yesterday.
He draws inspiration from one president, he seeks to put words in the mouth of another. He was shooting from the hip. I cannot overstate how dangerous that is in terms of managing our bilateral relations.
In a time when the world is in a volatile and uncertain situation, we need people who can govern our country in a calm and sober way and manage our relationships. What this demonstrates is that Peter Dutton frankly does not have the temperament to be fit to be the prime minister of our nation.
Coalition’s super policy will ‘significantly disadvantage women’, O’Neil says
Labor’s housing minister Clare O’Neil has criticised the Coalition’s “super for housing” policy for entrenching gender inequality and raising house prices.
In case you missed her debate with the shadow housing minister, Michael Sukkar, earlier on today, you can watch some of what she said below:
Teal MP weighs in on what Dutton is offering women
Teal independent Zoe Daniel has taken aim at Peter Dutton for the comments he made earlier today, when asked that the Coalition was offering women in this election.
In case you missed it: the opposition leader said the “25 cent fuel excise reduction is targeted at women driving kids around or delivery truck drivers who are trying to make ends meet.”
And on the Coalition’s super for housing policy, Dutton said this would help “women who have had a messy relationship breakup, who haven’t had a home before or have no roof over the head with their kids”.
In a video to social media, Daniel said:
Interesting – my husband drives my kids around more than I do, just saying. But also, what about funding for family, domestic and sexual violence? What about universal early childhood education, for the benefit of women, children and families – which would also reduce the cost of living? What about empowering women into the workforce? Seriously – vote independent, because independence works for women.
LNP attack ads target Dutton’s independent rival in Dickson
Henry Belot
The Liberal National party has paid for billboard ads attacking the independent candidate for Dickson, Ellie Smith, whose campaign spokesperson said more than $1m has been raised in an attempt to beat Peter Dutton.
The billboards, authorised by the Liberal National party, accused Smith of being “a Greenie at heart”. Smith’s campaign said the billboard previously promoted the Coalition’s campaign slogan: “Let’s get Australia back on track”.
An email from the Smith campaign to supporters has pushed for an additional $160,000 in donations to help the campaign match the advertising spend of major parties in Dickson. The spokesperson said donations had come from more than 1000 people.
Earlier this month, Labor’s national secretary, Paul Erickson, told supporters he had approved an extra $130,000 for campaign advertising in Dickson. Dutton has held Dickson since 2001. It has a margin of 1.7%.
Smith is running an open ballot and not telling supporters where to allocate their preferences. A source within the Smith campaign, who declined to be named so they could speak freely, said Labor had approached Smith for preferences:
They were literally texting as the balls were dropping in the ballot draw. It was always a no. Ellie was never going to trade away her independence.
Labor how-to-vote cards in Dickson tell supporters to put the Greens second, Smith fifth and Dutton sixth.
Australian defence industry grows by 12.4%
Moving away from the campaign trail for a moment, and new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows the nation’s defence industry grew by 12.4% – or $1.3bn – in the 2023-24 financial year.
The Australian defence industry contributed $11.9bn in gross value added (GVA) to the national economy in 2023-24, accounting for 0.47% of total GVA.
Employment in the Australian defence industry also grew by 9.1% in the 2023-24 financial year. Luisa Ryan, the ABS’s head of satellite accounts, said:
South Australia drove the national defence industry growth. The state’s defence industry grew by $425m, and 1,300 more defence industry employees were added.
NSW and Victoria continued to have the largest defence industries of the states and territories, the ABS said, with the defence industry contributing $3.5bn in NSW and $2.5bn in Victoria.
Professional, scientific and technical services ($5.4bn) and manufacturing ($2bn) made the largest contributions.
