It’s hard to believe that this time next week, Trumpet of Patriots leader Suellen Wrightson could be our prime-minister elect. In the interim, The Bug’s expert political analysts continue with their unsurpassed daily review of happenings on the hustings, despite the fact that they’ve just about had a gutful and need a big day and night on the rumbo.
The Coalition parties’ favourite topic – would-be asylum seekers in rickety boats breaching Australia’s border controls – finally manifested itself on the campaign trail yesterday.
Australian Border Force (ABF) yesterday announced that a civilian helicopter pilot had alerted it to the presence on a remote Northern Territory beach of five men from an as-yet unknown foreign nation who had scrawled an SOS message in the sand and raised a makeshift red flag on a pole. (below)
But despite the political advantage the incident might have given the Liberals and Nationals, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s reaction was less strident than his comments on previous similar incidents.
“I urge all rightly fearful Australians to stay calm until the disease-ridden country of origin of these vermin intent on infecting our nation can be ascertained,” Mr Dutton said while campaign in the NT on Saturday.
“I have every confidence that Border Force can handle this real and imminent threat to our national security and can protect Australians from these type of vicious criminals, drug dealers, and rapists who have responded to Anthony Albanese’s open invitation to come to our country and destroy our way of life.
“This news reinforces my belief that we need to build a big, beautiful wall to keep out these sub-human creatures and keep Australians safe,” he said. “And, for goodness’ sake everyone, lock up your cats and dogs!”
Political observers said it was notable that in the final week of the campaign Mr Dutton had deliberately toned down the previous language he used in relation to past incidents of unauthorised arrivals.
“It seems Mr Dutton is erring on the side of caution in the final week and by moderating his language he is trying not to alienate any voters if he can help it,” one veteran reporter travelling with the Liberal leader said.
Mr Dutton also said was “purely coincidental” that he had been campaigning in the NT when the news broke.
“It is also just a coincidence that I had taken just a few hours off the other day for a brisk and invigorating ocean swim before the ABF made its most recent announcement,” he said. (main picture)
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In Melbourne yesterday Prime Minister Anthony Albanese raised eyebrows, and also modified his eyes, in what some observers thought was overkill in his bid to win the votes of Chinese Australians in key marginal seats. (below)
Mr Albanese launched funding for after-school language programs for children from kindergarten to year 12 who will learn second – mainly Asian – languages.
Reporters travelling with the PM said Mr Albanese appeared to go out of his way to link himself to the Chinese community by attempting to speak in both Mandarin and Cantonese.
“He tried hard, but his comments were largely unintelligible because his mouth was stuffed with steamed dim sims,” one reporter noted.
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Rather surprisingly, no new polls lobbed overnight so the average of the six polls we are monitoring stays at 53.5 to 46.5 2PP to Labor.
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Little movement again. Still, are the online bookies getting ever so closer to paying out?
Sportsbet: Labor $1.15 ($1.14); Coalition $6.00 ($6.00)
Ladbrokes: Labor $1.15 ($1.15); Coalition $5.50 ($5.50)
TAB: Labor $1.16 ($1.16); Coalition $5.00 ($4.75)
bet365: Labor $1.14 ($1.14) Coalition $5.50 ($5.50).
Neds: Labor $1.15 ($1.15); Coalition $5.50 ($5.50).
Take it away, Kenny Devine!
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STOP PRESS: This prize has been suspended for today as we award our weekly CUNT trophy, uploaded in a separate post. Hope you agree with our choice of winners.
BREAKING OVERNIGHT: Provided Peter Dutton retains his marginal seat of Dickson in Queensland, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has offered the ex-Queensland cop a senior role in his second ministry for his “brilliant campaigning on Labor’s behalf”. It’s widely tipped that Dutton will be the nation’s first Closing the Gap Minister, after his heartfelt hand-wringing recently over the ongoing plight of our First Nations people. If only they could have some kind of
Voice that wasn’t racist or divisive like what Albo wanted.
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