Australian federal election 2022 live: Wong says PM ‘wants you to gamble your superannuation’

Josh Butler

The Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, has popped into a prepoll centre in Western Australia’s marginal seat of Pearce, to rev up Labor volunteers handing out how-to-vote cards.

It wasn’t an easy gig for the political advancers who go ahead and scope out the location to avoid awkward encounters – a number of large billboard trucks circled the area, and the Labor leader was snapped with an LED “it won’t be easy under Albanese” banner in the background saying he’d voted for the Gillard government’s “mining tax”.

Other trucks blared anti-Liberal slogans, including one screaming “ScoMo backed Clive”. Clive Palmer’s UAP had its own large “FREEDOM” trucks.

At the prepoll booth, between a smoke shop and a deli in an outdoor row of shops, one woman yelled “end the mandates … get the workers back to work” at Albanese as she walked past him.

“He’s looking fit,” another woman said another woman.

Shaking hands and patting the obligatory dog, he said hello and then goodbye, disappearing around the corner as quickly as he came.

Earlier on his visit to a hospital with the WA premier, Mark McGowan, it was a similar mixed reaction. A woman in the hospital carpark exclaimed “oh my god it’s Mark McGowan” to her daughter as they walked past the gathered journalists, while at Albanese’s arrival, one young woman asked “who are you?” upon noticing the scrum of cameras as the Labor leader got out of his car.

Albanese has retired from public appearances for the day, just after 12pm Perth time. He’s set to appear on Triple J’s Hack program this evening, then attend the West Australian newspaper’s leaders breakfast event tomorrow morning.

Updated at 01.53 EDT

I posted Cait Kelly’s guide to phone voting earlier – I should have waited! Here is her updated, expanded, improved, even more excellent guide to phone voting and much more:

Peter Hannam

A lot of chatter today about the Coalition’s new housing policy. As independent economist Saul Eslake says, too often government policies stoke house prices and Scott Morrison’s proposals are the latest to be added to the bonfire.

RateCity’s senior researcher, Sally Tindall, pointed out that home prices are actually turning lower as interest rates rise. She said the RBA’s Philip Lowe has estimated property prices will drop 15% if the cash rate rises to 2%.

In other words, perhaps the best way for housing to become more affordable, is to let the market ease off.

For its part, the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is also taking a dim view on the new policy. ACOSS chief executive, Cassandra Goldie, says adding demand will only boost prices, as various economists have said.

Goldie is also critical of the other prong of the policy, encouraging those over 55 to be able to tip as much as $600,000 into their super accounts (and enjoy the concessional tax benefits) if they downsize. That’s a policy those over 65 can already access. Goldie says:

This policy adds to a succession of recent policy announcements that make it easier for wealthy older people to transfer their savings into superannuation to take advantage of generous tax concessions, including removal of the work test for people aged 65 to 74 years so they can keep making contributions to superannuation.

At a time when younger generations are struggling to break into the housing market, it is unfair and unacceptable for wealthy older people, who were fortunate enough to buy when prices were much lower, to be handed yet another opportunity to avoid tax by shifting more of their savings into super.

Updated at 01.31 EDT

The prime minister, Scott Morrison, is looking to support sitting member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, who’s battling to keep his seat:

Updated at 01.17 EDT

Josh Butler has the low-down on the micro and minor parties, and what they actually stand for:

People isolating because of Covid will be able to vote by phone – but the Australian Electoral Commission says that’s a last resort.

AAP reports that from 6pm on Wednesday people will be able to cast their vote by telephone. The commission said:

Telephone voting should only be a last resort. Prior to this date, voters who are isolating due to coronavirus can apply for a postal ballot.

Cait Kelly did an excellent explainer on the process:

Updated at 00.52 EDT

The four children of Christos, a 70-year-old man missing in Victoria’s high country, have issued this statement via Victoria police:

We are devastated knowing that our dad Christos is still missing in Mount Hotham’s high country.

Our dad is a kind and loving person, a lover of nature, with an adventurous spirit. He is a grandfather to four beautiful granddaughters and we know he would love to see them again.

He is adored by his children, wife, family and friends and everyone else who knows him. We are all praying that his strong and resilient nature will find his way back to us.

We would like to thank the local community, Victoria police and everyone else involved for their ongoing pursuits to help find Christos.

Updated at 00.39 EDT

Speaking of that crossbench … Matilda Boseley’s latest Voting 101 is in. What is a hung parliament? Here is Boseley doing what she does best – squishing a lot of information into a tasty snack-sized video:

Voting 101: what is a hung parliament and what happens if there is one on election day? – video

Updated at 00.26 EDT

I’m still recovering from watching the crossbench debate at the National Press Club. I’d better get it together, though – the Greens have their campaign launch tonight, and later the prime minister, Scott Morrison, will be on ABC’s 7.30:

Updated at 00.15 EDT

Environmental activists busted: