Leaders’ debate: Albanese wins final debate, Morrison confirms Tudge will re-enter cabinet if re-elected

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese won the third and final leaders’ debate on Wednesday night, which saw he and Prime Minister Scott Morrison cover a number of well-trodden issues.

Key points:

The debate on Channel Seven — which was a much tamer affair than the second debate on Sunday — moderated by Mark Riley canvassed wages, the rising of cost of living, anti-corruption commissions, climate change and child care.

Out of the 160 undecided voters in marginal electorates asked to judge who won the debate, 54 per cent voted in favour of Mr Albanese, 34 per cent in favour of Mr Morrison and 16 per cent were still undecided after the debate. 

While there were no new policy announcements during the debate, Mr Morrison did confirm that — after much speculation — Education Minister Alan Tudge would return to the role and cabinet if the Coalition is re-elected.

Mr Tudge stood aside at the end of 2021 when Mr Morrison launched an investigation into claims from one of Mr Tudge’s former staffers, Rachelle Miller, that he was emotionally, and on one occasion physically, abusive.

Mr Tudge strenuously denies the allegations and the investigation did not find he breached ministerial standards, but he decided not to return to the front bench.

Ms Miller is set to receive a taxpayer-funded settlement worth more than $500,000, but Mr Morrison has previously said he has no “visibility” on the settlement.

During the campaign Mr Morrison confirmed Mr Tudge was technically still on the frontbench and he hoped he would return to cabinet if the government was re-elected.

But he confirmed during the debate that had changed and confirmed Mr Tudge would be Education Minister.

“He will be happy to come back and service in the ministry and I welcome that,” Mr Morrison said.

The back and forth about Ms Miller’s payment and whether taxpayers deserve to know what it is for quickly led to a discussion of the need for an independent federal anti-corruption commission.

Riley: Isn’t the point here all this, that we need an independent integrity commission to deal with these matters and take them out of the hands of politicians?

Morrison: I agree, that’s why I have 347 pages of legislation.

Riley: But no bill, you didn’t put a bill through the parliament.

Morrison: I agree with that, but I’m one step ahead of the Labor Party who have been talking about this for three years.

Riley: When will you bring your bill for an integrity commission before the parliament?

Morrison: This year, if we can ensure that our bill can be passed I’m very happy to bring it forward. 

When asked for his reply Mr Albanese said politics needed to be cleaned up and argued for Labor’s model which he said would be independent of politics.

“The idea that somehow the Opposition’s responsible for the government not even introducing legislation, that taken to its logical conclusion, why would you vote for Scott Morrison on Saturday week some because what he says is unless the Opposition support legislation it won’t even come before the parliament?”

The Coalition continues to blame Labor for the lack of action, demanding the Opposition provides express support for its bill before it is introduced to parliament — despite not taking that approach with a range of other pieces of legislation throughout its three terms in government.

Election essentials: Wage increases

One of the other dominant themes of the debate, as in previous head-to-heads, was the rising cost of living.

But the final debate also touched on Mr Albanese’s comments from Wednesday that he would back a 5.1 per cent increase to the minimum wage in line with inflation.

He clarified that he would not actively seek out the increase but if the Fair Work Commission made the decision to raise wages that amount “we would absolutely welcome it”.

“Because real workers out there are doing it tough and those people on the minimum wage, it’s not like they’re making decisions based upon what holiday they will have,” he said.

“What they’re making decisions on is whether they will buy a steak or just have to stick to mince meat for their families.”

When it was put to him that a rise in wages could lead to even greater inflation and interest rates Mr Albanese replied:

“What we’re talking about here is people on minimum wages. It’s $20.33 an hour,” he said.

“What we’re talking about here, if the Fair Work Commission grants a five per cent increase, that’s two cups of coffee a day.

“The idea that two cups of coffee a day is something that would damage the economy is, I believe, just not the case.”

Mr Morrison responded by saying that a five per cent increase could take a real toll on small businesses.

“If Mr Albanese thinks small businesses around the country can have a five per cent increase in their wages bill on top of all the other things they’re facing and see their ability to come through then people won’t be worrying about what their wages are, they will be worrying about whether they have a job,” he said.

Free childcare

Both leaders were also asked, by the West Australian newspaper’s Lanai Scarr why free childcare could not continue given it was introduced during the pandemic.

Mr Albanese said Labor’s plan would see 96 per cent of families be better off, and four per cent receive the same benefits as now.

“Why do we do cheaper childcare? It’s not welfare, it’s economic reform,” he said.

“It will boost productivity, help business, help women’s retirement incomes.”

When Mr Morrison was asked for his answer he said the gender pay gap had fallen under the Coalition government and that “female participation in the work force is at record levels”.

The pair were asked why neither were promising free childcare.(AAP: Lukas Coch, Mick Tsikas)

While he did not say why the Coalition was not promising free childcare, he returned to it at a later question.

When asked by Scarr whether he agreed with a report that an MP in his party room suggested that childcare and women accessing it was “outsourcing parenting” and whether it was an issue he discussed with his wife, Mr Morrison replied:

“No, it’s not something I agree with and we talk about childcare and many issues all the time,” he said.

“We have a responsible and affordable policy on childcare.

“What we don’t do is go and promise the world when you know you can’t pay for it.”

Final compliments

The debate came to a close with both men being asked to share one strength about the other that they admired but also worried them.

Mr Morrison said he admired that Mr Albanese “[had] never forgot where he has come from”.

“He grew up in housing commission and I have no doubt that Mother’s Day is always probably the toughest day of each year for him,” he said.

“He has shown the ability to rise to be the leader of one of the oldest parties in this country, and he should be commended for that.”

But after crediting the Opposition Leader’s determination he said “but, you know, to do this job you need to know your stuff”.

“You need to be across the detail. You need to not make things up no the run and you can’t be loose on the economy,” Mr Morrison said.

“As much as I respect what he has been able to achieve I just don’t believe that he has been able to demonstrate that he is able to get across the detail to do this job.”

Mr Albanese said he acknowledged that the job of prime minister was a difficult one to do and he admired that Mr Morrison was “committed to his nation”.

“And on a range of issues, to name one, mental health in terms of young people, we have seen increased funding for mental health but in particular increased funding for headspace and those issues.

“Mental health is something that when we were all a bit younger wasn’t spoken about. It’s a good thing it’s being spoken about, it’s a good thing the Prime Minister speaks about it as well.”

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