Federal election 2022: Scott Morrison’s pitch to home buyers finally brings contest of ideas to poll

Finally, this election is about more than two unpopular leaders attacking each other’s flaws. Scott Morrison’s last-minute pitch to young voters at the Coalition’s official campaign launch has set up a genuine contest of ideas over housing affordability. Allowing first home buyers to put a portion of their superannuation towards a deposit has already sparked criticism that it would drive up property prices and drain retirement funds. But Anthony Albanese will now be forced to explain why his party opposes this easy-to-understand policy, while at the same time selling Labor’s far more complex shared equity plan. The PM’s speech also shifted his focus onto the future as he attempted to convince Australians fed up with governments interfering in their lives during COVID that the next three years would be better. It was notable that after spending five weeks planting seeds of doubt about Albanese in the minds of voters, Morrison did not mention his opponent’s name even once in his 50-minute speech. This late strategy change is evidence the Coalition are worried that relentlessly targeting the ALP leader’s leadership qualities won’t be enough to save them on Saturday. But Sunday’s poll for The Sunday Times suggests Labor’s lead in Perth’s battleground seats has shrunk significantly over the past eight weeks. The Liberals put this down to the “McGowan factor” diminishing as the attention of the electorate has switched to the alternative prime minister. They are also clinging on to hope the election can still be won or lost in the final days of the campaign, pointing to the significant proportion of “undecideds”. It’s hardly surprising voters have been turned off by the negative approach of the two major parties, but at least now there’s a point of difference.