The hiccups, and the point-scoring continue on the Federal Campaign trail. Labor’s scrambling to find a new Senate candidate in the Northern Territory, after Nova Peris announced her sudden resignation. She says she never wanted to be a career politician.

Isabella Pilbeam reports.

TRANSCRIPT

Bill Shorten wanted to focus on Labor’s Health and Transport policies today.

But the decision by Nova Peris, not to run again on Labor’s Senate ticket, took the limelight.

Ms Peris is the first indigenous female senator, after controversially being selected in a “captain’s pick” by former Prime Minister Gillard in 2013.

Bill Shorten, Leader of the Opposition: “She is a trailblazer, she is a trailblazer on the athletics track and she’s been a trailblazer in the Senate. She’s a distinguished Territorian, she’s a distinguished Indigenous Australian.”

It’s rumoured she’ll take up a senior position with the AFL.

Prime Minister Turnbull was in country Victoria.

He pledged $60 million to improve mobile phone blackspots in regional areas.

Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister: “The biggest complaint about telecommunications is my mobile phone won’t work.”

And he couldn’t resist another barb at Labor’s spending plans and a new title for his rival.

Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister: “The flagrant wastefulness and recklessness of the Labor Party, outspending us by 20 to one in this election campaign. Billion dollar Bill keeping on joking and making jokes about the spend-o-metre.”

Bill Shorten had a come back for the P.M.

Bill Shorten, Opposition Leader: “What a desperate fellow this Mr Turnbull’s becoming, when he’s resorting to the negative big lie of this election. Let’s call Mr Turnbull’s actions over the last few days for what they are a big fat great lie.”

Isabella Pilbeam, QUT News.