It’s been revealed that the 2019 election will cost taxpayers three-hundred-million dollars. The electoral commissioner says that’s good value, working out to about eighteen dollars per voter. And on the campaign trail, both Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten had economic management on their agendas.

Shelley Cheng reports.

TRANSCRIPT

Both leaders are ramping up their campaigns.

The Prime Minister is trying to win over marginal seats in Tasmania, announcing road safety policies and promising tax cuts.

It’s unclear how much they’ll benefit higher income earners.

Scott Morrison, Prime Minister: “I’ve never relied on the advice by the Australian Institute and I’m not about to start doing it now.”

Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader is campaigning in the Northern Territory, spruiking his plans for Indigenous health.

He rejected the claim that his climate policy will hit businesses hard.

Bill Shorten, Labor Leader: “You and I know this is a fundamentally dishonest debate. It is so dishonest. You all recognise a scare campaign when you see one.”

Mr Shorten also promised a bigger budget surplus than the Coalition.

Bill Shorten, Labor Leader: “You can never lose sight of the fact that the current Prime Minister wasn’t the treasurer for the last three years. He’s the cutter-in-chief. Cutter-in-chief of schools, cutter-in-chief of hospitals, cutter of chief of services.”

Both leaders are now back in their home states for the Easter break, and will continue campaigning on Tuesday.

Shelley Cheng, QUT News.