The spectre of Donald Trump still made an appearance but housing and cost of living issues returned to the fore in a cagey second leaders’ debate of the election campaign.
After the US president dominated the first debate between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton, the opposition leader was keen to get back to his main attack line that Australians are doing it tougher now than before the last election.
But a slip up over a story about Russian warplanes exposed his weaknesses on the international front, which Mr Albanese was keen to capitalise on.
Mr Dutton was forced into an awkward admission of fault after previously refusing to back down on his erroneous claim that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto publicly announced a request by Russia to host military aircraft on Indonesian territory.
“It was a mistake and I’m happy to admit that,” Mr Dutton conceded after being pressed by moderator David Speers.
Mr Albanese said it was “extraordinary” for the man vying to be prime minister to be throwing those comments around, showing his lack of understanding of diplomacy.
Mr Dutton also looked vulnerable when asked about his relationship with Mr Trump, distancing himself from the US president while still maintaining he would’ve had more success in asking for a tariff exemption than Mr Albanese.
But the prime minister had some shaky moments too.
He was evasive when asked when Australians could expect to see energy bills come down and denied that the government had modelled the effects of removing negative gearing on house prices, despite reports that Treasury had produced modelling on the issue.
“The lie he told tonight about negative gearing is the most bald-faced lie he’s told in this campaign so far,” said Liberal campaign spokesman James Paterson.
Housing affordability has returned as a key issue in the campaign, with both parties aiming major policies at first homebuyers in recent days.
But Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton struggled to shake criticisms that their plans would cause house prices to rise.
Neither leader managed to score a knock-out blow on the other and both largely stayed on message.
Mr Dutton repeated his refrain asking Australians whether they were better off than three years ago and Mr Albanese exhorting Australians not to risk the coalition’s cuts.
No winner was declared, but the outcome will favour Mr Albanese.
Up in the polls with less than a week until early voting begins, the prime minister just needs to avoid any major slip ups to secure a second term.
Mr Dutton will on Thursday announce a plan to revive Howard-era technical colleges, which would provide vocational training to students in their final years of school.
The hope is that will encourage more young Australians to pick up a trade and help plug the skills shortage that the construction industry says is holding up its ability to provide new homes.
The coalition has promised to establish 12 technical colleges over its first term, at a cost of $260 million.
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