Politics

We Finally Know The Date Of The Federal Election, So Let’s Get This Over With

It's going to be a long five weeks.

Scott Morrison calls the election

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed the date of the next federal election, with Australia set to go to the polls on Saturday, May 18.

Morrison visited Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove early this morning. It’s Cosgrove’s job to issue the writs that allow the election to be called.

Morrison then confirmed the date in a press conference at Parliament House, telling reporters that “this election is about the future”, which yeah, no shit.

The Prime Minister spruiked his government’s economic and immigration policies, and framed the election as a direct contest between himself and Labor leader Bill Shorten.

“It is crystal clear, at this election,” he said. “It is a choice between me as Prime Minister and Bill Shorten as Prime Minister.”

“It is a choice that will determine the economy that Australians live in, not just for the next three years but for the next decade.”

The Coalition currently trails Labor 52-48 (two party preferred) according to the latest newspoll. Labor has accused the government of delaying calling the election so it could continue to use taxpayer money to fund advertising for its policies.

Now the date has been confirmed, both parties will immediately go into full blown campaign mode. And won’t that be fun.

More to come.