Australian Politics - Fairfax

Live: Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten MP face off for the second leaders' debate of the election campaign.

A leaked email shows NSW senator David Leyonhjelm proposed paying a campaign worker cash in hand, telling senior members of his party: "We'll ignore tax."

It's the show that helped Malcolm Turnbull build his credentials as a potential prime minister. And where he famously set progressive hearts aflutter by donning a leather jacket.
But the Q&A may well be a Turnbull-free zone this campaign.
Following Sunday night's widely panned debate a blast of audience participation may be just what the campaign needs.
But for the Turnbull camp, a trip to Ultimo is seen as high-risk and low-reward.

The Chaser has made its first appearance on the federal election campaign crashing, in spectacular style, an appearance by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in western Sydney.

It's not the message Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull wants to see issued on the streets of Sydney as he tries to present a united front.

Ross Gittins: If screwing the politically defenceless is the best you can do to control government spending you're never going to make it. They don't have enough to cut.

Australia witnessed two tribal leaders during last night's leaders' debate, each speaking powerfully to his own tribe. Missing was a national leader commanding both, writes Peter Hartcher

If what was being measured was the quality of the contest of ideas being offered to the Australian people, there was one big loser: the uncommitted voter.

Cartoon of the Day: Cathy Wilcox and the 'loopy maverick'. More political cartoons here http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/cartoons

Desperately seeking Sophie: Tony Wright looks at Sophie Mirabella, Cathy McGowan and the battle for Indi

OUCH! Mark Kenny's debate verdict:

Sunday night's election debate did little to animate a fresh image for Australia nor even to lift a surprisingly formulaic election campaign from its desultory torpor. The debate was a microcosm of the campaign. Boring. Unedifying. Risk-averse.

Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten fought each other to a draw in an election debate that failed to excite and was dominated by questions about economic management, border protection, climate change and trust.

20 minutes to go until the debate starts. We're catching you up with the blog here

Further cuts to spending or increased taxes will be needed after the election to avoid Treasurer Scott Morrison's ambitious company tax cuts sending the budget backwards, according to independent advice.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT! We'll be livestreaming the debate between Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten here on our Facebook page. Watch live and uninterrupted from 7.30pm.

Ross Gittins: The numbers that debunk a company tax cut

Queensland's anti-politician is back, and she likes her chances.

Bill Shorten struggles to name the captains of the Australian women's cricket, hockey and netball teams. But could you?

They're widely despised by the political Left. And Labor thinks they're so on the nose locally they could lose their seats at the election.

Bill Shorten has vowed to take the first step to resettle refugees in limbo on Nauru and Manus Island on the day he is sworn in as prime minister, if he wins the July 2 election.

At the end of the third week of the 2016 campaign, Labor surged to its largest lead of the contest to date in a Seven News/Reachtel poll published Friday night, taking a 52-48 lead in the two-party preferred vote.