Bill Shorten narrowly wins second debate before federal election
Bill Shorten has narrowly won the second leaders' debate ahead of the 2019 Federal Election, but 16 per cent of voters still could not decide between him and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
The two leaders clashed over climate change, tax and education funding in front of an audience of 109 voters in Brisbane on Friday night.
Of the undecided voters, 43 per cent picked Mr Shorten, 41 per cent picked the prime minister and 16 per cent had not made up their mind.
Mr Morrison regularly brought his answers back to tax and the cost of Labor's policies.
"We are facing some very difficult times in the years ahead... we'll be able to steward you through," Mr Morrison said to close his remarks.
Mr Shorten said the economy was not working for too many working and middle-income Australians.
"The choice is more of the same," he said.
"Do you really think that life has been so fantastic in the last six years?"
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Mr Shorten promised Labor's plans to crack down on multinational companies avoiding tax will be announced at his party's campaign launch on Sunday.
But Mr Morrison said the coalition had already led the world in cracking down on multinational tax avoidance.
Mr Shorten promised Labor would increase funding for schools and early education, but the prime minister said he could not guarantee he would deliver it.
"It's not clear at all yet that the states and territories are going to match what the Labor Party is proposing so it may not ever happen," Mr Morrison said.
Shorten, Morrison both agree on climate change
Both leaders made a point of saying how much they agreed on in mental health, support for veterans, sexual assault and even climate change.
"We do need to take action on climate change, it is not an option. We agree about that. What we don't agree about is the target," Mr Morrison said.
But Mr Shorten said carbon emissions had gone up since 2013 under the coalition's policies and the prime minister was forced to agree.
A woman asked about persecution of Christians, to which Mr Shorten asked: "What is it you feel you can't say?"
She replied it felt like she could not talk about abortion, same-sex marriage or gender dysphoria without being attacked.
Mr Morrison said he was passionate about freedom of religion, but said "people shouldn't be discriminated against in this country".
Mr Shorten said people need to be civil in public debate, but he did not want women getting an abortion to be harassed.
Income tax cuts
Mr Morrison would not say how much high-income earners would get under his income tax cuts – at which point Mr Shorten held up a sign that said "$77 billion".
"He doesn't want to say the number because then he has to explain, one, it's his priority, and two, what gets cut to pay for it," Mr Shorten said.
"Nothing," Mr Morrison replied.
Mr Shorten promised Labor would be the first federal opposition to release its costings more than a week before polling day.
The two leaders stood in front of the crowd and got a bit close at one point.
"You're a classic space invader," Mr Shorten told Mr Morrison.
Mr Shorten was declared the winner of the first leaders' debate in Perth on Monday night.
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