Scott Morrison hits back at ABC host over claims he abandoned treasurer during election
Scott Morrison has hit back at claims he abandoned Josh Frydenberg on the campaign trail as the treasurer fights for his political life.
The prime minister appeared frustrated as he dismissed the notion during a heated interview with ABC News Breakfast host Michael Rowland on Friday morning.
“Josh Frydenberg is in the battle of his political life. Why haven’t you been there side-by-side with your deputy helping him win his seat?” Rowland asked.
“I was in Kooyong during this campaign with my deputy. I was there on Passover,” Mr Morrison retorted, referring to Mr Frydenberg’s seat, where polls show the treasurer is trailing Independent candidate Monique Ryan.
“I was there with the Jewish community in his own electorate, so to suggest I haven’t been campaigning with Josh is completely false.”
Mr Rowland acknowledged the PM had been in Kooyong to “celebrate passover” but suggested he had not been to community venues before Mr Morrison interrupted to clarify he visited a Jewish Community Centre in Kooyong with Mr Frydenberg.
“I’ve been with Josh on many occasions during the course of this campaign, we’ve done press conferences together, so to suggest that Josh and I aren’t campaigning together is just ridiculous,” he insisted.
The PM said he, Mr Frydenberg and Minister for Finance Simon Birmingham have “been the economic team” that helped the country recover from a 15 per cent unemployment rate during the Covid pandemic.
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Mr Rowland also pointed out the latest Ipsos poll, published by the Australian Financial Review, shows Labor’s Anthony Albanese is ahead of Mr Morrison as the preferred prime minister.
“Is your biggest fear, that while voters in some parts of the country might want to re-elect the Coalition, they simply cannot stomach another three years of you?” the ABC host said.
The PM responded that the only figure he’s “most interested in” was the unemployment falling “to a low of 3.9 per cent”.
“This is an extraordinary achievement by Australians and particularly those businesses whose have been employing those Australians, and this means our economic plan is working because I know Australians are working,” he said.
“This is the big issue at this election. This election is about who can best manage our economy and manage finances because if you can't manage money, then you can't deliver on issues like Medicare, on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, on aged care.”
Mr Rowland continued to push the issue, asking if the PM acknowledges that he is “a huge drag on the Coalition’s vote”.
“Well, what I’ve done over the last three years is shown the leadership necessary to get Australia through the worst financial, economic and health crisis we’ve seen in 100 years,” Mr Morrison says before Mr Rowland cuts him off, telling the PM voters are “not buying what you’re selling”.
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“Polls don't determine elections and neither do politicians and neither do journalists,” Mr Morrison hit back.
“Australians, the many quiet ones out there working hard every day, to ensure that they can get through each and every day's challenges, and they are looking to plan for their future with confidence, and they can do that with a government that has been able to demonstrate its economic competence,” he added.
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