1. When Scott Morrison greeted a Korean woman in Mandarin
On the first street walk of his campaign, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was wandering through one of the most diverse towns in the Sydney suburb of Strathfield, home to almost 9,000 Chinese and Korean Australians.
When greeted by a woman he said “Ni Hao” (Mandarin for 'hello') only for the woman to reply, “No, no, I am Korean” (watch video above).
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny at a street walk at Strathfield shopping strip in Sydney, Source: AAP
2. When candidates dropped like flies
On just the third day of the campaign, the Liberals lost three Victorian candidates over eligibility issues related to that notorious Section 44 of the Constitution. One was dumped for holding down a public service job and the other two over the dual citizenship rule.
Then the floodgates opened and a slew of candidates were kicked out or resigned because of inappropriate social media posts.
In just one day, the Liberal candidate for Lyons Jessica Whelan resigned over anti-Muslim Facebook comments , while Labor candidate for Melbourne Luke Creasey and damaging posts about a female friend. Both said they no longer held such views.
A week later, Liberal candidate Gurpal Singh resigned over comments in which he said an alleged rapist was the “real victim”. He could not be reached for comment and the Victorian Liberal Party apologised on his behalf.
3. When Pauline Hanson broke down on TV
“I cop all this s**t all the time,” the , fighting back tears.
“I'm sick of it. Absolutely sick of it.”
Pauline Hanson on A Current Affair. Source: A Current Affair
She was responding after footage emerged of her Senate candidate Steve Dickson groping dancers and making disparaging comments about women at an American strip club.
Mr Dickson resigned, with Senator Hanson touching on the latest controversy to blame others for her party’s ups and downs.
“I'm kicked in the guts time and time again. It happens right before an election.”
4. When Bill Shorten was accidentally called a 'prick'
The opposition leader was walking through a Hobart market when he stopped to have a happy chat with three women, when one of them remarked, “That bloody Bill Shorten is a prick”.
“Say that again?” Mr Shorten said, laughing. “I haven’t got elected; you’re confusing me for the other guy.”
“No! Not you! Scott Morrison,” the woman clarified, realising her apparent mistake.
5. When Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard played happy families
The old Labor leader foes reunited, walking together side by side for the first time at the Labor campaign launch in Brisbane.
Former prime ministers Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd arrive at the Labor campaign launch together. Source: AAP
The once bitter political enemies – in whose era Australia saw the revolving door prime ministership in full swing – smiled and waved to the party faithful as they walked into the auditorium together.
The imagery was an attempt to show voters Labor was a “united party” while some commentators couldn’t help but joke it was like seeing your divorced parents reconcile at the annual family function.
6. When Scott Morrison missed being hit by an egg
Mr Morrison was attending a Country Women’s Association event in Albury when the protester allegedly walked up behind the prime minister and threw an egg. It bounced off and remained intact but the woman was charged with common assault.
Mr Morrison said he was mainly concerned about an older woman who had been knocked off her feet during the incident.
"I helped her up and gave her a hug,” he said. "Our farmers have to put up with these same idiots who are invading their farms and their homes.”
7. When Bill Shorten called Scott Morrison a ‘space invader’
During the second leader’s debate things got a little personal between the political rivals, when Mr Morrison tried to take Mr Shorten to task over comments he made to a punter on the election campaign trail.
Mr Morrison sidled up to Mr Shorten, who walked up closer to brush past him.
“You 'right there?” Mr Shorten said to Mr Morrison.
“I’m just wondering, are you going to look me in the eye …” the prime minister replied.
“You’re a classic space invader,” Mr Shorten responded.
Later Mr Morrison criticised the Labor leader, describing it as a “cabaret” move.
8. When Bill Shorten teared up over his mother
News Corp newspaper The Daily Telegraph published a front-page story and dedicated an editorial to criticise Mr Shorten over what they said were omissions he made about his mother’s story of sacrificing her dreams of studying law at university during an appearance on the ABC’s QandA program.
But the editorial backfired, leading to one of the campaign’s most emotional moments when the Labor leader detailed his mother’s story in a heartfelt tribute during a press conference.
He fought back tears, denouncing the “gotcha” journalism which he felt attacked his mum’s legacy.
It led to an outpouring of support as thousands of people began to share their stories of mothers who made sacrifices for their children, and all in the week leading up to Mother’s Day.
