Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has had a brief encounter with satirical television show The Chaser, while campaigning in Western Sydney.
Chas Licciardello attempted a ‘trust fall,’ falling in front of the Prime Minister, before being moved along by the Australian Federal Police.
His Chaser sidekick Craig Reucassel then followed Mr Turnbull on a walk through a Penrith shopping centre, carrying a cardboard cutout of former prime minister Tony Abbott, with him.
“Malcolm told me to come,” Mr Reucassal told SBS.
“He said he looks better if he’s got Abbott around him.”
It follows fierce criticism of Sunday night’s leaders’ debate, with both Mr Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten being accused of sticking to ‘talking points.’
Mr Shorten, speaking in Cairns this morning, disagreed with that characterisation.
“Both of us went into the room with no notes,” Mr Shorten said.
“This election isn’t about Mr Turnbull or myself, it’s about the Australian people.”
Mr Shorten today announced a $500 million pledge to protect the Great Barrier Reef, including boosted funds for CSIRO research and reef specific university projects.
Mr Turnbull caught the train to Lindsay to announce that a re-elected Coalition would invest $4.6 million for 12 new pilot sites for a program designed to improve employment outcomes for students.
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