Australian PM knocks over child playing soccer at campaign event
World
By
Reuters
| May 18, 2022
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison knocked a boy over and fell on top of him while playing soccer at an election campaign event on Wednesday, before quickly rolling over and checking on the child, television footage showed.
The boy got up and exchanged a high-five with Morrison, the footage showed.
Last week, Morrison said he had been a "bit of bulldozer" as his unpopularity became an election issue.
"No one is safe from the bulldozer," Labor politician and campaign spokesman Jason Clare said on Twitter with a link to the footage.
Opinion polls show Morrison's conservative coalition trailing the Labor opposition ahead of the general election on Saturday, though the margin has narrowed this week.
READ MORE
NCPB sets in motion plans to compensate farmers for fake fertiliser
Governors reject revenue Bill, demand Sh439.5 billion allocation
Firm linked to fake fertiliser calls for arrest of Linturi, NCPB boss
KPLC to pay Sh500 million for Nakumatt fire tragedy
Scented success: Passion for cologne birthed my venture
Lenders raise interest on loans despite CBK holding key rate
US Senate passes bill to force TikTok divestment or ban
KTB seeks to increase tourist numbers to 3 million
How SMEs are diversifying to beat high costs, maximise profits
Australians will vote for a government on Saturday, with recent polls showing Morrison's Liberal-National coalition on track to lose to centre-left Labor, which would end nine years of conservative government.
Morrison's Liberal Party formally launched its campaign in Brisbane last Sunday, with Morrison detailing his housing policy at the event in a last-ditch appeal to voters.
The policy aims to encourage older Australians to sell their family property, Morrison said. It would enable those aged over 55 to sell a home and invest up to A$300,000 ($200,000) in a superannuation fund outside existing caps.
The policy is an effort to put downward pressure on high house prices in an election campaign that has been dominated by cost-of-living concerns, national security and climate change.
Morrison said a re-elected coalition government would allow first home buyers to use a "responsible portion" of their superannuation savings to buy a house, calling it a "a game-changer" for thousands of families.
The campaign launch comes after Morrison vowed on Saturday to be more empathetic if he wins re-election, after conceding he could be a "bulldozer" and promising to change.
- Firm linked to fake fertiliser calls for arrest of Linturi, NCPB boss
- Governors reject revenue Bill, demand Sh439.5 billion allocation
- Lenders raise interest on loans despite CBK holding key rate
- KPLC to pay Sh500 million for Nakumatt fire tragedy
- Huge volumes of unsold tea at Mombasa auction raises red flag