ABC misses out on final leaders’ debate; key independents back call for robodebt inquiry – as it happened | Australian election 2022

With that, we’ll wrap up the weblog for the night. Amy Remeikis shall be again vibrant and early tomorrow. With all eyes on the Reserve Financial institution, it’s prone to be one other busy day.

Right here have been at present’s main developments:

• The opposition chief, Anthony Albanese, spent Monday marching in Brisbane’s Labour Day parade alongside Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, and secretary of the Australian Council of Commerce Unions, Sally McManus. Labor formally introduced it might match the Coalition’s senior well being card announcement.
• In the meantime, Scott Morrison fronted the media in Geelong, the place he batted away a possible rates of interest rise to be decided by the Reserve Financial institution tomorrow, telling reporters “it’s not about politics” whereas additionally acknowledging “it’s all the time arduous” to purchase a primary dwelling – “however final yr, 164,000 Australians did”.
• The third and last debate between the pair has been secured by Channel Seven this night, to be chaired by Mark Riley and to air at prime time on 11 Could.
• Robert Sisilo, Solomon Islands’ excessive commissioner to Australia, mentioned the nations had endured “testing occasions” for the reason that draft safety deal between Solomon Islands and China was leaked in March, however affirmed that Australia remained the “associate of alternative” for the Pacific nation.
• And Labor’s name for a royal fee into the robodebt scandal has gained the assist of decrease home independents, Indi MP Helen Haines and Clark MP Andrew Wilkie.

AGL Vitality has simply despatched us a touch upon the transfer by Grok Ventures.

What’s fascinating is that AGL hasn’t been contacted by Mike Cannon-Brookes’ firm, an AGL spokesperson mentioned:

The AGL board is dedicated to delivering the proposed demerger, which is able to guarantee the worth created by way of Australia’s vitality transition stays with our shareholders.

The AGL Vitality demerger is on monitor to be accomplished by the tip of subsequent month.

The timing is fascinating, given shareholders are quickly to vote on that demerger plan, splitting the technology belongings from the retail one.

“It’s now or by no means,” is how one insider put it.

Vitality points could also be about to resurface within the election marketing campaign.

Simply days after the electrical energy market operator confirmed wholesale power prices had doubled from a yr in the past and have been heading even increased, it appears tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes is having one other crack at AGL Vitality, Australia’s greatest electrical energy generator.

Hours after AGL introduced what’s successfully a profit downgrade of as a lot as $100m following a unit failure at its Loy Yang A plant in Victoria (sure, it’s coal-fired, and no, it’s not so dependable), MCB has weighed with one other bid for AGL inventory.

In accordance to the AFR which broke the information, MCB’s Grok Ventures needs to snap up as a lot as 11.5% in AGL. In contrast to the earlier skirmish, Grok goes it alone somewhat than teaming up with Canadian asset supervisor Brookfield.

Apparently, AGL is just not conscious of the method, besides by way of the media.

As we reported in March, AGL didn’t suppose they’d seen the final of the Atlassian co-founder, who has made renewables and local weather change an everyday function of his public feedback, together with on Twitter.

To date, neither Grok nor AGL have mentioned something public in regards to the share buy. It’s price noting in March, the provide was for a full takeover at $8.25 a share, valuing the corporate at about $8.5 billion, together with debt.

At this time AGL’s share value closed at $8.62, down 0.7% for the day, and earlier than the information of a attainable bid surfaced. The AFR says the share buy seems to be aimed toward blocking AGL’s plan to separate itself right into a primarily producing enterprise and a retail one by 30 June.

Cannon-Brookes has been constructing a spread of companies that might properly profit from getting access to AGL’s prospects. The 185-year outdated firm claims some 3.95 million “whole providers to prospects”.

Extra particulars are anticipated earlier than the market opens tomorrow. Little question politicians shall be requested their views.

Extra to return.

Amanda Meade

The Seven community has secured the third election debate between the leaders and can broadcast it on 11 Could in prime time.

Seven’s political editor, Mark Riley, will average, it was revealed on Seven’s 6pm bulletin.

Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese are going through off for the second leaders’ debate on Sunday on Channel 9.

The hour-long debate shall be moderated by 60 Minutes presenter Sarah Abo, and have a panel with 9’s Chris Uhlmann, the Sydney Morning Herald’s David Crowe, and Radio 2GB’s Deb Knight.

Riley mentioned particulars of the Seven debate can be revealed nearer to the date.

The primary debate, hosted by Sky Information and the Courier Mail, was held on 20 April in Brisbane.

The third and final leaders’ election debate shall be hosted by free-to-air broadcaster Channel Seven and moderated by Mark Riley on Wednesday 11 Could.

The Nationwide Press Membership and the ABC have additionally been pushing to host a leaders’ debate, nevertheless final week the prime minister indicated he would solely debate on business channels.

The second leaders’ debate is ready to be held this Sunday on Channel 9, using a panel of three journalists for an hour-long dialogue.