Tanya Plibersek defends Labor attacks on Dutton
Tanya Plibersek has defended Labor attacks on Peter Dutton while being grilled on if it is fair to bring faith into the election debate.
Former PM Paul Keating had urged voters to "drive a stake into (Dutton's) dark political heart" – that came less than a day after Opposition Leader Bill Shorten lamented the "toxicity" in modern politics.
Tanya Plibersek with Peter Dutton's opponent Ali France. AAP
Ms Plibersek told the Today show Mr Dutton was a "very difficult and divisive figure".
"The last six years, he consistently undermined Malcolm Turnbull," she told Today.
"He brought on the leadership instability, he ran for leadership instability, he ran for leader, wasn't selected by his colleagues to become leader."
"He was voted by doctors as the worst Health Minister in living memory.
"He joked about climate change and the effect on neighbours in the Pacific.
"On the second day of the election campaign, he had a go at his opponent for her disability."
Bill Shorten embraces a sausage dog in Adelaide. AAP
Ms Plibersek was also asked by Deb Knight if it was fair to bring faith into the election.
Yesterday Mr Shorten questioned the prime minister for giving a non-committal answer on whether gay people were going to hell, in the wake of the Israel Folau scandal.
"I don't think he did," she said.
"What Bill said yesterday is we support equality, we support equality for all Australians.
"Scott Morrison decided to come out and talk about it. That is up to him.
"I think the issue here is do you support equality? Yes, we do. It is very clear in the Labor Party that we do."
Scott Morrison speaks to media as he visits a building site in Oaklands Park, South Australia. AAP
Mr Morrison said Mr Shorten's attack was a "cheap shot".
She also took on Clive Palmer, who was photographed in Fiji less than a week before election day.
"He says he has spent $70 million advertising himself. Well, $70 million is what he owes the workers of Queensland Nickel that he has ripped off," she said.
"Isn't it extraordinary that he would spend that money on himself, not paying his debt to his workforce?"
Ms Plibersek said a vote for Clive Palmer, One Nation or other minor parties was a vote for chaos.
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