LABOR CAMPAIGN IN A NUTSHELL
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THEME
A fair go for Australia.
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BEST MOMENT
Leader Bill Shorten came close to tears as he talked about his mother in response to a Daily Telegraph story accusing him of leaving out parts of her life story during a television appearance. The powerful moment gave Australians a rare glimpse of the unvarnished man and what drives him in politics.
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WORST MOMENT
A worker at Gladstone Port put Shorten on the spot about tax breaks for higher income earners. He replied: "We're going to look at that", sparking questions over Labor's tax policy. The party finally got out a line that it could be possible to give further tax breaks once the budget is properly in surplus, but it took several messy days to get that explanation straight.
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TOP POLICIES
* Cracking down on tax loopholes including franking credit refunds to people who pay no tax, and future negative gearing on existing houses.
* Increasing the subsidies for childcare fees and paying childcare workers more.
* Reinstating weekend penalty rates for retail and hospitality workers and encouraging the transitions from a "minimum" wage to a "living" one.
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BEST SUPPORT ACT
Kristina Keneally, "captain" on the Bill bus driving around the east cost and making impromptu appearances at Shorten's press conference when his trail crossed paths with the coach bearing an enormous image of his face. The former NSW premier is quick with a joke - see her adaptation of Dr Seuss to hit the Liberals over their cooperation with Clive Palmer: "One fish, two fish, yellow fish, blue fish, from here to there, there to here, funny things are everywhere" - and is almost certain to be given a frontbench spot after the election.
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RUNNER UP
The Rudd and Gillard show at Labor's campaign launch. The two former Labor prime ministers who stabbed each other in the back to create the infamous Rudd-Gillard-Rudd government years put on a united front, sitting side-by-side and smiling throughout the launch. Paul Keating was along for the ride, before he hit the switch to vaudeville with a post-launch interview which tore into the Liberal party.
