Former prime minister John Howard used the Liberal party’s campaign launch for its candidate in the seat of Bennelong, Simon Kennedy, to criticise "teal" independents for being "anti-Liberal groupies".
"Their aim is to hurt the Liberal Party, not to represent the middle ground of their electorates," Mr Howard said at the campaign event in Sydney on Saturday.
"If that were not their aim, they would be running candidates in Labor seats," he added, urging traditional Liberal voters to stick with the party even if they feel disgruntled.
“They’re not independents, they’re anti-Liberal groupies ... I say that because they’re not running in any Labor seats," he said.
Independent MP for Warringah Zali Steggall called the remarks "appalling" and "sexist".
"It explains a lot of the culture of the Liberal party and its problem with women," she wrote on Twitter.
"Women in politics shouldn't be denigrated with this type of language."
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced earlier on Saturday that Mr Howard will be part of events on the Liberal Party election campaign trail.
Mr Howard enters the campaign as the federal government deals with the between the Solomon Islands and China, with Labor accusing the government of neglecting Australia's relationship with the Pacific nation.
"You can't hold John Howard back. He loves hopping on the campaign trail," Mr Frydenberg told Channel Nine's Today Show.
"He's very effective when he does so. As you know, the Australian people have a great affinity for him as Australia's second-longest serving prime minister.
"Both Scott Morrison and I talk regularly to John Howard. He is a source of wise counsel. And he's a great Liberal and great Australian."
When questioned about long-term solutions to the rising cost of living, Mr Frydenberg pointed to a lower unemployment rate and $40 billion of tax relief over the last three years.
Mr Frydenberg admitted that there were still "real challenges" for Australian families.
Richard Marles defends 2019 China speech
Labor's deputy leader Richard Marles has addressed criticism from the Liberal party over his stance on China.
Mr Marles made a speech in 2019 in China, in which, he said, he was critical of the Chinese Community Party.
He's been criticised for showing the speech to Chinese officials beforehand and taking a soft stance on China in the speech.
"I made a speech in China where I criticised China and I wanted to make sure that the Chinese government were not at all surprised with what I was going to say," Mr Marles said on Saturday.
"There [were] no surprises and no changes made to a speech I made in China that criticised China in public," he told reporters at a press conference in Slacks Creek, Queensland.
He said his speech condemned the Chinese government's actions in Hong Kong and human rights violations against the Uyghur minority.
"What government minister has done that?" he said.
"What we see here is the government desperately trying to divert attention from its failings," Mr Marles said, referring to the way the Morrison government has handled the Solomon Islands-China security pact.
Simon Birmingham confronts Australia Post vote-dumping report
Finance minister Simon Birmingham has addressed a report of an Australia Post worker being stood down following an allegation that they dumped hundreds of Liberal-Nationals postal vote applications in the seat of Blair.
"It is deeply concerning to us that there may be these type of antics behind the scenes that make it harder to get our message out to voters, to communicate with them," Mr Birmingham said.
"It’s a matter for Australia Post in determining precisely how they respond but crucially Australia Post needs to ensure that postal workers across Australia deliver the Labor party’s mail, the Greens party’s mail, the Liberal party’s mail and anyone else who has paid to send something in the post."
Liberal candidate Katherine Deves ducks media at Forestville RSL
Liberal candidate Katherine Deves has frustrated journalists after she refused to appear in front of the media at an event at the Forestville RSL.
The media were told that Ms Deves would not enter the room at the RSL if the media was present.
Ms Deves agreed to allow the media to take photos outside the RSL, and make a quick statement.
“I have fought for women and children, and now I’m fighting for Warringah,” she said.
“Thank you all for coming along tonight. I am looking forward to campaigning hard over the next four weeks on the issues that affect the people in Warringah.”
Ms Deves was then directly escorted inside by adviser James Flynn.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, associate editor at The Australian, Brad Norington, who was outside the RSL, expressed his frustration.
“Is this an open democracy?”
“Is she a candidate or not? This is a joke,” Mr Norington said.
Ms Deves has caused an internal row within the Liberal party following comments she made against trans athletes.
Labor pledges more funding to community language schools
The Labor Party has announced a plan to support Australian children learning a second language by boosting funding for community language schools by an additional $30,000 over three years.
Funding would go to all 780 community language schools across the country, which teach around 105,000 students each year in over 90 languages.
The party says a total funding commitment of $15 million will allow community language schools to expand their programs to reach more school-age kids.
"Currently, community language schools teach mostly school-age kids," a Labor party statement said.
"But the younger someone starts learning another language, the easier it is to pick it up. That’s why we’ve made sure this funding can help more community language schools open their classrooms to preschoolers."
"Community language schools have been operating in Australia for more than 150 years and have made an important contribution to our success as a multicultural nation."
Labor said the funds could be used to improve online delivery, set up a new school or expand programs to preschoolers.
Labor education spokesperson Tanya Plibersek is set to present the policy announcement at the NSW Federation of Neighborhood Language Colleges annual convention on Saturday.
Anthony Albanese spends second day in isolation with COVID 19
Anthony Albanese is confident he will hit the ground running when he emerges from isolation next week, just in time for Labor's campaign launch.
The opposition's campaign has been dealt a major blow after Mr Albanese tested positive for COVID-19, with Labor frontbenchers like Jason Clare stepping in for the next few days.
Labor is expected to be campaigning in New South Wales on Saturday during the second day of the opposition leader's isolation period.
Mr Albanese said the timing of the positive test was unfortunate, but he was keen to get back on the campaign trail as soon as possible.
"We were getting momentum, but I'll be back for the second half," he said.
"This is a long campaign, and if I was going to get COVID, it is better to have got it now than in the last three weeks of the campaign."
Mr Albanese will spend time in isolation at his home in Sydney, before Labor's campaign launch in Perth on 1 May.
Scott Morrison targets marginal seats on NSW Central Coast
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will spend day 13 of the election campaign in marginal seats on the New South Wales Central Coast.
Mr Morrison spent much of Friday with China.
The prime minister reiterated that Australia would not "throw its weight around" and tell other countries what to do.
"These are not simple issues. I mean, if it was just as easy as picking up the phone or sending a foreign minister, then these issues wouldn't occur (but) it's not that easy," he said.
However, Mr Albanese said he would look to strengthen relationships with neighbouring Pacific nations, should Labor win office at the election.
AEC finalises ballot paper draw
The Australian Electoral Commission has finalised the ballot draw for all 151 lower house seats and eight Senate races ahead of the May 21 poll.
However, the commission referred former Western Australian senator Rod Culleton to federal police for potentially making a false declaration on his nomination form.
Mr Culleton, who intends to represent the Great Australia Party, declared in his nomination he was not an undischarged bankrupt or insolvent.
The commission said it noted Mr Culleton was listed as an undischarged bankrupt on the National Personal Insolvency Index.
Additional reporting by AAP.
