[News] Albanese meets Chinese premier at summit dinner; O’Neil says government considering ransom payment ban

[FazzNoth]

Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy has vowed a Coalition government would freeze household’s electricity supply charges for six months next year, in an effort to reduce the burden of rising costs of power bills.

Guy addressed party faithfuls, candidates and MPs at the Coalition’s election rally on Sunday morning where he made the pre-election promise. Guy said the charge freeze on electricity bills would be implemented for the first six months next year, if the Coalition was elected at this month’s state election:

It will save the average household up to $235 on their electricity bill within next year alone

I would have liked to provide this for longer, more than 12 months, but the state of Victoria’s finances after eight years under Daniel Andrews means we simply can’t afford to do it.

 

Good morning bloggers. I’m on the Labor bus this morning heading out to the party’s election campaign launch in Cranbourne, in Melbourne’s south-east.

We’re expecting the premier, Daniel Andrews, will make a big policy announcement before early voting opens tomorrow. The event is expected to kick off about midday.

Yesterday, Andrews announced if re-elected, the Labor government will spend $23m to provide free pads and tampons in public places.

The seat of Cranbourne, where the launch is being held, is safe Labor territory – held by MP Pauline Richards on a 9.3% margin.

 

Victorian Coalition holds election campaign rally in Melbourne

The Victorian Coalition is holding its election campaign rally in Melbourne, ahead of the state heading to the polls this month.

Party faithfuls, MPs and candidates have gathered at the event in Port Melbourne. Opposition leader Matthew Guy will address the crowd later this morning.

The opposition has handed gatherers “frequent liar” cards feature an image of the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews.

The event has also been targeted by protesters dressed as lobsters – a nod to opposition leader Guy dining with the alleged head of Melbourne’s mafia prior to the 2018 Victorian election.

Early voting for the election begins on Monday and more than half of voters are expected to cast their ballot paper before polling day on 26 November.

 

Government to deliver on the Murray Darling Basin plan

Plibersek has hit back at criticism by the National party over concerns about plans for water buy-backs along the Murray Darling Basin.

I always think it’s extraordinary that the National party think it’s fine for farmers to sell their water to big state owned enterprises from overseas to the Canadian teachers, pension farmer to you know, anybody overseas but their own. Farmers aren’t allowed to sell their water back to the Australian government to be used for the environment to benefit all Australians.

Plibersek said previous environmental water flows “literally saved towns”.

There were towns that saw dry river beds for two years and then there’d be a flush of water flowing through that town. I can’t tell you what a difference it makes to the mood of the town. The economy of the town, people’s ability to cope during the worst of the droughts. If we are going to be able to do that in the future.

She also said the government would “keep all options on the table” in order to fulfil the aims of the Murray Darling Basin plan saying: “I will deliver on the Murray Darling Basin plan because we have to.”

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/australia-news-live-albanese-meets-chinese-premier-at-summit-dinner-o-neil-says-government-considering-ransom-payment-ban/ar-AA142PKW