Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese have faced off over border protection, climate change, integrity and key questions of character in a debate that saw both leaders keep their hostility in check.
Morrison sought to convince voters they could not trust Albanese to turn back asylum seeker boats or manage the economy, while Albanese declared that border protection policies would not change if he took power at the May 21 election.
The debate, called The Final Showdown, aired on the Seven Network from 9.30pm last night and featured measured comments from both leaders in a marked departure from the rowdier debate on the Nine Network on Sunday, which provoked criticism of the way the leaders interrupted each other.
The two leaders were at odds on the urgency of a national integrity commission, with Morrison saying he had a plan to create one but could not say when he would introduce the bill because it would depend on whether the opposition would support it.
Asked when he would put the bill to parliament, the PM said: “This year, if we can ensure that our bill can be passed.”
Albanese cited that argument as proof that the government did not deserve to be kept in power.
