Key events
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live blog. I’m Martin Farrer with some of the main headlines this morning before Krishani Dhanji takes over to guide you through what promises to be a big day.
Anthony Albanese is expected to soon make the short journey from the Lodge to Government House, where he will ask the governor general, Sam Mostyn, to issue the writ for the holding of a federal election. It is expected that polling day will be in early May, most likely Saturday 3 May. We will have every move as it happens, with the prime minister expected to hold a press conference shortly after that.
Last night Peter Dutton used his budget reply speech to vow to establish a gas reservation scheme that will lower prices, cut the cost of petrol and sack all 41,000 federal public servants hired under Albanese. He billed the coming election as a “sliding doors moment” for the nation with the long-term prosperity of Australians on the line.
But Dutton’s gas plan has already been criticised by energy producers and environmentalists. More on that soon as we wait for the PM’s car to get on the road to Yarralumla.
