Labor election campaign overshadowed by Pope’s death
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a devout Catholic, has led tributes to Pope Francis from the campaign trail following his death from pneumonia.
The death of Pope Francis is set to loom large over Anthony Albanese on the election campaign trail, as the prime minister leads tributes to the pontiff.
The prime minister, a devout Catholic, praised the late Pope as an inspiration who was also committed to peace, following his death on Monday after a battle with pneumonia.
“For Australian Catholics, he was a devoted champion and loving father. Pope Francis lived out his faith and vocation in work and deed,” he told reporters.
“The memory and example of his compassion will long endure as we mourn his death.”
The Pope’s death is expected to overshadow domestic issues on the campaign trail, with the prime minister set to begin the day in Melbourne.
Following the news from the Vatican, Albanese attended the nearby St Patrick’s Cathedral to pay his respects, also speaking with dean Monsignor Stuart Hall.
He also spoke briefly with other mourners who were inside the church, paying tribute to the Pope.
Earlier on Monday, the prime minister was campaigning in the seat of Macnamara in Melbourne’s south, an electorate Labor is fighting to hold in a three-way contest with the coalition and the Greens.
It was while campaigning in the seat alongside Labor MP Josh Burns the prime minister unveiled $2.6 million in federal funding for Street Side Medics, which delivers free health service to homeless people.
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“I’ve seen first and over quite a few years now…where Street Side Medics give that medical support to people who wouldn’t get it otherwise, to people who are homeless, to people who are in need and do it in a way that is non-judgmental,” Albanese told reporters.
It comes as Treasurer Jim Chalmers challenged the opposition to come forward with policy costings as pre-poll voting opens to people who can’t cast their ballot on election day.
Chalmers urged the coalition to provide the figures following analysis, claiming policies of tax deductions on mortgages, fuel excise cuts and subsidised meals for businesses would cost $10 billion more than estimated.
“The dodgy figures they have put out show they have a budget black hole worth billions of dollars for just three policies alone,” he said.
Both the coalition and Labor have pledged to release full policy costings before election day.
