Everything you need to know:
- A woman attempted to crack an egg on Scott Morrison's head at an event in Albury
- In response, the PM let everyone know he hugged a woman who had been knocked over in the melee
- Almost one million people have already voted ahead of the election next Saturday
- Labor remains ahead in the latest polling
- Clive Palmer's attempt to ensure no voting results related to preferences are released on election day until all polls had closed was dismissed by the High Court
- The ABC boss has warned more cuts are inevitable under the Coalition's Budget measures
Right let's get straight down to it, someone tried to crack an egg on the prime minister's head today.
.@tomwconnell: It looks like the egg basically bounces straight off @ScottMorrisonMP. This has just happened at the Country Women's Association. MORE: https://t.co/cnxAXrLKY3 #newsday
Scott Morrison was at a Country Women's Association event when a woman came up behind him and tried to smash the egg on his head.
And failed. It bounced off.
It did not break.
A protester thrown an egg the Prime Minister Scott Morrison at an event in Albury (it didn’t break). #auspol #ausvotes @politicsabc
The woman (pictured) was led away and told reporters she was protesting the government's asylum seeker policy. During the kerfuffle to remove her, an older lady was knocked over.
Morrison took to Twitter not long after:
My concern about today’s incident in Albury was for the older lady who was knocked off her feet. I helped her up and gave her a hug. Our farmers have to put up with these same idiots who are invading their farms and their homes.
After giving himself a well-deserved pat on the back, the PM managed to turn the conversation to ... unions.
We will stand up to thuggery whether it’s these cowardly activists who have no respect for anyone, or militant unionists standing over small businesses and their employees on work sites.
and then police...
Thanks also to my AFP team. They do a great job.
Later on Tuesday, New South Wales police released a statement saying the woman had been charged with common assault and possessing a prohibited drug.
"The 24-year-old woman was arrested and taken to the Albury Police Station," police said.
"During a search of the woman, police located cannabis. The Victorian woman was charged with common assault and possess prohibited drug."
She is due to appear at Albury Local Court on 27 May.
The event had started rather more serenely, with Morrison invited to attend a "sconversation".
The Country Women's Association have presented the Prime Minister with keep cups for him and his wife Jenny. He's been invited to a "sconversation" with delegates after his speech.
Frankly, what with the Met Gala, the royal baby, Vincent Kompany's screamer for Man City, and a UN report basically warning about the end of humanity, it had looked like the election campaign was going to struggle to make headlines today.
Who online was going to be reading election coverage when you could be watching Lady Gaga's four-outfit performance or ordering your apocalypse bunker?
And then the egg incident happened.
Earlier, Morrison won the race to congratulate Harry and Meghan on their baby boy.
Huge congratulations to Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, on the birth of their baby boy today. Becoming a parent is one of the greatest joys of life! #RoyalBaby
Bill Shorten didn't tweet for another hour-and-a-half.
Chloe and I are delighted for Harry and Meghan on the arrival of their baby boy. They are a lovely couple and will make wonderful parents.
A totally normal front page for an Australian newspaper.
The front page of tomorrow's The West Australian #royalbaby
Shorten was on Q&A last night.
How would a Shorten Government lead the Australian community towards being a decent and caring country? #QandA
Can Bill Shorten explain why he’s been unpopular with the Australian public? #QandA
And Morrison was on 7.30.
.@leighsales asks @ScottMorrisonMP: 'Who’ll have the upper hand in driving Liberal Party policy if you’re re-elected, the climate change sceptics who killed the NEG, voted against same-sex marriage & orchestrated Turnbull's downfall, or the mainstream of the party?' #abc730
The election campaign went global, with Clive Palmer and Steve Dickson getting the John Oliver treatment.
View this video on YouTube
And almost one million people have already voted ahead of the election on May 18, so they have most definitely tuned out now.
Prepoll votes cast in the 2019 federal election was just over 255,000 on Monday. Total prepoll is now 915,000 since early voting commenced a week ago. #ausvotes #auspol
Queue to pre-poll at Brisbane Town Hall today. Better allow full lunch hour #auspol #notafiveminutejob
Elsewhere, actor Magda Szubanski wasn't buying Tony Abbott's comments about there being a "new" nastiness in politics.
It’s a bit rich for @TonyAbbottMHR to claim there is a “new” nastiness in politics. I think it’s been there a while. And I think he benefited from it #auspol #AUSVote19
A Guardian Essential poll had Labor maintaining its lead over the Coalition, 52-48 on two-party preferred basis.
Despite the lead, Labor’s primary vote fell from 37% a week ago to 34%, which is below the 34.7% it achieved at the last federal election. The primary vote for the Liberal and National parties combined is down from 39% to 38%.
Total support for all minor parties is 28%, with the Greens on 12% (up from 9%) and One Nation on 7%.
Clive Palmer's attempt to ensure no voting results related to preferences were released on election day until all polls had closed was dismissed by the High Court.
The managing director of the ABC, David Anderson, warned that a vote for the Coalition was a vote for reduced ABC services, The Australian reported.
And Georgina Downer's attempt to continue the family tradition of nation building appears doomed, according to a new poll.
