Mr Morrison has posted a goodbye message on his Facebook page:

“It has been an immense privilege to serve as Prime Minister, especially during a time of great trial for our nation. We are blessed to live in such a great country. The resilience and strength of Australians supported by our policies, has ensured that we have been able to prevail as a nation in difficult times. How good is Australia!

I wish Mr Albanese and his government all the best for what will be further challenging times ahead.To all our Liberal and Nationals supporters I say thank you. Our Parties will reflect and rebuild. To my colleagues who will not be rejoining the Parliament I thank you for your service to our country. You can be very proud of what you achieved for your community and what we achieved together for our nation.

We have handed over Government with a stronger economy, restored borders, a more secure nation and having guaranteed the essential services Australians have relied on.

I am now looking forward to returning to the Shire, my family and continuing to serve my local community. For me life has always been about faith, family, friends and community. We are not our jobs but who we are as unique individuals, (in my view), loved by God.

Jenny and I thank Australia for the honour to have served. I thank my family, friends and colleagues for all their support, especially my dearest friend Josh Frydenberg.

God Bless,

ScoMo.”

Today morning, while addressing a Horizon Church service Mr Morrison also became a bit emotional.

“It has been a very difficult walk, I have got to tell you, over the last four years.”

While Mr Morrison has given up the Liberal party leadership, he has suggested that he would remain in politics after being re-elected in Cook.

“On a night like tonight it is appropriate to acknowledge the functioning of our democracy.”

Mr Morrison has congratulated the Prime Minister-elect Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party for their victory.

Mr Albanese and his senior leadership team will be sworn in on Monday.

In the last six weeks, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese faced questions from journalists and sometimes voters ranging from the economy, health, immigration, jobs, housing and cost of living.

A majority of voters have already made their minds, however, few are still thinking about which way they should fall.

The irony is that at least 30 per cent of the Australian population is born overseas but there is no substantial discussion on these communities and their unique needs.

What do multicultural communities think of both leaders

Indian Australian Sandeep Madan is a registered nurse in South Australia.
He has a 7-year-old daughter with autism whose care is funded by NDIS.

Mr Madan says the government should review how NDIS administrators work, however, he has faith in PM Morrison’s abilities to manage it.

“I voted for the labor party in the south Australia’s state elections but for federal, I would like to try the Liberal party.”

Melbourne-based Australian Nepali community member Rama Budhathoki works as an IT consultant.

Ms Rama told The Australia Today, “If it comes to economic management PM Morrison is far ahead of Labor leader Anthony Albanese.”

“Morrison technically saved us from going bankrupt, by supporting in COVID-19 pandemic via job keepers and other schemes.”

Mr Morrison also claimed in one of the leader’s debates about his economic record as a leader.

“The budget has turned around by over $100 billion, that is the single biggest turnaround in about 70 years,”

PM Morrison said.

Australian Afghan community member Liyakat Hussaini lives in an eastern suburb of Melbourne.
He has multiple businesses ranging from vegetable shops to authentic Afghan restaurants.

Mr Hussaini told The Australia Today, “When Taliban took over back home in Afghanistan, we were shivering here in Melbourne fearing about the wellbeing of my extended family.”

“I can’t thank enough to the Morrison government for bringing them here on special Visa.”

said Mr Hussaini.

Tharindu Gunasekara came to Australia as a seven-year-old refugee from Sri Lanka.

When asked about refugee policies in play this election Mr Gunasekara said every refugee should be dealt with respect and care as they have already suffered enough before landing on Australian shores.

He told The Australia Today, “I didn’t like the way fellow Sri Lankan refugee family is treated by Morrison government.”

But the opposition leader’s statement saying, “Labor would do boat turnbacks should it win government” was a put off for him.

“I am still weighing my options as both leaders have disappointed me. Now, it depends on the local candidates and how they support me and my community,”

said Mr Gunasekara.

Sandeep Madan is of the view that the Federal government should be strong and not be arm-twisted by independents/smaller parties.

However, Rama and Liyakat think a hung parliament will keep political parties in check and top politicians will keep their ears to the ground and listen to day-to-day issues of Australian multicultural communities.

Closing the border during the pandemic was a very big issue among Indian and other South Asian communities.

Rama said, “I would have loved to see my parents during those difficult times, but I am glad we are all safe and vaccinated now.”

“I am a nurse and have been in PPEs for 10 hour-long shifts, that’s why will say closing the borders was the best decision by PM Morrison to protect Australians.”

“I have right to be angry with the government for not letting us travel however I am also thankful for keeping us safe,”

said Mr Madan

Mr Gunasekara and Liyakat both own their small business.

Liyakat says, “I would prefer a government which is capable of solving workforce shortage and that too real quick.”

“I would like to see some incentives for small businesses like us but no one is talking about it, cost of living due to inflation is the real issue and everyone should think hard about it before voting on 21 May, said Mr Gunasekara”

Minister for Communications Paul Fletcher told The Australia Today, “The Coalition Government recognises the important role our local newspaper publishers play in keeping Australia’s communities informed. We also understand they are under pressure due to the dramatically rising costs of newsprint driven by ongoing volatility overseas.”

“We will commit $5 million through the Public Interest News Gathering program to support eligible local newspaper publishers with the rising costs of newsprint, including independent suburban, First Nations and multicultural newspaper publishers.”

he added.

Mr Fletcher said the re-elected coalition government will move urgently to deliver the funding, with payments expected to be made early in the new financial year.

“This builds on the $10 million the Coalition has committed to supporting regional newspaper publishers.”

Mr Fletcher said.

“The Coalition remains concerned about the impact Labor’s safeguard mechanism will have on increasing costs for paper manufacturing in this country and the flow-on impacts that will have for the future of our local newspapers.”

Minister for Multicultural Communities Alex Hawke said, “The investment is in recognition of the important role multicultural media play in supporting the effective settlement of migrant communities, assisting with ongoing cultural connection, and to support the sector as it faces significant pressures in rising costs and modernisation.

If re-elected, the Morrison Government further commits to engaging with the sector to support their long-term viability as print and digital publishers, and support their work to modernise and better engage with mainstream advertisers”.

The skills passport will make it easier and faster to match workers with jobs in the technology sector in Australia.

Employment Minister Stuart Robert says that this step will help workers to display their university, VET and private sector qualifications in one place.

Robert told Sunrise this would also allow businesses better understand how their skills mix could improve.

“Imagine an Australian that has done a university [course], and a few vocational courses, and a private-sector course, all of that reflected and covered by a common credit point if you like.”

“It can all be understood and you can simply see, ‘if there is one extra course, I can get that qualification, if I upgrade to that, I can get that qualification’, every Australian will benefit,” he added.

The Coalition hopes to develop this new system with the help of the Australian Technology Network of Universities.

The funding will allow the AIHCF to construct a premises, known as ‘Australia India House,’ that can be used for community meetings, events and day to day business.

The funding commitment was made by Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs Jason Wood while visiting the AIHCF at Springfield with locally-based Senator Paul Scarr, LNP candidate for Blair Sam Biggins and LNP Oxley candidate Kyle McMillen.

Minister Wood told The Australia Today, “I am proud to be part of a team that supports our wonderful multicultural community.”

LNP candidate for Blair Sam Biggins said the AIHCF helped hundreds of migrants in the community and an established Australia India House would be a place where the entire community was welcome.

“I am thrilled with this announcement and I know that an Australia India House is welcome news for the Indian-Australian community in Blair,”

Mr Biggins said.

The AIHCF is a non-profit organisation that was established in 2019. Since the early 1970s, the migration of people of Indian origin to Queensland has increased substantially. More than 50,000 Indians are now living in Queensland.

The building will also be used for crisis and interim accommodation, supporting domestic violence victims within migrant Australian communities and providing education and vocational training.

AIHCF president Professor Prasad Yarlagadda said he was thrilled with the announcement, which would allow the charity to reach out and engage with more people in the wider community.

“This greatly appreciated funding will serve the diverse needs of Queensland multicultural communities to host arts and culture events, festivals of national significance and educational programs,” Professor Yarlagadda said.

“This initiative by the Morrison Government demonstrates the national commitment to supporting the Indian diaspora. It will turn the Australia India House into living testimony that Australia is the most successful multicultural country in the world.”

added Professor Yarlagadda.

Professor Yarlagadda added it would also provide a permanent base to support the specific cultural needs of the community.

“Unfortunately, at the moment, there is no centrally located facility to celebrate and preserve Indian culture,” Professor Yarlagadda said.

“The project aims to use a place as a learning centre of culture and language by the different groups within the Indian community.”

Other community organisations, including Springfield Land Corporation, have also pledged support for the project, including Springfield Land Corporation.

Morrison asserts that lower taxes are at “the heart of our [Liberal] economic plan” for a stronger economy and stronger future.

He further added:

“Today I give the Australian people my Government’s Lower Tax Guarantee. I also guarantee that we will deliver $100 billion in tax relief over the next four years, providing Australians with certainty and helping to deliver a stronger economy.”

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Anthony Albanese has argued for higher taxes his whole political career including the mining tax, carbon tax, housing tax, death duties and retirees’ tax just to name a few.

“Without a speed limit on taxes, our legislated tax cuts will not be safe under a Labor Government led by Mr Albanese who has called them “tax cuts for the top end of town” and “unfair tax cuts.”

The Prime Minister said:

“There is a clear choice at this election and Australians should know that a vote for Labor means higher taxes with real consequences on your mortgage repayments, grocery bill and household budget.”

He adds:

“Labor has left the door wide open to introducing new taxes or higher taxes to pay for their spending initiatives, while they refuse to guarantee a tax speed limit. Our Government has delivered income tax relief for more than 11 million Australians and reduced small business tax rates to the lowest level in 50 years – we are the party of lower taxes.”

A re-elected Morrison Government’s Lower Tax Guarantee includes;

·         No new taxes on Australian workers.

·         No new taxes on retirees.

·         No new taxes on superannuation.

·         No new taxes on small businesses.

·         No new taxes on housing.

·         No new taxes on electricity.

A re-elected Morrison Government will continue to put a speed limit on taxes by keeping taxes below 23.9 per cent of GDP.

The Treasurer notes: 

“This position is echoed by the Greens, making it abundantly clear that under a Labor-Greens alliance Australian workers and small businesses can never be certain of benefiting from lower taxes. The reason why Labor want to tax more is because they can’t manage money and when they run out of money they come after yours. Whether it’s wasting $6 billion to pay people to get the jab, even though they’ve already had it, or running JobKeeper longer than necessary Labor have shown they can’t manage money. Only the Coalition can be trusted with our plan for a strong economy and a stronger future.”

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said now was not the time to risk a higher spending Labor Government that would inevitably see Australians cop a higher tax bill.

“We all know that when Labor spends big it means they tax big and that will see Australians pay more.”

Minister Birmingham adds:

“Labor have made $302 billion worth of vague spending promises, yet they refuse to say how they would pay for them. At least Bill Shorten was up front about his $387 billion of tax hikes. Anthony Albanese dodges questions so that he can keep his high spending, high taxing plans secret. Australians know that the only way to pay for Labor’s higher spending would be through higher taxes and this huge cost would make our economy weaker, risking fewer jobs and higher interest rates.”

The Labor Party’s record is clear when it comes to putting a speed limit on taxes;
the Treasurer said. 

Morrison government’s commitment provides certainty to millions of workers, retirees and to every small business in Australia.