Vote 2016: Libs' low-key launch

As we approach the final week of this marathon election campaign, our senior political correspondent Daniela Ritorto is travelling with the Turnbull camp on the campaign trail.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, left, is congratulated by his wife Lucy after addressing party members at the Coalition Campaign Launch in Sydney. Source: AAP

Malcolm Turnbull appeared to have his mojo back.

He started his address with a spring in his step, an energy that was lacking in the early part of the campaign and lately sapped by a terrible cold.

The same couldn’t quite be said of the room.

We’re in Homebush in the Sydney Olympic Park, but we could be anywhere. The venue chosen was a generic hotel conference room. The stage bare too except for a podium and some big screens.

Contrast it to last week’s Labor launch, full of colour and movement, with supporters in their red t-shirts and frontbenchers on stage. That town hall atmosphere was sorely lacking here, with no thunderous applause, few whooping cheers. Perhaps that’s just the Liberal way this campaign, making a virtue of no frills.

Craig Laundy, the MP for Reid, made a nice short welcome to his marginal electorate. The Assistant Minister for Multicultural affairs acknowledged the Indigenous custodians of the land, past, present, “and most importantly, future”.

The Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce made a rousing speech. His best line was when he talked about the Glee club – spelt GLI – Greens-Labor-Independent alliance, seeking to get back together, back into power.

Deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop got personal. “Bill Shorten lacks the moral fibre and lacks the character to be Prime Minister.” Ouch.

All eyes were on how the “Tony Abbott factor” was going to be handled. Whatever your opinion of the former prime minister, today would have been extremely tough for him on a personal level. He would have thought it’d be him making the pitch for the re-election of a Coalition government. But he and Margie fronted and did their duty to the party.

Mr Turnbull dealt with the obvious awkwardness graciously if somewhat expeditiously, by acknowledging the contributions of elder statesman John Howard alongside Mr Abbott.

“John, you set the gold standard leading the most successful and effective government. Your reforms set Australia up for the longest period of prosperity in our history.  Tony you brought to an end the chaos and dysfunction of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd years and you remain a dedicated advocate for our cause.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addresses the Coalition Campaign Launch in Sydney on Sunday, June 26, 2016. Source: AAP

“John and Tony we salute you,” Mr Turnbull said to a big cheer. The only other biggest cheer was when he mentioned the successful and wildly popular NSW Premier Mike Baird.

The key take out from the speech: A vote for anyone other than a Liberal or National is a vote for chaos and instability, a message with added impetus following the global financial uncertainty caused by Brexit.

“If your local vote is for Labor, Greens or an Independent, and you are in one of the 20 or so key battleground seats across the country, it is a vote for the chaos of a hung Parliament, a budget black hole, big Labor taxes, less jobs and more boats.”

On that theme, I thought this was one of the most interesting lines:

“When it comes to the minor parties, be they Lambie, Xenophon, Lazarus or Hanson - if you only really know the leader of a minor party, but you don’t really know their candidates, and you don’t really know their policies...then don’t vote for them.”

Both major parties know there is a sentiment of discontent, of protest vote, of “a pox on both your houses” in the electorate. It’s not as acute as what erupted in the UK via Brexit, or as toxic as it is the US which has given rise to the Trump phenomenon. But it’s there.

As Mr Turnbull wound up his speech, there was a standing ovation, but it felt obligatory. Again however, these things are often ruled by reverse psychology somewhat. Labor supporters last week cheered long and hard, they needed to give themselves a gee up as underdogs. Perhaps today’s low key approach of the Coalition betrays their confidence that people will, as the slogan at the end flashed up, “Stick with the Plan”.