| Coalition in damage control, Labor backtracks on key policies | Good afternoon,
We're still talking about Barnaby Joyce, while Labor has announced it's backtracking on two key policies.
Here's what happened today:
1. An emotional Nova Peris defended her decision to leave politics
The senator's announcement that she wouldn't be recontesting her seat was criticised by the Coalition, who said she had abandoned her Northern Territory constituents.
But today the senator returned fire: "Until you are an Indigenous person, do not criticise me for the decisions I've made."
She reflected on the Stolen Generations when speaking about her reasons for leaving.
"Aboriginal people haven't had to share true moments with their children and I hold that dear to my heart," she said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who was in Darwin for National Sorry Day, stood alongside Senator Peris as she spoke.
2. The Schoolkids Bonus won't be coming back
Labor voted against the decision to scrap the payment which the Gillard government introduced, but now it says it won't be reinstating the policy should it gain office.
That means beyond 2016, families will no longer receive $430 for each child in primary school and $856 for each child in secondary school.
The Coalition accused Labor of hypocrisy for backflipping on the issue, but the Opposition Leader said the budget left him with no choice.
"We do not believe, looking at the latest set of books that the Government has just revealed last week, that we're in a position to restore the changes they've made," Mr Shorten said.
Labor also confirmed it won't be reversing changes to the pension which come into force next year. The changes will reduce payments to pensioners with substantial assets.
3. The PM weighed in on that comment about asylum seekers and live cattle exports
In case you missed it, the story of last night's regional leaders debate in Goulburn was the moment when Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said this:
"Might I remind you that when we closed down the live animal export industry, it was around about the same time that we started seeing a lot of people arriving in boats in Australia."
Malcolm Turnbull has since rejected his deputy's comments, saying "there is no link between the Indonesian Government and people smuggling".
The Gillard Labor government suspended live cattle exports in 2011 in the wake of a Four Corners investigation into cruelty in the industry.
4. An Abbott supporter will run as an independent against Liberal MP Fiona Scott
At the start of the election campaign, councillor Marcus Cornish sensationally resigned from the Liberal Party after he accused Ms Scott of stabbing the former prime minister in the back by voting for Mr Turnbull in the leadership spill.
Now he's confirmed he'll be running against Ms Scott in the crucial marginal electorate of Lindsay.
Cr Cornish told 7.30 he planned to file paperwork today to run as an independent conservative, potentially splitting the conservative vote.
ELECTION SPOTLIGHT:
The Prime Minister brought politics to the cattle yard today.
The ABC's Nick Haggarty took this great snap in Rockhampton.
FROM THE DRUM:
Michael Bradley says we should be worried by how the AFP wields its power.
"In Australia, an old and unloved criminal provision has had a renaissance under the newly excitable and publicity-un-shy Australian Federal Police, which is using the law to extend its reach into some unprecedented and disturbing places," he writes.
COMING UP NEXT: - 7.30 takes a look at the infighting in the NSW Greens
- Annabel Crabb dines with Senator Jacqui Lambie in Kitchen Cabinet at 8:01pm AEST on ABC
- Clive Palmer will be speaking to Lateline (9.30pm AEST on ABC News 24 and 10.30pm local time on ABC TV)
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