Australia federal election 2022: Scott Morrison Anthony Albanese in Sky News debate

When Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese go head to head in their first election campaign debate tonight, there is far more at stake for the Labor leader.

Mr Albanese needs to prove himself after a disastrous first week in which he made headlines for wrongly guessing the unemployment rate and later walking away from journalists’ questions after saying he wouldn’t.

With Labor’s primary vote slumping to 36 per cent in the latest Newspoll, another big stuff-up could be catastrophic.

Anthony Albanese (pictured) must capitalise and remind Australians why Scott Morrison has been so unpopular if he wants to win the May 21 election

The Prime Minister took a swipe at his opposite number in his presser on Wednesday by saying he doesn’t need to lock himself away in a room all afternoon to prepare like Mr Albanese.

The comment showed Mr Morrison is relaxed and perhaps even cocky head of the showdown.

But he should beware because the debate gives Mr Albanese a great chance to reset and gain momentum.

If it goes well it will provide him a major confidence boost and kick-start his campaign.

Mr Albanese has been careful so far not to attack Mr Morrison. Instead, he’s been keen to project himself as a positive leader with a plan to improve living standards.

But tonight he will have the chance to criticise the PM’s shortcomings over bushfires, Covid and broken promises.

A relaxed Scott Morrison took time out from the election campaign to go for an afternoon dip at Brisbane’s Valley Pool ahead of his 7pm showdown with the Opposition Leader

Anthony Albanese (pictured with partner Jodie Haydon) has been careful so far not to attack Mr Morrison, instead keen to project himself as a positive leader with a plan to improve living standards

He must capitalise and remind Australians why Mr Morrison has been so unpopular.

Meanwhile, the PM will take every chance to talk up Australia’s economic recovery which has delivered the lowest unemployment rate since 2008.

He will no doubt roll out his usual lines that Labor will threaten that recovery because it ‘can’t manage money’, even though the Coalition has racked up $1trillion of debt which was increasing before Covid required emergency spending.

Foreign policy will be another key battleground with Labor brutally attacking the Government over China’s security pact with the Solomon Islands which it failed to stop.

Scott Morrison’s shortcomings over bushfires, Covid and broken promises could be raised by his rival on Wednesday night

Mr Albanese will have the chance to show he is also tough on China and put to bed the Coalition’s claims that Labor is weak on national security.

And he will also spruik his health and social policies including a plan for 50 new first-aid clinics and reforms to the ailing NDIS.

The audience of undecided voters will be asking the questions, meaning there is a scope for surprises which will require both leaders to think on their feet.

There could even be some feisty clashes between the two leaders. 

Mr Albanese’s handlers will be urging him to stay on message and avoid rambling like he does sometimes in his press conferences.

Mr Morrison’s camp is relaxed and are taking pressure off him by insisting it’s always harder for incumbents to win debates.

The PM lost both audience-judged debates to Bill Shorten before the last election before going on to secure a surprise victory at the ballot box.

A loss for him tonight would not trouble his supporters but a win for the PM would set alarm bells ringing in Labor HQ.

Scott Morrison (left) and Anthony Albanese (right) will go head to head in their first debate on Wednesday night