The bitter and messy NSW Liberal preselection saga could be set for a resolution on Tuesday, clearing the path for the Prime Minister to pull the trigger on the federal election campaign.
The NSW Court of Appeal is scheduled to rule on the validity of Scott Morrison's federal intervention into the Liberal Party's NSW division at 2pm on Tuesday.
The court case was brought by Matthew Camenzuli, a member of the NSW Liberal state executive who has been pushing for branch members to decide local candidates.
The federal executive's first temporary intervention allowed for three sitting MPs - Trent Zimmerman, Sussan Ley and Alex Hawke - to be preselected for the upcoming election without challenge.
The court ruling - which could be appealed in the High Court regardless of the result - comes as Mr Morrison remains under pressure over accusations he weaponised the Lebanese background of a preselection opponent in 2007.
Mr Morrison again rejected the claims on Monday, describing the "malicious slurs" as "absolutely outrageous".
He has received the backing of Bruce Baird, with the Liberal elder and Mr Morrison's predecessor in the seat of Cook saying that he'd never heard any racist comments, or allegations of bullying or dirty tricks.
With the election set to be called this week, Mr Morrison is desperate to shift focus onto Opposition leader Anthony Albanese and what he claims to be Labor's threadbare policy agenda.
"As we get closer and closer to that election, Australians will be able to really measure up," he told reporters in Melbourne.
"Anthony Albanese wants to slide on in under the scrutiny. What's he hiding?"
The Prime Minister accused Mr Albanese of pretending to be Kevin Rudd, in an apparent reference to Labor unveiling the slogan "Albo 2022" at a campaign launch in Queensland on Sunday.
Labor has also picked one of Mr Rudd's former economic advisers, Andrew Charlton, to run in the seat of Parramatta at the upcoming ballot.
"Re-Rudd is not a solution to Australia's challenges," Mr Morrison said.
Defending his government's record through the pandemic, Mr Morrison said the Coalition had been hit with a crisis "30-times worse" than what Labor experienced during the global financial crisis - and yet had emerged with employment levels "50 per cent better".
"That's what good economic management looks like," he said.
Mr Morrison was in Melbourne to announce $23 million to support the local production of medicines to treat cancer and kidney disease.
Meanwhile, deputy opposition leader Richard Marles reiterated that Labor had no plans to raise domestic taxes if Mr Albanese wins the May election.
Mr Marles confirmed Labor would crack down on multi-nationals, but wouldn't go further than that.
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Dan covers federal politics from Parliament House, with a special focus on climate policy and the NDIS. He has previously reported on ACT politics and urban affairs since joining the Canberra Times in 2018.
Dan covers federal politics from Parliament House, with a special focus on climate policy and the NDIS. He has previously reported on ACT politics and urban affairs since joining the Canberra Times in 2018.
