Scott Morrison deflected questions about the Liberal party's political fortunes in the Hunter as he completed a prime photo op at Williamtown airport on Monday.
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Recent union-commissioned polling showed the Liberals pulling well ahead of Labor in the federal electorates of Paterson and Shortland, but the prime minister would not bite when asked to interpret the survey results.
"I'm just very focused on getting Australians into jobs, and particularly here in the Hunter," Mr Morrison said.
" ... That is what we're focused on, the vaccine rollout continuing to ensure our economic recovery plan gets the results it is getting."
The PM is clearly keen to avoid criticism for concentrating on politics instead of the public health crisis, though his remarks did set out the government's record in navigating the pandemic while keeping the national economy relatively intact.
He also attended a Liberal party fundraiser, reportedly costing the attendees $10,000 or $15,000 a seat, at the Newcastle Club on Monday night, suggesting he still had one eye on flipping seats in the region.
Mr Morrison was in town less than five months after visiting the Hunter in September to announce a possible new gas-fired power plant at Kurri Kurri.
This time he was joined by Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price and a now-frequent Liberal visitor, senator Hollie Hughes.
A notable absentee was Brooke Vitnell, the Medowie lawyer who has not yet been endorsed as a candidate but is shaping as the Liberals' hope of winning back Paterson from Labor incumbent Meryl Swanson.
Ms Swanson was not invited to Williamtown to celebrate the induction of the RAAF's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to private support contractor BAE Systems.
Speculation is mounting that Mr Morrison will call a federal election six months before the May 2022 deadline, at the end of this year.
The Prime Minister may be quiet for now on his party's Hunter electoral prospects, but the federal budget in May this year could provide a better barometer of how close the Liberals think they are to changing the political landscape in the Labor stronghold.
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IN THE NEWS:
Michael Parris
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
