Floods, a llama and political drama: Australian election week five – in pictures

The campaign trail takes a slight detour as Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten visit flood-hit communities before returning to their scheduled stop-offs and announcements. Here are Mike Bowers’ best pictures

Main image: Malcolm Turnbull Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

  • On Monday, Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten attended a conference to mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia, known today as the RSL. Both looked in jovial mood, but Shorten spent the day batting away questions about Labor’s $3bn childcare policy. He said the funding would come from ‘reallocated’ money but wouldn’t be drawn on where it would be reallocated from.
    Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten at a conference to mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the RSL

  • Earlier in the day, Turnbull spent time discussing women in sport with the member for Higgins, Kelly O’Dwyer, during a morning tea event at Malvern town hall in Melbourne.
    Malcolm Turnbull with the member for Higgins Kelly O’Dwyer at a women in Sport morning tea at the Malvern town hall in Melbourne

  • The PM also found himself in charge of photo duties.
    Malcolm Turnbull taking a selfie with a group of children

  • Turnbull announced funding and support for Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Here he’s pictured trying on prototype glasses for visually impaired people that can recognise and identify objects.
    Malcolm Turnbull trying on prototype glasses for visually impaired people that can recognise and identify objects.

  • At a press conference, Turnbull also got emotional when talking about his father: ‘I was brought up by my father. He taught me how to cook, not with great talent, I hasten to add, but competently. He taught me how to iron competently. I’ve been given high marks by Mrs Turnbull on that score. And he taught me respect and loyalty.’
    Malcolm Turnbull at a press conference

  • On Tuesday, following the severe flood and storm damage incurred by many east coast locations, Turnbull went to a briefing at Wollondilly shire council chambers in Picton, south of Sydney.
    Malcolm Turnbull at a briefing at Wollondilly shire council chambers in Picton.

  • Turnbull said of the situation: ‘These are tough times when nature flings her worst at us, but it’s when Australians respond the best.’
    Picton resident clean up after floods

  • On Wednesday he was in the cockpit of a Romeo Seahawk helicopter from 816 Squadron at HMAS Albatross, while Shorten met with apprentices at Tafe in Brisbane.
    Malcolm Turnbull in the cockpit of a Romeo Seahawk helicopter from 816 Squadron at HMAS Albatross

  • An aerial view of flood damage in Launceston, Tasmania, where both leaders went after calling a temporary halt to campaigning.
    An aerial view of flood damage in Launceston, Tasmania, where both leaders went as they called a temporary halt to campaigning.

  • On the ground in Latrobe the damage was extensive. Turnbull addressed the subject delicately by saying Australia needed to prepare for more forceful tempests; Bill Shorten said it wasn’t the day to join any dots.
    On the ground in Latrobe, the flood damage was extensive.

  • On Friday Turnbull addressed the Menzies research centre in Sydney. He used the opportunity to plead for voters to back the government in both houses if they wanted to avoid a hung parliament.
    Malcolm Turnbull addresses the Menzies research centre in Sydney.

  • Saturday saw the PM and his wife, Lucy, walk along Twin Waters beach on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
    The PM and his wife Lucy walk along Twin Waters beach on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

  • ... before meeting Leo the Llama during a tour the Sunshine Coast agricultural show at Nambour.
    The Turnbulls meet Leo the Llama during a tour of the Sunshine Coast agricultural show at Nambour.

  • High fives all round as the PM toured the Maroochydore multisports complex where he pledged funding for a new sporting hub.
    Malcolm Turnbull high fives children at the Maroochydore Multisports Complex

  • The Turnbulls ended the weekend with the member for Herbert, Ewen Jones, laying a wreath at the Black Hawk memorial in Townsville to commemorate the helicopter crash which took 18 lives from the 5th Aviation Battalion and the SAS on 12 June 1996.
    The Turnbulls ended the weekend with the member for Herbert, Ewen Jones, laying a wreath at the Black Hawk memorial in Townsville to commemorate the helicopter crash which took 18 lives from the 5th Aviation battalion and the SAS on 12 June 1996.
Topics