With Simon Birmingham’s departure, the job of Coalition spokesperson has moved to senator James Paterson.

Political parties usually have a senator take on the role of major spokesperson because they don’t have a seat to defend. The job of a senator, within the party, is to win lower house seats and part of that means spreading the party’s messages. Hence: Paterson as spokes.

Today’s questions are all about the polls, which are not trending the Coalition’s way. Paterson tells the ABC:

The polls show the next election is going to be close. Polls have shown that for the best part of a year. The Coalition are underdogs, we have a big task ahead of us. No first term government has been removed from office in 100 years. It shows the Australian people have a significant choice to make over five weeks. Can they afford another three years under a re-elected Anthony Albanese Labor Government, or do they want to get our country back on track by electing a strong Prime Minister in Peter Dutton and the Coalition?

Which is maybe the most obvious thing you could say about an election. ‘There is a choice to be made’. Yes, we know. That’s the whole point.