Does he know something we don't? Hilarious email blunder sees Tony Abbott name Bill Shorten Prime Minister - a month before the election
- Former prime minister Tony Abbott calls opposition leader the Prime Minister
- The email to supporters was referring to the upcoming Election announcement
- 'Prime Minister Shorten officially called the election for 18 May,' the email read
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been left red faced after he sent out an email referring to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten as the Prime Minister.
The Liberal Party member was discussing the upcoming Election announcement when he made the major mistake in his email to supporters.
'On Thursday, Prime Minister Shorten officially called the election for 18 May, and Team Tony hit the ground running,' the email read.
Opps: Former prime minister Tony Abbott (pictured) has been left red faced after he sent out an email referring to Opposition leader Bill Shorten as the Prime Minister
The Liberal Party member was discussing the upcoming Election announcement when he made the major mistake in his email to supporters
It was in fact Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the leader of the Liberal Party, who called the election on Thursday.
Many people were entertained by the error with dozens taking to social media to share their amusement.
'The very first occasion in which Tony Abbott has been ahead of his time. Only by five weeks though, so don't get too excited,' one person said on Twitter.
'Tony The Prophet,' another tweet read.
'He looked into his crystal onion,' one person said.
'Classic! Probably the first time he preempted the truth!!! Enjoy this Malcolm Turnbull,' another person said.
Too soon? Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is also the leader of the Liberal Part, called the election on Thursday - not Opposition leader Bill Shorten (pictured)
'Tony Abbott: a man forever in opposition. Even when he's in government,' said another.
The upcoming vote will decide whether the conservative government will get a rare third term in office - and whether embattled incumbent Scott Morrison can beat the odds and hang on to power.
Polls have consistently shown his centre-left Labor opponents with a commanding lead, suggesting a new adminstration led by former union leader Bill Shorten.
But Australian elections are often tight affairs, with a couple dozen marginal seats deciding the outcome, and both party leaders have low approval ratings and have struggled to connect with voters.
Morrison took office less than a year ago in a coup by the hard right of his Liberal party and has struggled to bridge a divide between party moderates and nationalist populists who have grown in confidence in the age of Donald Trump.
He has tried to paper over these divisions and make sure the campaign focus is squarely on the party's economic record.
For all purposes, campaigning is already well underway and has already been deeply acrimonious.
Election ads have been running for weeks, and, like the United States, Australian politics has taken on the air of a permanent campaign with the focus on how policies will play with voters as much as how well they work.
