Scott Morrison takes credit for saving 40,000 lives from Covid in social media pitch for re-election

The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has taken the credit for saving the lives of 40,000 Australians from Covid-19 in a social media pitch for re-election.

The prime minister recalls a senior-year trade school he visited in Brisbane where half the class indicated they wanted to start their own business.

There are only two Saturdays left for an election to be held, 14 May or 21 May, and any delays this weekend would mean MPs would need to return to Canberra next week.

The Labor leader said Morrison was delaying the election to allow the use of taxpayer funds to spruik government spending and appoint mates to government boards.

If the prime minister does not visit the governor general, David Hurley, on Sunday, it will rule out the earlier May date as a minimum of 33 days is required between the calling of an election and polling day.

A program for the scheduled sitting was released on Friday afternoon but it is not expected to go ahead.

Morrison said on Friday his visit to the governor general was not far away.

A potential hurdle delaying Morrison from calling the election was cleared on Friday afternoon when the high court threw out a challenge to his pick of candidates for several New South Wales seats.