One Nation seeks extra police protection as Longman and Braddon head for tight finish • Super Saturday elections: all the results in Longman, Braddon, Mayo, Fremantle and Perth – politics live

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This article is more than 2 years old

Longman and Braddon on a knife-edge ahead of super Saturday byelections Read more

Malcolm Turnbull and a Liberal candidate were heckled, One Nation asked for extra police to protect the life-size cardboard cutouts of its leader and Bill Shorten was nowhere to be seen.

The final full day of campaigning before the super Saturday polls brought last gasps from all sides, as the main parties attempted to gain an edge in crucial contests, some of which remained too close to call.

Wind played havoc with the cardboard cutouts of Pauline Hanson that One Nation advisers have judged to be almost as good as the real thing. A short distance away, Turnbull was heckled by voters on Bribie Island over cuts to penalty rates and the ABC, and the controversy surrounding a candidate’s false claim that he had earned a medal for distinguished military service.

'As good as her': Pauline Hanson life-size cutouts replace leader at byelection Read more

But it was not just the wind One Nation was worried about – the party’s national director, Michael Pucci, has written to the Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, asking for extra police to protect the inanimate Hansons.

One Nation rolled out the cardboard cutouts after Hanson left Australia for a luxury cruise she had booked in February, meaning she would miss the final days of a campaign in which her party was expected to play a decisive role.

“I write to you with concerns about possible illegal behaviour on the eve of the Longman byelection,” Pucci said in his letter to Palaszczuk.

“There have already been several reports of aggressive behaviour, threats of assault against booth workers volunteering at early polling booths and destruction of property. As such, we have concerns about personal safety and property loss.

Jackson Williams (@jacksonw____) One Nation volunteers are having trouble keeping the Pauline Hanson cardboard cutouts upright @SkyNewsAust #LongmanVotes pic.twitter.com/S20YHIvV5J

“Pauline Hanson’s One Nation respectfully request that you direct the Queensland Police Commissioner to ensure there is an increased police presence and extra patrols provided on the evening prior to polling, to ensure safety of volunteers and security of property at the polling booths throughout the Longman division.”

Meanwhile, the prime minister headed to Bribie Island – traditionally a blue belt in Longman’s shifting demographics – to promote Trevor “Big Trev” Ruthenberg, but ran into a group of dissatisfied voters.

One woman, identified in media reports as Toni Lea, told Turnbull about the impact cutting penalty rates had on her friend.

Turnbull attempted to establish if the woman’s friend worked at McDonald’s, which would have allowed him to point to the controversial deal the union struck with the fast food group, which limited shift allowances.

“No, no, it’s a cafe, a normal cafe,” Lea can be heard telling Turnbull on a video widely published on social media.

“She’s working there, and you cut her penalty rates – she has to cut back on her rent and her food, so she can go to uni and do her job. And there are also women out there working, to get these penalty rates, so they can pay for their kids food and things.”

Turnbull said he did not cut the penalty rates, but that the independent umpire, the Fair Work Commission, made that decision, before pointing to previous deals Shorten had made as a union leader.

“I’ll tell you who has cut penalty rates, it is Bill Shorten,” he said.

“I’m sorry,” Lea said, raising her finger to point at the prime minister. “I disagree.”

“Where’s Bill?” Turnbull replied, raising his own finger. “No, no, Bill’s in hiding today, because the unions…”

Turnbull moved to leave as other bystanders began asking him about the ABC, while others asked Ruthenberg “where’s your medal?”. The LNP candidate has apologised for incorrectly claiming to have won a medal for distinguished military service instead of a lesser honour for long service.

At a news conference later, Turnbull said he welcomed the chance to talk to voters.

“The lady downstairs, is good, she is a Labor supporter, that is good. I meet people all over, pubs, shopping centres, trains and ferries. I get around,” he said.

Shorten had called into a Brisbane radio station in the morning to push Labor’s case that the campaign was about protecting services and opposing tax cuts to the big banks. But he did not hold a media event on the eve of the vote. The opposition leader has made eight visits to the Queensland electorate over the 11-week campaign, while Turnbull’s Friday appearance was his fifth visit.

Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) Apparently Mr Turnbull was missing me today. After nearly three months on the campaign trail in every by-election seat, I decided to be a dad first on school pick-up duties for my youngest daughter and her best friend. See you on the polling booths tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/SRARYpj85C

Shorten will be on the campaign trail on Saturday, as Labor seeks to hold Braddon and Longman in tight races.

There was a last minute intervention in Longman highlighting the difference between the major parties’ education policies, with every household with a child at a Catholic school sent a letter from the Catholic Education Office.

“The ALP has committed to school funding levels that would see Catholic schools nationally receive an extra $250 million over the two school years, following the first Labor budget,” the letter released on Friday says.

Catholic schools have been arguing against the coalition’s school funding policy after it was changed to a needs-based model, where funding was taken from richer schools and moved to poorer ones.

Pauline Hanson on holiday overseas as controversy embroils Longman candidate Read more

In Braddon, the independent Craig Garland, who came to prominence during the recent state election campaign, is expected to play a big role in determining the winner. In Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie is expected to defeat Liberal candidate Georgina Downer.

The outcome of Longman and Braddon have further reaching consequences for Labor, with Shorten’s performance as party leader being linked to the byelection results. No government has taken an opposition seatat a byelection since the 1920s.

On Thursday, Anthony Albanese again ruled out challenging for the Labor leadership, but he has not said what he would do if the party asked him to lead.

Campaigning in Braddon, the Labor senator Penny Wong said she believed the campaign had taught all parties that “all of us need to do better when it comes to trust, the voters’ trust in us”.

“We understand as the Labor party that we have to demonstrate our faith and our commitment to voters.”