What happened today, Saturday 29 March
We’re going to wrap up the blog for the first full day of the federal election campaign. These were the key events:
– The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and the opposition leader Peter Dutton began the day with campaign stops in Brisbane, with the PM spruiking Labor’s record on healthcare and delivery of urgent care clinics and Dutton reiterating his focus on the economy
– Climate activist group Rising Tide disrupted two campaign events held by Dutton, unfurling banners calling for no new gas or nuclear power plants
– The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, announced $10m for a community hub in Darwin if Labor is reelected. At a second stop in Bundaberg, Albanese announced $20m to launch a “Buy Australia” campaign.
– The Greens also kicked off their campaign in Brisbane, with the party’s leader, Adam Bandt, saying Brisbane voters are “in the box seat”
– Flood warnings remained in place for large parts of Queensland where heavy rain continues. In Western Australia, tropical cyclone Dianne crossed the Kimberley coast early on Saturday before being downgraded to a tropical low.
Thanks for joining us, we’ll see you again tomorrow.
Updated
Albanese lands in Canberra after visiting Queensland and making brief stop in NSW on first day of campaign
The press pack following Anthony Albanese has landed in Canberra as the first full day of campaigning wraps up.
After starting the morning at a Medicare urgent care clinic in Peter Dutton’s electorate of Dickson, Albanese travelled north to Bundaberg in central Queensland to launch a new $20m Buy Australia campaign.
While the media contingent were travelling back to Canberra, the prime minister made a quick detour to Bega on the far south coast of NSW to commit $16m for a local pool.
Albanese is expected to remain in Canberra overnight before an appearance on ABC’s Insiders program.
Updated
Dutton finishes a busy day one on the campaign trail
Peter Dutton has ended day one of the election campaign in the Brisbane seat of Moreton. His campaign will stay in this city overnight – destination tomorrow unknown.
Dutton hit the seats of Brisbane (including campaigning with the Coalition candidate for nearby Ryan), his own electorate of Dickson, and now Moreton. Aside from a quick stop he made at a community morning tea in his home town – which his office said was a commitment made before the election campaign – he visited all winnable target seats for the Coalition – two held by the Greens, one by Labor.
The Coalition already holds most seats in Queensland, but wants to win more wherever they can.
Other key stats for the day include:
– three picture opportunities
– one press conference
– two morning TV interviews
– one beer poured
– one beer sipped
– two anti-nuclear protesters
– one succulent Chinese meal
– $225,000 pledged (for the Queensland Chinese museum)
We’ll see you in the morning.
Updated
Littleproud calls for large-scale federal support in wake of devastating Queensland floods
The leader of the Nationals, David Littleproud, is calling for a full national response to the devastating floods in western Queensland.
Littleproud said the response should match what was needed in the 2019 floods, after catastrophic flooding in Julia Creek and Winton saw the loss of up to half a million cattle:
Immediate, large-scale support is desperately needed for western Queensland.
This disaster requires a bipartisan approach, to ensure locals get the assistance they need. We back any measure in relation to providing support, including the request of the Australian Defence Force, if that is made by the Queensland government.
Updated
Good afternoon everyone, Lisa Cox here to take you through any developments on the campaign trail this afternoon.
Updated
And with that, I leave the blog with Lisa Cox. Thanks for reading.
Updated
Second Dutton event gatecrashed by climate protesters
Peter Dutton has again been targeted by protesters from climate action group Rising Tide, who managed to gatecrash an event at a Chinese restaurant in the electorate of Moreton.
Just hours after his very first campaign event of the election at the XXXX brewery was targeted by an anti-nuclear protester, Dutton again endured a shouted protest from Rising Tide.
A woman managed to get close to Dutton and unfurl a banner calling for no new gas or nuclear. There’s now been about half a dozen events - mostly hosted by the Coalition - “bird-dogged” by Rising Tide.
The campaign stops of each party leader are closely guarded secrets for security reasons – but also to avoid protests. It’s unclear how protesters are learning about Dutton’s movements.
At the restaurant in Labor-held Moreton, Dutton addressed a small group of supporters from the Chinese community. He announced $225,000 for the Queensland Chinese museum – currently a virtual resource – to improve its website and go toward building a physical museum.
“The Chinese museum of Queensland plays a vital role in preserving the stories of Queensland’s Chinese heritage, including the contributions of Chinese immigrants to Australia and cultural and religious traditions of Chinese Australian communities,” Dutton said in a statement.
Updated
Independent MP Andrew Gee blames self-reply Facebook post on new staffer
Andrew Gee, an independent MP for Calare in NSW, has been caught doing an “Angus Taylor” by replying to a Facebook post from his own account.
Gee posted a statement on Facebook on Friday accusing the Nationals of engaging in “dirty tactics” on day one of the election, claiming they had called an elderly constituent and spread “blatant lies about who I was going to preference in this election”.
In a comment underneath the post, Gee appeared to reply to his own post, thanking himself for being the “good guy” compared to the Nationals and the “Teal mob”. The comment read:
“Thank you Andrew Gee MP I am new to the area and have received texts from the Nationals and seen nasty ads in the paper from the Teal mob, it has helped me see who is the good guy.
The reply was later deleted and comments on the post were restricted to Gee’s followers.
Guardian Australia has approached Gee for comment.
In a statement provided to the Daily Telegraph, a spokesperson for Gee said the post was made without his knowledge by a “new and inexperienced member of the campaign team” who had access to his social media account.
The staffer said they knew it was an “extremely disappointing and unacceptable thing to do”, the spokesperson said, adding that “Gee does not condone, approve of or support under any circumstances”.
Gee was elected in 2016 as a member of the National party before he resigned and turned independent in 2022 due to the party’s opposition to the voice to parliament referendum. He will recontest the seat against his former party.
Social media users drew parallels between the post one made in 2019 by the Liberal MP Angus Taylor who replied to his own Facebook post congratulating himself for announcing new car parks across his Hume electorate, writing: “Fantastic. Well done Angus. Great move”.
A spokesperson for Taylor later said the comment was a “simple mistake” that occurred when an admin of the Facebook page was switching between multiple accounts.
Updated
Marles announces $10m community hub in Darwin if Labor re-elected
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, is in Darwin today, where he has announced a $10m commitment to establish a community hub in Zuccoli if Labor is re-elected.
He was also asked there about the 99 year lease of Port Darwin granted to the Chinese-owned Landbridge Group in 2015:
The port should never have been leased in this way, and that’s been our position from the get-go.
He adds that how the lease is managed is up to the NT government, but “we keep engaging with the Northern Territory government on this issue”.
Updated
Wong targets Dutton’s foreign policy and energy credentials
Wong continued, taking a couple of shots at Dutton, focusing on his foreign policy and his gas plan:
Peter Dutton gave a so-called foreign policy speech last week – ... he didn’t mention Japan, Korea, China, India, Indonesia, he actually didn’t mention Asean at all, which is really quite... shows you what the map of the world according to Peter Dutton might look like.
On gas prices, she said Labor had secured “six times more gas supply for the domestic market” than Dutton’s gas reserves plan promises, and then added that Dutton “really wants you to believe he cares about domestic gas”:
Well, he voted against price caps, he voted against the code of conduct which has enabled more gas to be supplied to the Australian market.
This is Peter Dutton reheating a failed Scott Morrison announcement.
Updated
Wong speaking in Perth
Amid the flurry of pressers today, we turn to foreign minister Penny Wong, who has been speaking in Perth.
Wong begins by spruiking Labor’s tax plan, and slamming Dutton for opposing “every cost-of-living measure that has been rolled out, and opposes future tax cuts, and our tax cuts are permanent.”
Updated
Rising Tide confirms involvement in Dutton protest
Climate activist group Rising Tide has confirmed it was behind an earlier disruption to opposition leader Peter Dutton’s campaign stop at Brisbane’s XXXX brewery.
In a statement the organisation said protester Natalie Lindner confronted the Coalition leader, unfurled a “no new nuclear or gas” banner and said “nuclear and gas will drive up energy bills. Why are you lying to the Australian people?”
This is the fifth such protest by the group in the past two weeks in which activists have disrupted public events for MPs from both major parties.
Lindner said:
Dutton’s nuclear scheme will actively worsen the cost of living and climate crisis.
We have just seen with ex tropical cyclone Alfred what the climate crisis is already doing to Australian communities. We cannot afford more distraction and delay with ridiculous energy policies like nuclear.
Dutton himself knows it’s an unpopular policy, that’s why he and the party are doing their best not to talk about it. Even Liberal party members are campaigning against their own party now, because they see how bad of an idea it is.
Updated
Dutton vows to address homelessness, tackle CFMEU and other unions
Peter Dutton said a Coalition government would be “focused” on helping those sleeping rough or experiencing homelessness.
The opposition leader is now moving to his stump speech criticising the CFMEU and other unions, referencing media reporting on 60 Minutes about misbehaviour in the construction sector, and criticising the Labor government and PM Anthony Albanese for not speaking more forcefully about those reports.
Dutton says the Coalition is seeking minority government, but “if there’s a position where we need to negotiate with the independents, we can do that to form minority government”.
Updated
Dutton sees ‘sliding doors’ moment for Australia because of cost-of-living pressures
Peter Dutton has dropped into a community morning tea in his electorate of Dickson on the first day of his campaign. The crowd is a bit more supportive (and the security a little bit tighter) than the reception he got at the XXXX brewery earlier, where he was met by an environmental protester who infiltrated the media pack.
In a large function room at the Eatons Hill hotel, there’s a large Australian flag and numerous large posters bearing a smiling headshot of Dutton. Many in the room are wearing Dutton or Liberal campaign T-shirts.
In front of a large blue “let’s get Australia back on track” backdrop, Dutton is making a speech to more than 100 supporters.
“I think there is really a sliding doors moment for our country coming up. We’ve had three years that were unimaginable for many people across the community,” Dutton said.
“We’re now seeing people who are working two jobs, people who are still turning up to food banks asking for food hampers because they can’t afford to pay the bills under this government … we see the level of homelessness and level of despair that we see across the community.”
Updated
Albanese campaign lands in Bundaberg
We’ve just arrived at the Bundaberg brewery for Albanese’s next campaign stop.
So why is the prime minister sampling ginger beer in a safe Nationals seat on the first full day of the election campaign? It might have something to do with Donald Trump – even if Albanese won’t explicitly say it.
As the US president prepares to detail his next round of tariffs on 2 April – or “Liberation Day” as he calls it – the federal government is launching a new Buy in Australia campaign to support local industry.
The federal budget last week included $20m for a new advertising campaign and to help manufacturers and producers secure Australia Made certification.
Albanese said:
Labor is building Australia’s future.
We’re backing Australian workers and Australian businesses with a $20m campaign to encourage shoppers to buy local.
We want to make sure when customers walk into a shop, they know straight away which products are made in Australia.
It’s good for jobs, good for the local community and good for Australia.
Updated
Albanese press plane lands in Bundaberg
After starting the morning in Peter Dutton territory in Brisbane’s northern suburbs, the media contingent following Anthony Albanese has landed in Bundaberg in central Queensland.
Bundaberg is home to the seat of Hinkler, which the Coalition holds on a comfortable margin of 10%.
It usually wouldn’t be in play, but perhaps Labor thinks it’s winnable after the retirement of the Nationals’ Keith Pitt, who has been appointed Australia’s ambassador to the Vatican.
Updated
Dutton refuses to say who Liberals would negotiate with to form minority government if necessary
Dutton next dodges a question on who he would call on to form a potential minority government, should the election fall that way.
He began by saying the Coalition would negotiate in “good faith” if a hung parliament was a result and added Labor would need to rely on a deal with the Greens to form government.
But he refused to outline who he would negotiate with if he needed to:
So to answer your question, the guarantee that I can give is that we will negotiate in good faith, if that’s the circumstances put before us.
But I would say to the Australian people that the choice you have, if you’re voting for Labor at this election, you’re voting knowing that it can only be a Labor-Greens government.
I just think the focus at the moment is on how we can present our positive plan to the Australian people.
Updated
Liberal leader says it would be ‘reckless’ to put hard numbers on his gas policy at this stage
Dutton is asked about energy prices several times at this presser, and each time he ducks and weaves.
He was asked if he is going to voters and saying “just trust me” on prices, considering he continues to refuse to provide any modelling and details.
Dutton countered by saying his plan was “based on economics”, and then proceeded to explain his policy is based on hypotheticals:
If you bring more supply into the market, if you bring more gas into the market, you will bring the price down. And so we lower the prices, you know, and we went through some of this detail on Thursday night.
He was then pressed on why he has not put a figure on 2035 emissions targets, to which he said it would be “reckless” to do so before speaking to “the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and of finance and of Treasury”:
I’m keen to speak to the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and of finance and of Treasury, so that we can provide in an informed way and in a way that is achievable. There’s no sense doing as the Labor party says and damaging the Australian economy, putting out numbers there that aren’t based in fact, just emotion, because they’re chasing inner city votes from Green[s] voters in Melbourne and Sydney.
Updated
Dutton refuses to outline how energy prices will fall under gas plan
The opposition leader has next refused to outline how much energy prices would potentially fall under his gas reservation plan.
Dutton has previously promised bills would fall, but has so far failed to actually outline any details around that. But he did say he would make “tough decisions” on dealing with gas companies:
Well, there’s gas already. Obviously that is being exported, but it’s not contracted to do so under the foundation contracts. And that’s the point that I’d make. We don’t need to rely on new gas wells. There is gas there now. We will work with the companies, and we’ve been working on this plan for months in consultation with stakeholders and others who have expertise in the area.
I just think we need to point out that it is a very significant part of our economy, and it’s a big part of why electricity prices have gone up and why gas prices are up by 34% under this government. So we’ve got a plan. It’s a positive plan.
Updated
Opposition leader calls Labor $5-a-week tax cuts ‘farcial’
Dutton has continued, laying into the government’s tax cuts, which he described as “farcical.”
He said families that use two cars would only save around $30 a week under his party’s reduced fuel excise, as opposed to the Labor tax cuts that would result in $5 back in voters pockets:
I mean, I think it’s actually farcical and it’s insulting to Australians who are really going through a lot of pain under this government at the moment.
Updated
Analysis: Albanese begins confident offensive deep in enemy territory
There were no day-one press conference stumbles this time as a confident Anthony Albanese began the road to re-election deep in enemy territory.
After starting the 2022 campaign on the back-foot with an embarrassing failure to name the cash rate and jobless figure, Albanese started the 2025 race on the offensive, staging his opening event in Peter Dutton’s own electorate of Dickson.
“This is Queensland’s most marginal seat and with a margin with one in front of it, we intend to run a very serious campaign,” Albanese said, standing alongside Labor’s candidate in the seat, Ali France.
Dickson sits on a margin of 1.7%, meaning it is winnable on paper. With Labor strategists expecting losses in Melbourne and NSW, the party needs to gain ground elsewhere if Albanese wants to retain majority government.
But the choice of campaign location on Saturday was less about electoral arithmetic than about sending a message: Dutton, we’re coming for you.
That Albanese chose a Medicare urgent care clinic was no coincidence. Health is a perceived strength for Labor and a weakness for the Liberal leader, who doctors once named Australia’s “worst health minister” after attempting to introduce a $7 GP co-payment under Tony Abbott.
Dutton has attempted to neutralise those attacks, matching Labor’s $8.5bn boost to Medicare – and promising a further $500m for mental health and investment to slash the price of PBS-listed medicines.
But Labor still see a vulnerability – one which Albanese and his health minister, Mark Butler, and the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, sought to ruthlessly expose on Saturday morning.
“[In his budget reply speech] Peter Dutton tried a new version of the promise he made to Australians 10 years ago that there would be no cuts to health,” Butler said.
“There might be some fancier words, but it’s just as hollow.”
Updated
Dutton claims climate is ‘incredibly important to us’ and that protesters are ‘extremists’
Dutton is then asked about the protestors that have interrupted both his events and the prime minister’s events earlier today, and whether that would “change the way you campaign over the next five weeks”.
Dutton began by addressing the protestors directly:
Climate is incredibly important to us, and we have to meet our net zero by 2050 targets as we’ve committed to. Our plan is about getting prices down through bringing more gas into the domestic market, and that more supply will bring prices down under Mr Albanese.
The renewables only policy is going to drive prices up further. Secondly, we’ve got a longer term plan and [as] Keir Starmer points out in the UK they can’t reach their climate change commitments. They can’t decarbonise without nuclear in the system.
So I just think we have to have a mature conversation in our country about it. But people who are extremists, who want everything shut down tomorrow, that’s not where the vast majority of Australians are. And I just think there will be extremes in all of these debates.
My job is to do the right thing by this country, and we will make the decisions that will be of benefit to Australian consumers and Australian businesses, because Australians just can’t afford three more years of Mr Albanese and increasing costs.
Updated
Peter Dutton reiterates focus on economy in first election pitch
And with that, we jump straight into opposition leader Peter Dutton’s campaign launch, at the XXXX Brewery no less.
He begins by saying this election is “really is about who can manage the economy” and that the vote will ultimately come down to who voters “trust to manage the economy”:
I want to make sure that it’s easier, not harder for Australians. And this election really is about who can manage the economy. Who do you trust to manage the economy? Who do you trust to keep our country safe in uncertain times?
Updated
Bandt on if Labor refused negotiations in minority government: 'I would be astounded’
At questions, Bandt is asked what he makes of a potential minority government, and whether Labor would do a deal with him:
Look, I would be astounded if anyone refuses to respect the will of the people. We have a situation in Australia where less than a third of the country voted for the government.
People understand that we can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. And there is a growing desire from the Australian people for there to be more voices at the table. And so I would be absolutely astounded if any politician, including Anthony Albanese, refused to respect the Parliament, that the Australian people elected.
Updated
Greens election focus: ‘keeping Peter Dutton out’
Bandt continued making his pitch, best summarised by the man himself:
That’s our goal this election. Keep Peter Dutton out, get Labor to act with real action on the cost of living, housing and climate and environment crisis.
I note that the prime minister has decided that he’s going to spend part of his first day attacking the Greens. Well, look, you know, the Greens are focused on keeping Peter Dutton out. If the prime minister wants to spend his time attacking the Greens, well, you know, you do you Prime Minister, but we’re focused on keeping Peter Dutton out.
Updated
Greens launch election campaign kicking off three-way battle for Brisbane
The Greens have launched their own election campaign, also in Queensland (a running theme today) with the party’s leader, Adam Bandt, saying Brisbane voters are “in the box seat”:
They can keep Peter Dutton out and get Labor to act by getting dental into Medicare, by capping rent increases and making it free to see the GP, all while taking real action on climate and the environment. People here don’t want Peter Dutton bringing his Trump style politics to Australia, and people in Brisbane certainly don’t want to see us going nuclear.
Updated
Dutton’s first campaign event at Brisbane brewery also gatecrashed by heckler
Peter Dutton’s first official campaign event of the election is at the XXXX brewery in the heart of Brisbane – and already it’s been interrupted by an environmental protester brandishing a “no new coal or nuclear” sign with the Rising Tide logo on it.
The woman was quickly grabbed by security and dragged out down the stairs. She yelled “why are you lying about the cost of nuclear?”
It comes after green group Rising Tide has gatecrashed several Liberal campaign events recently, including Dutton’s speech at the Lowy Institute.
🚨 Peter Dutton's first campaign event (at the XXXX brewery in Brisbane) gate crashed by an environmental protester brandishing a "no new coal or nuclear" sign - the woman quickly grabbed by security and dragged out down the stairs pic.twitter.com/rP6m1FOJMU
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) March 28, 2025
Back on the event: we’re in the electorate of Greens-held Brisbane, formerly held by Liberal Trevor Evans, who is fighting to retake the seat. It’s also near the also formerly Liberal-held Ryan, also won by the Greens in 2022.
Evans and the Liberal’s Ryan candidate, Maggie Forrest, are here as Dutton takes a tour of the factory where the iconic yellow cans are produced.
Dutton has taken a brief tour of the factory floor where the canning line lives, and we’re expecting a press conference shortly.
Updated
And we understand opposition leader Peter Dutton is due to also launch his campaign in Brisbane, at the XXXX Brewery.
PM ‘looking forward’ to debates with Dutton
And the PM wraps up his presser by taking a heavy swing at the opposition, saying that they were “not ready for government.”
He goes on to mention that he is “looking forward” to his debates with Dutton, as well as ministerial debates, before taking one final swipe:
Frankly, there are a range of people who sit on their front bench who I doubt whether any of the press gallery here would know what their portfolios are. That is just a fact.
… My government is made up of fantastic people who are committed to making a positive difference and building Australia’s future, not going back. We can’t afford to go back.
Updated
PM: ‘I am one for one in election campaigns’
Asked about his disastrous start to the 2022 election – where he failed to name the cash rate and unemployment rate – the PM grins and says:
I am one for one in election campaigns.
I reckon there would be a few people who would like to have that number. I have been both been in politics for a long time, for a long time … I’ve gotten better each and every day because I’ve learnt something every day.
Updated
Albanese sets aim as ‘majority Labor government’
Asked if he was out at Dickson as part of an “attack” the PM defiantly says:
I’m out to win new seats.
Striking a confident tone, Albanese declared that he wants to see a “majority Labor government” and that he wanted to emulate John Howard in being the first PM to see out a term and be re-elected.
I want a majority Labor government. I want the last seven elections that have produced seven different prime ministers. 2004 was the last time that a prime minister had served out a term was re-elected and that was John Howard.
I think that one of the things that characterised my government isn’t just what we have done, isn’t just what we will do going forward, it is the stability and orderly way in which we have conducted ourselves.
Updated
Anthony Albanese speaks on support to disaster-hit Queensland
The PM is again asked about why the campaign, across all the major parties, has started in Queensland.
Albanese was asked how “critical” Queensland will be come election day, and especially considering how important it was in delivering him victory in 2022, and the PM rattled off some of the support his government has provided to the state:
We worked so hard during the recent floods and the floods before then in North Queensland. That’s why I have a very constructive relationship with the premier David Crisafulli and I spoke with him last night.
This morning I spoke with David Littleproud. His electorate of Maranoa is affected. Jenny McAllister is attending a meeting today of Queensland’s emergency cabinet - they have their processes. We will make resources available.
Updated
PM says his government inherited ‘mess’ in gas prices
On we go, with the next question on Dutton’s gas plan, where Albanese has begun by discussing the “mess” in gas prices his government inherited:
His plan that he talks about ignores the fact that we have had a plan in place, one he voted against.
When we came to office, the spot price was 30. Today it is around 13. 13 is lower than 30. That is the mess that we had to inherit.
We have provided already six times the supply that he has said on Tuesday night he wanted to provide. This is an embarrassment, given that they actually voted against as well strengthening the australian domestic gas security.
Updated
Albanese defends record on housing after heckler
Next the PM is asked about the heckler and the question he raised about Labor’s track record on housing.
Albanese is asked why Labor has “not actually constructed a single new home,” to which the PM disagrees, saying that isn’t “completely accurate.”
There have been on our watch around 400,000 additional homes during this time. We have, under construction, tens of thousands of homes under the social housing policy that we’ve put forward.
The previous government didn’t even bother to have a housing minister, let alone to build any public housing. Common sense tells us that if legislation, some of which was held up by the Greens and the Coalition for a long period of time – if [that] legislation has only passed – some of our housing legislation was [only] passed in December.
Updated
Back on track, the presser has gone to questions, and the first is what “message” the PM is trying to send the opposition leader by starting in Dutton’s home seat of Dickson.
Albanese batted the implications away, and instead, attempted to make it about Labor’s candidate for the seat, Ali France, who is running against Dutton for the third time.
Well, it is the most marginal seat in Queensland. We have in Ali someone who is running for the third time. Ali France is someone who has courage, conviction and is passionate about representing this community.
Heckler interrupts before Chalmers steps up to speak
And it appears we have had our first election incident – the press conference has been interrupted by a heckler.
As the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, steps up to speak, an audience member seemingly began by asking the PM a question before launching into a tirade about migration.
Mr Albanese, don’t you think 1.5 million more immigrants are going to increase the demand on the medical system?
What about the fact that people my age can’t get any housing, can’t get rentals anymore, we have no future in this country, don’t you think that is kind of ridiculous?
Security escorted the man out of the presser, who was heard saying “you can’t touch me, mate”.
We understand that the heckler came prepared, and was carrying a camera.
Updated
Albanese begins day one of the federal election campaign pitching healthcare
Ok and we are up and running, with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, speaking on day one of the election campaign.
He’s begun by talking about Medicare, and spruiking his government’s delivery of urgent care clinics:
I’ve gone around the country, what I’ve seen is how valued urgent care clinics are. Providing the midpoint of not being in an emergency department, watching people exceed you in the queue because they’re life-threatening and getting access to your local GP. More than 1 million Australians have benefited from these 87 urgent care clinics that we have delivered.
We promised 50, we have overdelivered. We’re going to deliver at least another 50. That’s on top of the $8.5bn we are funding to triple the bulk-billing incentive, to bring the rates up to 90km/h. Healthcare is so important.
What this election is about is strengthening the economy, strengthening Medicare, versus Peter Dutton’s plan for cuts to everything, except your taxes. That’s what is at stake in this election.
Updated
How did this go in 2022?
Before the presser kicks off, it’s worth remembering what happened on the first day of Albanese’s 2022 election campaign.
The then Labor opposition leader couldn’t name either the cash rate or the unemployment rate, prompting a flood of negative headlines.
Albanese quickly recovered and of course went on to win the election, but he’ll be hoping for a better start this time.
Updated
Man sneaks in quick gym session before work
Anthony Albanese has just arrived at his first campaign stop. But before arriving at the urgent care clinic, he’s made a quick detour to a nearby gym, where he was mobbed by gym-goers pumping iron on a Saturday morning.
Cue the inevitable headlines about the PM getting “match fit” or “flexing his muscle”
Updated
Why is Dickson the PM’s start line?
How’s that for an early shot across the bow?
Anthony Albanese will start day one of the campaign in none other opposition leader Peter Dutton’s seat of Dickson in Brisbane’s northern suburbs (as below, we’re just waiting for that presser to start).
Dutton holds the seat on a slender 1.7% margin – so it’s winnable on paper – but the choice of campaign location is clearly more about sending a message.
Albanese will hold a presser conference shortly at one of Labor’s urgent care clinics alongside his Dickson candidate, Ali France, the health minister, Mark Butler, and the treasurer, Jim Chalmers.
Expect Albanese to not just spruik Labor’s health agenda, including its plans to establish 50 new urgent care clinics if re-elected, but also draw attention to Dutton’s record as health minister under Tony Abbott – including his attempt to introduce a $7 GP co-payment.
Updated
We are currently waiting on the PM, who is due to hold a press conference in … Dickson, which of course is Peter Dutton’s electorate.
Updated
Dutton claims comparisons to Trump show PM doesn’t have a plan
Dutton is then asked about the PM’s attempt to liken the opposition leader to the US president, Donald Trump.
Dutton of course spun that around into a counterattack about the economy:
If the PM has that attack, know that they don’t have a plan.
If the PM had done a better job over the past three years, if the country was better off, the economy was better off, the PM will be telling a different story.
It is about failure of the Albanese government. It shows that you and our country cannot afford three more years of Labor.
Updated
Dutton disputes assessment his campaign has started out on the back foot
Building on that, Dutton has told reporters in Brisbane he did not agree his campaign has started on the back foot.
Asked if he felt comfortable being characterised as the “underdog”, Dutton had this to say:
We are the underdog, but our job is to make sure we talk to Australians about our positive plan for our country.
It is about managing the economy and making sure we have the dream of home ownership realised again for young Australians and I think defence and keeping your country safe in an uncertain time is
Updated
Opposition leader says gas plan will be in place by end of the year if Liberals win government
Peter Dutton is doing some morning TV interviews from Brisbane, talking up his budget reply from Thursday night (doesn’t that feel like an age ago ...) and his plans on a gas reservation and cutting fuel excise.
On Channel 7’s Sunrise, the opposition leader says his plan to boost local gas supply would help bring down prices economy-wide, helping cut costs across the supply chain.
“If the gas companies are telling you that this is bad, because because, you know, frankly, many of them are gaming the system,” Dutton told Sunrise.
“I want to be on the side of consumers, and when you see big energy users like BlueScope making steel for houses and right across the economy, when they say that it’s good because their gas price is going to come down, and therefore they can pass on savings to consumers ... that’s exactly what we need now.”
Dutton pledged that “by the end of this year, this calendar year, we can bring that gas into the system”.
“We can do it straight away, because the gas is there. It’s being produced now. It doesn’t require any infrastructure. It’s a matter of turning it back into the economy.”
Updated
Greens in Labor’s crosshairs in Brisbane
Good morning from a very soggy Brisbane, where the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, will begin the first full day of campaigning in the 3 May federal election.
Queensland hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Labor - it holds just five of the state’s 30 lower house seats.
But the government believes it can gain ground in the sunshine state and is targeting the Greens-held seats of Griffith and Brisbane in inner-city Brisbane, as well as Liberal-held Leichhardt in far-north Queensland.
Clinging to a two-seat majority and with losses expected in suburban Melbourne and across NSW, Labor will almost certainly need to pick up seats in other parts of the country to retain power in its own right.
Labor is desperate to defeat the Greens’ housing spokesman, Max Chandler-Mather, to regain Kevin Rudd’s old seat of Griffith.
But insiders believe the party’s best shot might be in Stephen Bates’ seat of Brisbane, which is shaping as a three-way Greens-Labor-Liberal contest.
Albanese made his opening re-election pitch on Friday morning, contrasting Labor as a safe pair of hands with a plan for Australia’s future against Peter Dutton’s “promise to cut”.
The prime minister will campaign heavily on health, including a $8.5bn boost to Medicare and plans for 50 new Medicare urgent care clinics.
Updated
Good morning, Mostafa Rachwani with you from rainy Sydney, to take you through the latest from the election campaigns.
Coalition’s gas plan unlikely to lower prices, experts say
As mentioned, our top story is that a range of experts think Peter Dutton’s gas plan won’t work – or at least there is not enough detail for them to know.
Australian Energy Producers, the body representing the gas industry, said Dutton’s plan to “artificially reduce prices” was a “damaging market intervention that will drive away investment and exacerbate the supply challenges in the longer term”.
Our reporter Graham Readfearn also spoke to Joshua Runciman, lead analyst for Australian gas at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, who said Dutton’s idea of diverting LNG exports to domestic markets was the quickest way to materially increase domestic supply.
But he said exporters could respond by ramping down investments in production that could mean “there might not be much spare gas”.
Read Graham’s full story:
Updated
In this week’s Back-to-back Barries podcast, Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry analyse budget week and what promises to be a tight election, with a campaign where every advantage is sought and every mistake regretted.
Also on the table: when political husbands go rogue; and whether the second coming of Donald Trump could actually bolster the progressive vote.
Listen here:
Dutton campaign plane leaves for destination unknown
Good morning from the Dutton campaign, which is finally taking off from Canberra – destination unknown at this stage. The journalists following the campaigns, for the prime minister or opposition leader, generally aren’t told by the leader’s staff where we’re headed until the plane has taken off.
We do know Dutton is in Brisbane at the moment, as he’s been doing some morning TV. Anthony Albanese is also starting his day in the sunshine state (even though it’s pouring rain all over the east coast at the moment).
We’ll give you an update when we land – wherever that ends up being.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage on the first full day of campaigning in the 2025 federal election. I’m Martin Farrer with some of the overnight stories before Mostafa Rachwani takes the reins shortly.
Anthony Albanese is set to spend the day campaigning in Brisbane today with Labor hoping to gain ground in Queensland where it holds five of the 30 electorates. The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, will also be in Brisbane where he will hold a rally today as the party aims to retain the three electorates it won in Queensland. We will be with them and the Coalition leader, Peter Dutton, as they crack into the campaign.
Our top election story this morning is that a range of experts on the energy industry have criticised Peter Dutton’s plan to bring down prices by increasing supply – and were also critical of the lack of detail about it might be achieved. More reaction coming up.
We’re also looking at two bellwether seats – one in Sydney and one in Melbourne – to see how they are likely to swing this time. Our Krishani Dhanji reports that Bennelong and Chisholm have both been altered by boundary changes and have significant number of Chinese Australian voters, which could make it difficult for Labor to hold them.
Updated
