What we learned from the third leaders' debate
Thanks for being with us here on the blog for the third leaders’ debate between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton. Here are all the main takeaways from the past hour:
Nine’s expert panel declared Dutton the narrow winner of tonight’s debate, 2-1.
Making a pitch to voters, the prime minister said this was the “time to build Australia’s future, not to cut”, while the opposition leader said this was a “a sliding-doors moment for our country”.
Dutton blamed Labor for the Coalition’s declining poll numbers, saying Labor had “spent $20m throwing mud and negative ads”.
Albanese said Australia’s relationship with Indonesia was “damaged by the comments that Mr Dutton made last week”, and also said every Pacific leader “remembers him joking about water lapping at their doors.”
Dutton, however, defended his ability to work with past US administrations and said he brings more experience to the job “than any predecessor”.
Albanese argued that “kindness isn’t weakness” after Dutton said his police career had “hardened” him.
Dutton said he was “committed to nuclear” even if it’s not “politically popular”. Albanese repeated his call for the Coalition to outline what it would cut to fund this.
The PM attributed the rise in undecided voters to “changes in our economy [and] our society”.
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Dutton declared narrow winner of debate by Nine panel
Nine’s expert panel has declared Peter Dutton the winner of tonight’s leaders’ debate by 2-1.
Deb Knight answered first, saying that for her “Peter Dutton just beat out Anthony Albanese” – basing it on his previous performances.
I think it was very, very close. But I think Peter Dutton sort of you can see him getting a bit more confidence, and he had that tonight.
Phil Coorey answered next, giving it to Albanese by half a per cent.
[Dutton] was coming from further behind, he had to do better, but I’m going to give it by half a per cent to the prime minister.
Charles Croucher had the deciding answer, saying he would give it to Dutton “by a nose”.
I think [this was] by far Peter Dutton’s best debate … he won by a nose.
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Expert Nine panel to declare a winner of the debate
The expert Nine panel is now analysing the leaders’ answers tonight.
We’re standing by for them to declare a winner of the debate.
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PM makes closing remarks
Anthony Albanese is now giving his closing remarks, saying this is the “time to build Australia’s future, not to cut”.
We are in uncertain times, and this is not the time to cut, which is what the Coalition will do, have to do, in order to pay for their nuclear plants …
The last time the Coalition came to office, they said there’d be no cuts to education and health. And of course, we know that they ripped in. This is a time for building, for strengthening Medicare, for helping to make things here in Australia …
This is a time as well where we need to make sure we have serious relationships with the world, from someone who’s engaged and built those relationships, has a record of building relationships, whether it be with the United States, the UK, whether it be in our region, in Asean or with our Pacific neighbours.
And with that, the third leaders’ debate has wrapped up.
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Dutton makes closing remarks
Peter Dutton is now giving a pitch to voters as the debate wraps up, saying he has the ability to “lead our country through an uncertain time, rebuild the economy and help get the cost-of-living pressures down”.
I think this is a sliding-doors moment for our country. We want to cut migration so that we can help restore the dream of home ownership … We want to cut the fuel tax by 25 cents a litre. We want to give you $1,200 back through the tax rebate. We want to make sure that we can fix the economy so that we can bring inflation down, bring interest rates down and grow the economy.
We want to help people with cost-of-living pressures, and we want to make sure that we can keep people safe in their homes, in their communities, and also make sure that our country can be safe in a very uncertain time. We need to also make sure that at this election, we elect a prime minister who has strength of character and the ability to stand up for our country in a very uncertain time.
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Albanese has been asked to list three things he admires about Dutton.
The PM said the opposition leader has a “terrific family” and “longevity” in politics, adding:
In that time as well, [he’s] had a tough seat that he’s contested consistently over a long period of time.
Dutton is now listing what he admires about the PM, also saying he has a great family. Albanese cut in, saying:
We’re both punching above our weight, we can agree.
Dutton finished his answer, acknowledging the PM’s support for Aukus.
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Taking rapid-fire questions, both leaders were asked if they would do a deal with the minor parties.
Albanese responded: “No.”
Dutton said:
Not with the Greens, no, but with independents.
Dutton accused the PM of not being truthful, but Albanese doubled down.
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Dutton says Coalition committed to nuclear even if not ‘politically popular’
Peter Dutton is asked whether the Coalition will abandon its nuclear energy policy if the party is unsuccessful on 3 May?
He said that “we are committed to nuclear not because it’s politically popular”.
I haven’t committed to nuclear energy for votes. I committed to it because it’s in the best interests of our country.
Anthony Albanese said it was a “fact” that “no one will invest” in the Coalition’s nuclear reactors:
David Crisafulli doesn’t support lifting it, nor does the Victorian opposition leader, nor in NSW. This is a friendless policy because it doesn’t stack up … If nuclear stacked up, there’d be a queue of people saying, ‘we think this is a good idea. We’re prepared to invest our own dollars.’ Instead, taxpayers are going to pay for it …
It is a recipe to take us backwards. What we need to do is to acknowledge that coal-fired power stations, 24 out of 28, announced their closure when they were in government, and they did nothing for new investment.
Dutton argued that the reason there is no investment in nuclear is because “it’s against the law” currently.
Albanese said the Coalition still can’t explain where the cuts will come from to pay for it.
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Bipartisan support for under-16s social media ban
There has been a moment of unity in the debate, with the PM touting Labor’s policy to ban social media for under-16s:
The social media ban that Australia is implementing with bipartisan support is world leading. There is no question in my mind that in the lead up to December, when it comes into force, you will see major pressure being placed on us by some of these social media giants.
We can all agree, I think, in Australia, that social media has a social responsibility, and we are very firm on that, and it’s one of the things that my government has got done with bipartisan support.
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Dutton rules out increase to welfare base payments
Peter Dutton has been asked if he believes it is possible for people to work themselves out of poverty, as welfare groups have consistently asked for increases in the base payments welfare recipients receive.
The opposition leader said he understands “people are in a very difficult situation and would want to see that that increase”, but:
I don’t believe that our economy, that our budget can afford to do that at the moment.
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PM asked about focus on young v older voters
Anthony Albanese was asked whether the focus on younger people this election, over older people, has anything to do with the fact there are more young voters this election, for the first time.
The PM rejected this and said “we’ll continue to talk about aged care because we’re very proud of what we have been able to achieve in such a short period of time”.
If we didn’t fix the workforce, what was happening was that people were leaving the workforce because they could earn more money stacking shelves … In addition to that as well, the aged care workforce are being assisted by the free Tafe and training, making sure that older Australians get the dignity and care that they deserve.
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Asked if there are concrete savings that can come that don’t push huge interest payments to future generations, Peter Dutton said you can’t “outline the budget from opposition”.
I’ve been involved in expenditure review committees, in government and in opposition, for a long period of time, and you work through with the central agencies, with Treasury and Finance etc, to identify where there are problems in the budget.
Anthony Albanese again took aim at the Coalition for not outlining what it would cut, saying:
What Peter wants the viewers at home to do is to vote for him. There will be cuts afterwards, he’s just confirmed that, but they won’t tell you what they are. Now, that’s just not being fair dinkum.
He needs to come up with where the cuts will be because on top of everything else, there’s no plan for how they pay for their nuclear reactor plan, and we know that that will cost hundreds of billions of dollars.
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PM and opposition leader trade barbs over the economy
Moving to the economy, Anthony Albanese has argued the 2022 budget “didn’t have any spending saves at all in it” and that Labor has made $95bn of savings in its first term.
We have improved the budget’s bottom line by some $207bn across the board, with $178bn less debt, and, as a result, Australians have saved $60bn in interest payments … So we have shown our economic responsibility.
Peter Dutton said the PM had “benefited from a variation in the commodity prices”.
That means that the prices of iron ore and our other commodities have gone up, and that’s what’s given the government a bigger revenue than expected.
The fact is that this government has spent $425bn more, and that makes it the biggest-spending government in 40 years. And if you look at that scenario, that’s what has led the Reserve Bank governor to warn Australians and to warn this government that our homegrown inflation problem is of the government’s making.
Albanese then accused Dutton of verballing the RBA governor, “who has not said that at all”. He said:
Talking Australia down does not assist anybody, any of the listeners at home. It certainly doesn’t assist our economy.
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Dutton and Albanese questioned on personal attributes as leaders
Peter Dutton was asked if his experience as a police officer has led him to have a black-and-white view of the world.
He said:
I think my time as a police officer, where you see some truly horrible things, you’re dealing with victims of crime who are in the worst moment in their lives. And I do think you become hardened …
I’ve always been serious in my public life as a police officer, and since I’ve been in parliament, in protecting people – and I’m very genuine about that, women and children in particular, and that’s been the focus of much of my work in parliament … I think we all are shaped by our own life experiences.
Anthony Albanese was asked about claims he is “too soft” and said this was “just rhetoric”.
Kindness isn’t weakness. Kindness is something that I was raised with. We raise our children to be compassionate with each other. But I’ve been capable of making tough decisions. You don’t turn a $78bn deficit into a $22bn surplus without making tough decisions.
The PM said he has been able to “be firm about Australia’s position” with world leaders.
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Albanese outlines philosophy
Asked if he is hoping to win by default, Anthony Albanese responded: “Not at all.”
Springing off the last question to Dutton, the PM said he has a “very clear philosophy that can be summed up with two phrases … No one left behind, but no one held back.”
He pointed to Labor’s public housing plan, rental assistance being increased, medicine prices coming down, fee-free Tafe, schools funding, and said:
These two philosophies are what drive my government. You need a strong economy in order to do it. And that’s what we have done in repairing so much damage from what we inherited.
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What does the Coalition stand for?
We’re back from a short break, with the first question to Peter Dutton, asked about Tony Abbott’s past slogan: “Stop the boats. End the waste. Repeal the carbon tax.”
What does the Coalition stand for now, aside from being against Anthony Albanese?
He pointed to the Coalition’s proposed cut of 25 cents a litre in people’s fuel, and said “you can distil that to cut the tax, cut the fuel tax or however you want to present it”.
He also pointed to the Coalition’s tax rebate, housing policy, policies to address crime, investment in defence (not yet announced) and energy.
People know that a Coalition government more effectively manages the economy. If we do that, we can bring inflation down. We can help families get through this God-awful period of the last three years and help get their own budgets back on track.
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Albanese takes aim at Dutton’s record on climate
Anthony Albanese responded, noting Peter Dutton’s experience but saying:
But that’s the problem – every Pacific leader remembers him joking about water lapping at their doors for the Pacific Island neighbours.
It’s not a joke, climate change. It’s something that is the entry fee to credibility in our region, with our Asean neighbours. I brought every Asean leader down to Australia last March. Every leader came here and we’ve developed constructive relationships.
We’ve managed to build our relationship with Japan and Korea, including our defence relationships, at the same time as we’ve restored more normal relations with China, bringing back $20bn of trade. That was stopped with the impediments that were put in place that were not even a phone call between any Australian government minister and our major trading partner, during the last term of parliament.
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Dutton says he brings more experience to job ‘than any predecessor’
Peter Dutton was also asked if he has the “temperament” to improve relationships around the region for Australia, and said “I bring more experience to this job than any predecessor”.
I’ve been the defence minister of our country, I’ve been the home affairs minister, the immigration minister. I’ve been on the frontbench of the Liberal party, in government, in opposition since 2004. As I said earlier, I’ve worked with four prime ministers, and I’ve watched them very closely. The good and the bad, and I’ve learned from each …
I’m very proud of the connections globally that I have. And I believe not just me, but our team is highly experienced and has the ability to bring together the best opportunity for us to stand proud on the world stage. The problem is that Australia is seen at the moment with a weak leader, not just from Australians, but also from our international counterparts who see a weak leader in the Lodge.
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Does Dutton still believe he could be the only leader to achieve a different outcome on tariffs for Australia?
Peter Dutton pointed to the Coalition’s record of dealing with the Obama administration, first Trump administration and the Biden administration, saying:
We negotiated the Aukus submarine deal, which no other country had been able to do since the 1950s … When we were in government during the Trump mark one period, we were able to negotiate an exemption for Australia in a way that other countries hadn’t been able to do it …
Anthony Albanese said Dutton “puts forward this complete nonsense” and that “the whole of the world, including every US ally, has not been able to get an exemption”.
But he’s going to be able to achieve it. And indeed, he was so loose that when President Trump announced the tariffs on every country and we got the best deal of any country at 10%, Peter said that we should put the defence relationship on the table for negotiation – now, that’s not something that I will do.
The PM pointed to Dutton’s “verballing” of the Indonesian president last week:
… A really important relationship that we have that was damaged by the comments that Mr Dutton made last week.
Dutton said Albanese was being “loose with the truth”.
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PM calls on Dutton to outline where he would cut migration
Anthony Albanese argued that Peter Dutton has the “gold and silver medal for the most number of visas that have been issued by any migration minister since Federation.”
On rising migration numbers, the PM said this was “always going to go up when the borders opened after Covid, because Australian citizens were coming home.”
He said that Dutton needs to “identify which visa categories are going to be restricted in what he says in getting the numbers down, because we haven’t heard that during the campaign – like we haven’t heard any other detail behind the Coalition’s policies.”
PM again rules out changes to negative gearing
Peter Dutton has accused Labor of wanting to end negative gearing. Anthony Albanese responded:
The problem for the Coalition is that they said that prior to the last election, and we’ve made no changes to negative gearing or capital gains tax. The proof is in the pudding.
Albanese went on, reiterating that “we won’t be making the changes that you suggest, because we’re concerned that it would have a negative impact on supply and would push up rents”.
That is why we are not making those changes, and we haven’t done so. But this idea that the housing crisis has occurred over the last two years is just a nonsense, just a nonsense.
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Albanese and Dutton on housing
Moving to housing, Anthony Albanese has been asked if a young couple on an average wage would really be able to afford to buy a home if prices keep increasing as they currently are?
The PM said “yes, they will”, pointing to Labor’s proposal to reduce the upfront payment to a 5% deposit:
Instead of families continuing to try to save, to get to that 20% deposit, and they keep going backwards, they never get there because house prices keep increasing, by having a 5% deposit, it brings it within reach.
He also pointed to “reserving 100,000 homes for first home buyers” as making a difference.
Peter Dutton also responded, touting his super for housing policy and saying “if we had this policy in place, say five years ago, there would have been the option for young Australians to be in home ownership territory”.
He again blamed migration for the housing crisis, saying:
Young Australians have given up the dream of home ownership. And when you bring a million people in over a two-year period, the biggest number in our country’s history by 70%, they all want homes for their kids and for their families, and they’re competing against Australians. And that’s why we’ve got the problem that we have.
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Dutton read question from struggling single mother about what he is offering
Peter Dutton was read a question from a single mum on minimum wage, who often skips meals, can barely cover rent and “sees nothing in what you’re putting forward that helps her”.
Responding, the opposition leader pointed to the fuel excise, tax cut and the Coalition’s gas policy “that has a flow on impact right across the economy”.
The 25 cent a litre fuel cut, the $1,200 rebate and providing support addressing the inherent problems that we’ve got in the economy, which have been created again, because of the energy crisis. That’s how we can help.
Anthony Albanese also weighed in and argued that “a number of things that Mr Dutton is committing to are things that are happening already”.
And an example of that is the rental assistance for people. We’ve increased by 45% … When it comes to gas, we have intervened into the market. The Coalition opposed that intervention. On the day of the last election, gas prices were $34. Today, it’s $13, as a direct result of the policies that we have put in place, including the domestic gas security mechanism.
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PM defends decision not to means test energy rebate
Anthony Albanese has been asked why Labor doesn’t means test its extended power rebate. The PM said this was because “of the way the rebate works”:
You have two options. One is to apply it to everyone, which is what we’re doing. The second is to apply it just to concession card holders. We understand that many working people deserve that support as well.
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Dutton defends fuel excise policy amid falling petrol prices
Peter Dutton was asked about the fact global oil prices have plummeted since Donald Trump’s tariffs, including petrol prices – so is it still the best use of taxpayer dollars to halve the fuel excise?
He said it was, because “it goes across the economy.”
So it’s not just for families who are doing it tough. Pensioners are really doing it tough because they’ve got fixed incomes and rising costs under this government, electricity is up by 32%, gas is up by 34% and for those pensioners and self-funded retirees, for small businesses as well, they benefit. So whether petrol is at $2 a litre or $1.05 a litre, it will always be $0.25 cheaper under us.
But is this still the key cost of living concern for voters? Dutton responded:
But it’s they’re still saving $0.25 a litre every time you fill up the tank.
PM questioned on whether voters are better off under Labor
Phil Coorey has now asked Anthony Albanese why voters should trust him, after Labor promised three years ago that voters would be better off under them.
The PM said he understands “many people are doing it tough” and that’s why the government has delivered “significant cost of living relief”:
But we’ve had to do it in a way that put that downward pressure on inflation. As a result, inflation has a two in front of it, 2.4. But at the same time, we’ve created a million jobs.
He went on to list a number of initiatives – cheaper childcare, fee free Tafe, energy bill relief, the stage-three tax cuts – and said:
We certainly want people to be better off in three years time. And that is what it’s about. But if we hadn’t have provided that cost of living relief, people would have been $7,200 worse off if Mr Dutton and others had got their way and had blocked that cost of living relief that we’ve provided.
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What does Dutton say about Trump comparisons?
The AFR’s Phil Coorey has asked Peter Dutton what he says to voters who think he is a lightweight version of US president Donald Trump.
The opposition leader said he had been in parliament since 2001, watching seven PMs in total and that his biggest influences are John Howard and Peter Costello:
This election is between the prime minister and I, and the reason that you get all of the negative ads and the lies and the mudslinging and the rest of it … is that the government doesn’t have a good story to tell of the last three years.
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Leaders disagree over Coalition cuts in 2014
Anthony Albanese is now taking aim at the Coalition for making $50bn in cuts in 2014, saying:
$50bn in health and $30bn in education … You ripped $80bn out of those two items in 2014.
Peter Dutton said the PM “you couldn’t lie straight in bed”, and the PM accused him of “lying” as a “sign of desperation.” Albanese added:
Go to the 2014 budget papers. People can do that online. It’s all available for all to see.
The moderator then moved the leaders onto the next topic.
Leaders trade barbs over Medicare
Both leaders have been asked about a “consistent” between the two – accusing the other of lying.
Peter Dutton responded first, pointing to the “Mediscare campaign” and arguing bulk billing has “plummeted under this prime minister”:
So there have been a lot of lies told by Labor over the course of this campaign, but I don’t think Australians are stupid. I think they see through it and I think increasingly as people test some of the claims being made by the prime minister, they realise that at best, your best description of him could be that he’s loose with the truth and he says it with a straight face, which is the most remarkable thing.
Anthony Albanese rejected this, touting Labor’s record on Medicare and pointing to the Coalition’s nuclear energy policy, saying:
During this campaign, Peter has not said where the money is coming from for his nuclear power stations. He won’t go anywhere near them. He was in Orange today, just near Lithgow … He won’t go near them because he knows that it just doesn’t stack up, which is why the private sector won’t fund them.
Asked if he would stake his prime ministership on bulk billing rates going up, the PM responded, “absolutely”.
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Dutton responds to Coalition’s falling numbers in the polls
Peter Dutton has been asked how he rates the Coalition’s performance in the campaign so far, amid the latest polling results which show Labor gaining ground and breaking out ahead.
The opposition leader said that “the Labor party spent $20m throwing mud and negative ads, and that has an impact, and I get that”:
Australians feel tension because their kids are staying at home longer. Young families are putting off having kids. Mums and dads and grandparents are staying in the workforce longer because they’re trying to help their kids with mortgages or with the deposit. And I can get that.
People are disillusioned in that environment. People are living in very uncertain times. When you have a look at what’s happening in the world, in our own region, people are unsettled by what they see on the world stage, and they need a prime minister with strength and the ability to stand up for our country and to deal with the issues, whatever they might be, that come our way.
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PM on growth of undecided voters
Anthony Albanese has taken the first question, asked about the growth of undecided voters and the move away from the major parties – and if this is a failure?
The PM said this reflected “the changes in our economy, the changes in our society, and we recognise that.” He went on to list a number of Labor’s achievements, including:
But what we have managed to do is in very difficult global times with the biggest inflation shock since the 1980s and the biggest energy crisis since the 1970s, is getting inflation down to 2.4%.
PM gives opening remarks
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, also began his opening remarks by noting the passing of Pope Francis. He went on to outline Labor’s plan to “build Australia’s future and to build your family’s future.”
We have immediate support through cost of living assistance, whilst making sure that we invest in the future. Tax cuts for every taxpayer, stronger Medicare, 5% deposits for people wanting to buy their first home, 20% reduction in student debt.
Making sure in addition to that, that we support better schools and fairer funding for our school system … We can’t determine what the world throws at us, but we can determine how we respond.
Leaders' debate begins
The third leaders’ debate of the election campaign has officially begun, with both leaders standing at individual podiums across from the expert panel.
Ally Langdon has outlined the rules, with each leader allowed 60 seconds to answer – and some interjections allowed.
Peter Dutton was the first to speak, beginning with condolences for Pope Francis. Giving his opening address, the opposition leader repeated the Coalition slogan that “we need to get our country back on track”:
Over the course of the last three years, people have gone through the biggest drop in living standards in any other country compared to any other country in the world. We need to make sure that we can get our country back on track, that we can help manage the economy, that we can reduce the costs in the economy …
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View all the latest polling results with our poll tracker
As the federal election approaches, political polls are coming thick and fast. You can stay up to speed with all the latest results using our poll tracker, below:
Dutton’s children attending tonight’s debate
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has shared a photo to social media ahead of tonight’s debate – alongside his children Tom and Bec.
So thankful to have Tom and Bec joining me tonight for the third leaders’ debate. I’ll be sharing my plan to get Australia back on track — I hope you can tune in. pic.twitter.com/kFpnkmYeco
— Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) April 22, 2025
Who is moderating tonight’s debate?
Tonight’s debate will be moderated by A Current Affair host Ally Langdon, with both leaders also facing questions from 9News political editor Charles Croucher, Deb Knight from 2GB, and the Australian Financial Review’s political editor, Phil Coorey.
Nine said that unlike in some other debates, Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton will both be allowed some level of interjections, but repeated interruptions will be policed by Langdon.
And as we flagged earlier, the expert panel will declare a winner at the end of the debate.
Man charged for threats against federal and state MP
Just to some breaking news that came through tonight, before we launch into the debate:
A man has been charged with threatening to kill a federal MP and making other threats against a state MP, documents released by the Victorian magistrates court show.
The man, who cannot be identified, is alleged to have made threats against Julian Leeser, the Liberal MP for Berowra, and Gabrielle Williams, the minister for transport and infrastructure in the state Labor government.
Between 13 and 14 January this year, he is alleged to have used a carriage service to threaten to kill Leeser, according to charge sheets released by the court.
He is alleged to have used a mobile phone in a menacing, harassing or offensive manner on 13 January this year, again either that day or the following day, and for a third time on 18 January.
The man is also alleged to have used a carriage service to send two emails threatening Williams on 18 January and on 31 January.
The man faces six state and federal charges, the documents released today show. The case is ongoing.
What you missed from the previous leaders’ debates
The first leaders debate, a News Corp-hosted people’s forum, led to an awkward moment for the Coalition when multiple social media accounts for the Liberal National party and the Nationals incorrectly proclaimed Peter Dutton had won the debate – well before the official results were declared by Sky.
Conversation focused heavily on energy, health and taxation, with Anthony Albanese accusing the opposition leader of “gaslighting” Australians on key Liberal policies – including the cost, timing and details of the party’s controversial nuclear power and gas plan.
Dutton, meanwhile, pursued Albanese over immigration figures and claims of Labor’s “broken promise” of a $275 cut to power bills. Neither man made a major misstep at the forum or the subsequent ABC debate, which was led by Insiders host David Speers.
The opposition leader’s unwillingness to accept Australia was already seeing the impacts of climate change during ABC’s debate proved a talking point in subsequent press conferences, including his suggestion he was “not a scientist” after he refused to say whether the temperature had risen due to climate change.
Dutton also had to had to admit a mistake in talking about reports of Russia seeking to base military aircraft in Indonesia, but landed a swing on Albanese on negative gearing modelling.
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What was the outcome of the previous debates?
Tonight is the second-last time Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton will go head-to-head until voters hit the polls on 3 May, with the last debate to take place on Channel 7 this Sunday evening.
The opposition leader will be hoping for a strong performance tonight after losing the first debate, broadcast on Sky, and failing to meaningfully cut through on the public broadcaster.
Albanese won 44 votes out of 100 at the Wentworthville Leagues Club in western Sydney earlier this month, while Dutton won 35 and 21 people remained undecided.
The clock is ticking for those voters to swing to the Liberals, with polls suggesting support for Dutton’s Coalition have cratered in the past month – including in the marginal seats that could decide the election.
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Welcome to the third leaders' debate
Good evening, and welcome to the third leaders’ debate of the federal election campaign. I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll be taking you through all of the action tonight.
Tonight’s debate comes as Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton suspended campaigning today in a mark of respect to the late Pope Francis. Dutton said that today was not the day for “overt politicking”, and the home affairs minister Tony Burke anticipates tonight’s debate will be “a bit more subdued.”
The debate will kick off at 7.30pm AEST on Channel 9, and unlike last week’s debate on the ABC, a winner will be declared from Nine’s expert panel.
Stay tuned as we bring you all the key takeaways from the debate right here on the blog.
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