Australian news and politics recap March 28: Dutton launches election bid from Qld as May 3 battle begins

Coalition Leader Peter Dutton is preparing to launch his campaign, making his case on why he should be Australia’s next Prime Minister, as he launches his campaign from Queensland.

Mr Dutton is set to speak in the next few minutes.

Greens leader Adam Bandt has just had a brief press conference in Canberra, flanked by some of his Senate colleagues.

He says, “minority Government is coming. And with the major parties offering about as attractive as a dead fish, you can see why”.

“With a minority government on the cards this election, this is a once-in-a-generation chance to keep Peter Dutton out and get Labor to act on the housing crisis, the cost-of-living crisis and the climate and environment crisis,” he says.

Australians will head to the polls on May 3, as the major parties start a five-week campaign across the country.

This is how things stand as Australians prepare to vote.

There have been some changes since the last election, however there is now a clear road that both Partys need to follow to win.

Read the full story.

The Greens say they’re about to embark on their “biggest ever campaign” to force a minority Labor Government and keep Peter Dutton out.

“This election, we can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result,” leader Adam Bandt said in a statement.

“If you want change, the first step is to vote for it.”

If Anthony Albanese is “born ready” for the challenge ahead of him, Peter Dutton says his pledge is to do better by Australians.

“My pledge is to make sure that we can have lower inflation, that we can help Australians get back into homes, that we can help with the cost of living pressures by fixing our energy system and by making sure that we’ve got a safer community and making sure we’ve got quality healthcare. That’s the pledge that we make,” he says.

He goes on to talk about his gas policy, which he unveiled last night in his budget reply.

Mr Dutton says people can’t continue on as is, pointing to higher electricity and gas pries every quarter.

He claims it will be a “win for Queensland and a win for the southern states as well, because we can provide certainty” that Labor’s plan cannot.

Expect lots of chat about energy over the coming five weeks.

Peter Dutton has just dialled into 4BC Brisbane to give his first official election spiel to Australians.

After a brief criticism for the PM choosing May 3 as election day, the weekend of magic round and also a long weekend in his home state of Queensland, the Opposition Leader says ultimately this is “an opportunity to change the Government and to get our country back on track”.

“We’ve put some of our policies out there last night, but we’ll have a lot more to say over the next few weeks,” he said.

“I really do think this is a sliding doors moment for our country.

“If we can change the Government, we can manage the economy well.”

For the next five weeks, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will criss-cross the country in their race to The Lodge.

While there is an acknowledgement from all sides of politics that there is no longer such a thing as a “safe seat”, already trends have begun to emerge in the electorates where Labor and the Coalition are putting in extra effort.

It’s widely expected that both buses will spend a significant chunk of time in the suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne, with Labor and Liberal strategists alike admitting this election will be won or lost in the outer suburbs where cost-of-living is being felt most acutely.

Expect to hear a lot about these key seats: Deakin (VIC), Bennelong (NSW), Gilmore (NSW), Menzies (VIC), Sturt (SA), Lyons (TAS), Fowler (NSW), Curtin (WA), Bass (TAS), Dickson (QLD), Lingiari (NT), Kooyong (VIC), Robertson (NSW), Bradfield (NSW), Paterson (NSW), Ryan (QLD), Tangney (WA), Bullwinkel (WA), Chisholm (VIC), Leichardt (QLD), Aston (VIC) as well as a few others.

Read Ellen Ransley’s full analysis, revealing why each seat is key to the election result.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton made multiple promises to Australians in his first election ad of the 2025 Federal campaign.

“The Government I lead will strengthen our economy by reining in the wasteful spending that fuels inflation and by supporting small businesses,” Mr Dutton said.

“We will fix our energy system. We will make housing more affordable by funding critical infrastructure, supporting first-time home buyers and restricting foreign investors.

“We will enhance community safety and national security and we will ensure quality healthcare by funding more GPS and increasing access to vital mental health services.”

In the minutes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the May 3 Federal election, the Liberal Party dropped the first election ad, where Peter Dutton said Australia “must do better”.

“We live in the best country in the world”, Mr Dutton says in the new ad.

“But right now it’s at a turning point. Too many are having to make sacrifices just to afford the weekly shop and pay their bills.

“This election is a choice about who can help Australians get ahead by managing our economy better.

“In the last two years under Labor, Australia has had the biggest fall in living standards in the developed world. For many young Australians, the dream of owning your own home is slipping away.

“We must do better and I am determined that we will do better.

“Australia can’t afford to continue on its current path, let’s get our country back on track so you can get ahead.”