Australian news and politics recap: Anthony Albanese flails on bills and Peter Dutton fails to land knockout
Scroll down for the day’s news and updates as they happened.
Key events
16 Apr 2025 - 08:25 PM
Wrapping up
16 Apr 2025 - 07:13 PM
Top take-aways from a dull debate
16 Apr 2025 - 07:03 PM
Election is a ‘real choice’: Albanese delivers closing statement
16 Apr 2025 - 07:00 PM
Peter Dutton’s closing statement
16 Apr 2025 - 06:59 PM
Leaders can find bipartisan support on national security
16 Apr 2025 - 06:58 PM
‘Would it be a disaster if the other guy won?’: Speers
16 Apr 2025 - 06:56 PM
Albanese says failure to close the gap ‘breaks my heart’
16 Apr 2025 - 06:55 PM
Dutton comments on failed Voice referendum
16 Apr 2025 - 06:51 PM
‘No contingency plan needed on AUKUS’: PM
16 Apr 2025 - 06:50 PM
Dutton confident on ability to get Trump deal
16 Apr 2025 - 06:46 PM
PM pressed for detail on critical minerals reserve
16 Apr 2025 - 06:46 PM
Dutton asked whether he ‘trusts’ Trump
16 Apr 2025 - 06:44 PM
PM says he trusts leaders of US, China
16 Apr 2025 - 06:42 PM
PM slams Dutton for ‘extraordinary double-down’
16 Apr 2025 - 06:41 PM
Dutton admits comments on Russian airbase reports ‘a mistake’
16 Apr 2025 - 06:36 PM
Albanese says science ‘very clear’ on climate change
16 Apr 2025 - 06:36 PM
‘You can see there’s an impact’: Mr Dutton on climate change
16 Apr 2025 - 06:32 PM
Albanese won’t say when power bills will come down
16 Apr 2025 - 06:30 PM
PM says some renewables concern ‘not real’
16 Apr 2025 - 06:30 PM
Dutton defends water policy for nuclear sites
16 Apr 2025 - 06:27 PM
Dutton walks into Albanese’s trap
16 Apr 2025 - 06:27 PM
Albanese says renewables are the future
16 Apr 2025 - 06:25 PM
Dutton says energy will be his one big reform
16 Apr 2025 - 06:24 PM
PM attacks Dutton over public service cuts
16 Apr 2025 - 06:23 PM
Dutton dodges repeated questioning on cuts
16 Apr 2025 - 06:19 PM
Young Australians on the hook for debt
16 Apr 2025 - 06:17 PM
Dutton says he’s willing to support ‘sensible reform’ on rentals
16 Apr 2025 - 06:16 PM
PM grilled on giving renters certainty
16 Apr 2025 - 06:13 PM
Dutton says Albanese has a ‘problem with the truth’
16 Apr 2025 - 06:11 PM
Why won’t the major parties consider tax breaks?
16 Apr 2025 - 06:10 PM
Dutton deflects on housing policy question
16 Apr 2025 - 06:08 PM
PM forced to defend housing policy
16 Apr 2025 - 06:05 PM
PM says Australia must seize opportunities
16 Apr 2025 - 06:05 PM
Dutton talks cost of living in opening pitch
16 Apr 2025 - 06:02 PM
Leaders debate kicks off
16 Apr 2025 - 05:59 PM
Pro-Palestine rally gathers outside debate venue
16 Apr 2025 - 05:31 PM
PM, Dutton to go head-to-head shortly
16 Apr 2025 - 03:40 PM
ANALYSIS: Is it over for Peter Dutton?
16 Apr 2025 - 03:04 PM
Greens MP takes to OnlyFans to sway young voters
16 Apr 2025 - 01:49 PM
Second leaders’ debate: Albanese and Dutton head to Sydney for ABC head-to-head
16 Apr 2025 - 12:27 PM
Top take-aways: Housing clash marked by sledging and hidden modelling
16 Apr 2025 - 12:05 PM
Closing shots fired in National Press Club housing debate
16 Apr 2025 - 11:52 AM
‘The numbers don’t stack up’ both housing frontbenches label each other liars over policy
16 Apr 2025 - 11:43 AM
Housing frontbenchers ask each other questions during press club housing debate
16 Apr 2025 - 11:37 AM
Sukkar says Labor are treating voters like ‘mugs’ with set targets
16 Apr 2025 - 11:28 AM
Housing Minister says Coaliton’s housing policy could exacerbate gender inequalities
16 Apr 2025 - 11:17 AM
Neither frontbench puts figure on sustainable growth but says wages need to go up
16 Apr 2025 - 11:10 AM
Sukkar suggests Labor prioritising ‘yoga instructors’ over tradies in overseas migration
16 Apr 2025 - 11:03 AM
Sukkar vows to build more homes than Labor if Coalition elected
16 Apr 2025 - 11:00 AM
O’Neil admits more needs to be done and housing woes aren’t solved in three years
16 Apr 2025 - 10:51 AM
Housing Minister says Labor has ‘boldest’ housing agenda since the post-war period
16 Apr 2025 - 10:45 AM
Shadow housing minister Michael Sukkar slams Labor in opening address
16 Apr 2025 - 10:36 AM
Housing debate: Clare O’Neil and Michael Sukkar face off at National Press Club
16 Apr 2025 - 09:33 AM
Dutton says he doesn’t have security concerns.
16 Apr 2025 - 09:31 AM
Dutton asked about plan for female-dominated industries
16 Apr 2025 - 09:20 AM
What would Dutton do differently on Indonesia?
16 Apr 2025 - 09:16 AM
Coalition ‘wants to see NDIS grow’
16 Apr 2025 - 09:13 AM
Dutton skirts questions about whether he made a mistake
16 Apr 2025 - 09:12 AM
Is Dutton pushing the Pacific nations towards China?
16 Apr 2025 - 09:11 AM
Dutton defends Russia-Indonesia comments
16 Apr 2025 - 09:04 AM
Was Mr Dutton ‘irresponsible’ over Russia, Indonesia comments?
16 Apr 2025 - 09:01 AM
Peter Dutton is speaking now
16 Apr 2025 - 08:02 AM
PM showcases government’s ‘eye to the local community’ on Melbourne site
16 Apr 2025 - 07:58 AM
PM visits Forrest Hill construction site in key Deakin electorate
16 Apr 2025 - 07:49 AM
Dutton packs ‘buddy bags’ to support kids escaping family violence
16 Apr 2025 - 07:45 AM
Dutton pledges $6m to boost online safety for kids in Melbourne visit
16 Apr 2025 - 07:41 AM
Albo says he ‘has faith in AFP” after lobby confrontation
16 Apr 2025 - 07:38 AM
PM coy on assurances from Indonesia
16 Apr 2025 - 07:34 AM
Is the PM ready for tonight’s debate?
16 Apr 2025 - 07:30 AM
How is Australia countering Russia’s Indo-Pacific efforts?
16 Apr 2025 - 07:29 AM
PM has ‘clear evidence’ Urgent Care Clinics are working
16 Apr 2025 - 07:29 AM
Albanese can’t say if Russian request was actually made
16 Apr 2025 - 07:28 AM
Chalmers says Dutton’s comments was ‘disqualifying moment’
16 Apr 2025 - 07:23 AM
Dutton ‘verballed Indonesian President’: PM
16 Apr 2025 - 06:08 AM
Wong blasts 'reckless‘ Dutton over Russian airbase in Indonesia
16 Apr 2025 - 05:07 AM
Senator snaps at TV host amid message cut through struggle
16 Apr 2025 - 04:53 AM
Labor crunches numbers in latest Dutton attack
Dutton deflects on housing policy question
Host David Speers has asked the leaders whether their housing policies will help build housing or just raise costs.
Peter Dutton instead took aim at Labor’s housing track record.
“Over the past two years, the Government has brought in people all of who want homes and competing with younger Australians to purchase a home or a rental property,” he said.
Mr Dutton then defended his party’s policy to let first-home buyers take $50,000 out of their super for a deposit.
It’s a civilised start
Some would say boring.
Here’s a snap from the scene.
PM forced to defend housing policy
Albanese is speaking on housing now, which has been the theme of the week. He says Labor has a plan “not just for demand but for supply”.
Labor has said it will act as a guarantor if it wins the election, allowing first homebuyers to purchase a property with just a 5 per cent deposit.
Speers argues Labor’s policy will boost demand but not supply.
“We need to do both. We need to particularly give young people a fair crack,” Albanese says.
“We have a comprehensive $43 billion Homes for Australia plan, making sure whether it’s increased social housing or increased private rentals or increased homeownership through the help to buy scheme that will assist. The key is supply.”
PM says Australia must seize opportunities
The PM is giving his opening statement, saying he’s optimistic about Australia’s future if we “seize the opportunities that are right in front of us”.
“Because of the hard work Australians have done over the last three years, we have turning the corner,” he says.
“We have inflation that is down, real wages that are up. We have unemployment that is very low at just 4.1 per cent and interest rates have started to fall.”
Albanese says he knows there is more to do, and that’s why the Government have a plan to “cut taxes, not raise them”, and a plan to strengthen Medicare.
Dutton talks cost of living in opening pitch
Peter Dutton has focused on cost of living during his opening remarks of the second leader’s debate in Sydney.
Speaking before the Prime Minister, Mr Dutton said his party were aiming to improve the cost of living.
“As I have spoken to thousands of Australians, young families, pensioners, people in small businesses, it’s obvious to me that people don’t feel better off,” he said.
“Our plan is to get our country back on track to help young Australians realise the dream of homeownership again, to make sure we can help manage the economy so we can get inflation down.
“If we do that, that will lower interest rates.”
Leaders debate kicks off
The debate is kicking off! Albanese and Dutton have greeted each other with a handshake and are being briefed on the rules of engagement by ABC moderator David Speers.
Pro-Palestine rally gathers outside debate venue
A group of pro-Palestinian protesters have gathered outside of the ABC’s Parramatta studios, which is hosting tonight’s leaders debate.
The group are waving Palestinian flags and holding signs which say ‘Free Palestine’.
PM, Dutton to go head-to-head shortly
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton will get another chance to make their pitches directly to voters tonight as they face-off for the second debate of the Federal election campaign.
The Prime Minister is flying at the halfway point of the campaign and was the victor of the first debate last week, held by Sky News in front of an audience of 100 undecided voters.
Asked if he felt confident going into the clash tonight – this time hosted by the ABC – he said: “You have to take any campaign day by day”.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader has struggled to find his footing and sell keynote policies.
Dutton handled himself well after news his father had suffered a heart attack hours before he was due to take the stage at the first debate. But tonight, he will be on the backfoot for different reasons.
Earlier this week he dodged questions about whether he would use his family wealth to help his children get into the property market.
Last week’s debate was the people’s choice, but tonight’s contest will follow a more traditional style. The leaders will present opening and closing remarks and be granted equal time to respond to questions.
It kicks off at 8pm AEST and will be held at the ABC’s Parramatta studios. Insiders host David Speers will moderate.
ANALYSIS: Is it over for Peter Dutton?
The Nightly’s Latika M Bourke writes:
Peter Dutton’s campaign has felt “over” several times already.
But on Wednesday, it felt like the trap the Opposition leader had been trying to set for the government on national security snared him and all but ended his tilt to live in Kirribilli House, barring a catastrophic error from Anthony Albanese.
Seventeen words did the deed.
“Did the Prime Minister know about this before it was publicly announced by the President of Indonesia?” Mr Dutton queried on Tuesday.
Greens MP takes to OnlyFans to sway young voters
In a first for Australian politicians, a Greens MP has joined OnlyFans to spruik a new policy that would make a vital HIV-prevention medication free.
Queensland Greens MP Stephen Bates has joined the subscription-based platform to announce his party’s campaign to make PrEP and PEP medication free for anyone with a script.
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a tablet that people can take to reliably prevent HIV and costs about $31 a month with a prescription.
Read the full story here, but I think the less said about this one the better.
