Australian news and politics recap: Anthony Albanese flails on bills and Peter Dutton fails to land knockout

The PM is asked what specifically his Government has done to counter Russia’s attempts to strengthen its ties with Indonesia.

Jakarta and Moscow conducted their first-ever bilateral naval exercises last year.

Mr Albanese says Australia’s relationship with Indonesia “has never been stronger”.

“Indonesia is a sovereign nation... So we continue to put our argument about our own case and our own relationship with Indonesia,” he said.

“Indonesia and Russia have historically had relations that are different from Australia’s and Russia’s. That’s how you deal with things.

“We respect President Prabowo. We continue to put our argument. Our job, our task is to develop good relationships with Indonesia.”

Mr Albanese is asked a few questions about Urgent Care Clinics, and whether there is any proof they are taking pressure off emergency departments.

The PM says they “are worth every cent that we’re investing in them”.

“That’s why we’re building 50 more of them,” he said.

The Prime Minister is asked if Australia knew that Russia had made its request to Indonesia before it was reported.

Asked first whether the commentary out of Russia is an act of misinformation by Moscow to interfere in the election, the PM says: “What I know is that there’s no statement from the Indonesian President, and what Peter Dutton said was not true”.

Mr Albanese, like his senior ministers Richard Marles and Penny Wong this morning, then can’t rule out completely that such a request was made in the first place.

He says there is “no basis” for assuming the report - made by the reputable US magazine Janes - is correct.

“What we know is what the Indonesian Government have said themselves,” he said.

Pushed further about whether Australia knew about the request, he said: “I’ll act diplomatically with our friends in Indonesia”.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is with the PM today and wastes no time also laying into Mr Dutton.

What we saw yesterday was a disqualifying moment from Peter Dutton when it came to the comments that he made about the Indonesian President,” he said.

He said Mr Dutton was lying in ways that “are bordering on pathological”.

“Peter Dutton is too risky. He is too reckless at the worst time,” he said.

“His riskiness, his recklessness, are the two worst characteristics for a leader of a great country like ours to have in these uncertain times.:

Anthony Albanese is back at a housing site outside Melbourne this morning, but he’s quick to comment on what his opponent had to say yesterday.

The PM says Peter Dutton “verballed” the Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto yesterday.

“What we saw from Peter Dutton yesterday was an extraordinary overreach. He verballed the President when he said, very clearly, ‘did the Prime Minister know about this before it was publicly announced by the President of Indonesia’,” he said.

“What we saw yesterday was Peter Dutton doing what he does consistently, which is always, always overreaching, always dialling it up to 11. But in this case, being quite reckless, quite reckless, with a neighbour of Australia that is an important neighbour and friend of Australia.”

Senator Penny Wong has hit out at “reckless” Opposition Leader Peter Dutton after he “fabricated” a statement from the Indonesian Prime Minister regarding a Russian airbase in Indonesia.

“Indonesia is not contemplating any Russian operating base on its territory,” Senator Wong told Sunrise on Wednesday.

“That was made very clear to us, both in terms of my outreach to the Foreign Minister and the Defence Minister’s outreach to his counterpart.”

Senator Wong said Mr Dutton was “too reckless and too agro to be Australia’s Prime Minister” over his handling of the claim that a base may be set up.

“We dealt with this professionally, appropriately, through the channels and relationships that we have built with our counterparts in the region,” Senator Wong said.

“What did Peter Dutton do? He fabricated a statement by the President of Indonesia.

“The man who wants to be our Prime Minister fabricated a statement by the President of Indonesia, in order to make a political point. Unbelievably reckless.

Senator Wong went on to defend the Labor Government’s knowledge, saying there was only a report of a request submitted, which Indonesia has confirmed they will not consider.

Liberal Senator Jane Hume has snapped at Sunrise Host Natalie Barr during a discussion over the Liberal Party’s struggle to land its message with Aussie voters.

New polling has found that Aussies have sided with Labor’s housing policy over the Coalition’s, 40 per cent to 33 per cent.

Senator Hume dismissed Labor’s policy, claiming they have shown they are unable to build homes, spruiking the Coalition’s housing policy commitment.

“What is wrong with your message, though? Because all the polls have you way behind, and falling. So are the polls wrong? Or is your message wrong?” Barr asked Senator Hume.

Senator Hume said the Coalition are making sure it delivers its message every single day.

Barr pressed Senator Hume, asking: “So are you frustrated that it’s not cutting through?”

“Well, it would help if I get a chance to explain it,” Senator Hume said, frustrated.

Senator Hume went on to explain the Coalition will reduce net migration, take pressure off supply and incentivise young homeowners by giving them access to super and through tax deductions on interest repayments.

Labor claims new analysis shows Australians would be $13,200 worse off under a Dutton-led government, but the opposition leader says his tax relief measures would help families now.

Labor’s analysis was calculated over forward estimates across 2025-26 to 2028-29, showing a difference in earnings growth, Labor’s tax cuts and the party’s $1000 tax deduction for work-related expenses.

It was compared against the Liberal Party’s promise of a one-off tax offset of $1500 and fuel excise reduction for 2025-26.

The analysis assumed each household had two average income earners, showing scenarios under both parties would be the same in the financial year 2024-25.

In 2025-26, the analysis shows Australian households would receive a $1200 tax offset and save $490 under the Liberals’ fuel excise reduction, but earnings growth would be 1.05 per cent better under Labour.

The fuel excise was calculated on a person travelling 13,800km in a year with an average fuel consumption of 7L per 100km.

Read the full analysis.