Leaders debate: Federal election 2025: Anthony Albanese moves first but Peter Dutton’s ‘liar’ tag hits a mark

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton faced off for a fourth and final time on Sunday, firing the starting gun for the five day-sprint before the May 3 poll.

Both seemed nervous at first, with the Prime Minister looking tired after four weeks on the road and Mr Dutton stumbling a little as countdown music interrupted one of his first responses.

But Sunday’s debate was their chance before polling day to present their case to the nation as to why they should lead it, and both soon hit their stride, poised and polished, with their cost-of-living talking points at the ready and a flash of fire in their bellies.

Following a slide in the polls, Mr Dutton had nothing to lose, and Mr Albanese was most at risk of throwing away his lead, as the debate set them up for their final week.

More than two million people have already voted, but both leaders would have been hoping the undecided Australians were watching — and persuaded — by their last-gasp pitches on the economy, taxes, energy and fuel subsidies, housing and defence.

After a hesitant start, Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton remained evenly matched and both started with several solid shots.

Mr Albanese struck the first blow that the Coalition’s cost-of-living plans for fuel and tax subsidies were “temporary” and would “disappear in a year’s time” compared with Labor’s “permanent” tax cuts.

Mr Dutton hit back with the charge that the PM “looked the Australian people in the eye before the last election and on 97 occasions said power prices would come down by $275” when, in fact, they had gone up by $1300.

A fired-up Coalition leader leaned into a personal attack on Mr Albanese — “you should be ashamed and you’re a liar,” he said.

The PM declined to get personal. “Peter can attack me,” he replied, but “I won’t let him attack the wages of working people” or cheaper childcare, he said.

The fast-pace debate rushed through foreign policy, relations with China, US President Trump and the choice between renewables and nuclear energy, with a 30-second countdown timer that created a whirlwind of views on major issues that could make it difficult for voters to differentiate between them.

For seasoned political watchers, the leaders’ talking points may have been predictable, but in a debate too even to call, for the undecided voter, it could be a flash of personality, or a stand-out quote, that could ultimately help either Mr Albanese or Mr Dutton to get their parties across the line.