Australian Federal election 2025 recap: Anthony Albanese wins landslide, hails ‘profound opportunity’

Dylan Caporn, Peta Rasdien and Max Corstorphan
The Nightly
“Serving as your prime minister is the greatest honour of my life,” Albanese said addressing the nation from Labor’s election headquarters on Saturday night.

Scroll down for to recap the day’s events as they happened.

Key events

03 May 2025 - 09:21 PM

Ali France thanks the people of Dickson

03 May 2025 - 09:15 PM

Abbott says Liberal party will rebuild

03 May 2025 - 09:13 PM

Sarah Henderson: Peter Dutton is a great loss

03 May 2025 - 09:01 PM

Tom White tells supporters the count is not over

03 May 2025 - 08:21 PM

PM: Tomorrow the work begins

03 May 2025 - 08:20 PM

PM pays tribute to son and fiancee

03 May 2025 - 08:14 PM

Albo whips out the Medicare card

03 May 2025 - 08:13 PM

State of play: Victoria

03 May 2025 - 08:12 PM

PM: Govt will tackle climate change and close the gap

03 May 2025 - 08:10 PM

PM: This is time of ‘profound opportunity’

03 May 2025 - 08:07 PM

PM makes pledge to Australians

03 May 2025 - 08:07 PM

PM makes pledge to Australians

03 May 2025 - 08:05 PM

PM pays tribute to Peter Dutton

03 May 2025 - 08:03 PM

PM addresses global challenges

03 May 2025 - 08:02 PM

PM: Australia voted for Australian values

03 May 2025 - 08:00 PM

Albanese: Serving as PM ‘greatest honour’

03 May 2025 - 07:58 PM

Wong: Tonight a ‘new chapter’ for Australia

03 May 2025 - 07:55 PM

Penny Wong introducing the PM

03 May 2025 - 07:51 PM

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about to take stage for victory speech

03 May 2025 - 07:46 PM

Jubilant scenes at Labor HQ ahead of PM’s speech

03 May 2025 - 07:41 PM

Dutton signs off with a word about his love for Australia

03 May 2025 - 07:40 PM

Dutton pays tribute to family

03 May 2025 - 07:37 PM

Dutton: ‘It’s been a great honour to lead’

03 May 2025 - 07:35 PM

Dutton: ‘We didn’t do well enough during the campaign’

03 May 2025 - 07:34 PM

Peter Dutton begins concession speech

03 May 2025 - 07:28 PM

Labor re-elected for a second term with a majority

03 May 2025 - 07:25 PM

Joyce defends Dutton after he loses Dickson

03 May 2025 - 07:17 PM

Chalmers, McGrath comment on Dutton loss

03 May 2025 - 07:10 PM

Price: Labor campaign built on lies

03 May 2025 - 07:10 PM

Labor gains two in Queensland from the Greens

03 May 2025 - 07:05 PM

Chalmers: Albanese to serve full term and run for third

03 May 2025 - 06:58 PM

Labor ahead in early counting in Bullwinkel

03 May 2025 - 06:47 PM

Murray Watt: Liberal party will need to front up

03 May 2025 - 06:46 PM

Hanson says voters ‘not happy’ with Dutton

03 May 2025 - 06:46 PM

Peter Dutton loses seat: 7NEWS

03 May 2025 - 06:45 PM

Jason Clare says its been a bitter battle for Blaxland

03 May 2025 - 06:45 PM

Kate Chaney arrives at count party

03 May 2025 - 06:28 PM

South Australia swings towards Labor

03 May 2025 - 06:25 PM

Labor picks up three seats from Liberals

03 May 2025 - 06:18 PM

Anthony Albanese wins second term as Prime Minister

03 May 2025 - 06:14 PM

Guests slow to filter in at Dutton HQ

03 May 2025 - 06:02 PM

No path to Government for the Coalition: 7NEWS

03 May 2025 - 06:00 PM

Polls close in WA

03 May 2025 - 05:49 PM

Victoria holds steady, but Nationals challenge Labor MP in Bendigo

03 May 2025 - 05:37 PM

Peter Dutton faces challenge in his own seat

03 May 2025 - 05:22 PM

Liberals under threat in blue-ribbon Bradfield, and independent challenges minister

03 May 2025 - 05:17 PM

Queensland Greens fading

03 May 2025 - 05:13 PM

Early trend favours Labor in Tassie

03 May 2025 - 05:09 PM

NSW - An hour in to counting

03 May 2025 - 04:57 PM

Labor under threat in Canberra seat

03 May 2025 - 04:48 PM

Adam Bandt labels election ‘battle of the band-aid’

03 May 2025 - 04:32 PM

McGrath: Result tonight unlikely

03 May 2025 - 04:21 PM

First seats called

03 May 2025 - 04:09 PM

Where are Albanese and Dutton?

03 May 2025 - 04:00 PM

Polls close

03 May 2025 - 03:52 PM

Early voting proves popular

03 May 2025 - 03:48 PM

What to watch for: Tasmania, NT and … Canberra

03 May 2025 - 03:44 PM

What to watch for: Western Australia

03 May 2025 - 03:37 PM

What to watch for: Queensland

03 May 2025 - 03:32 PM

What to watch for: Victoria

03 May 2025 - 03:28 PM

What to watch for: New South Wales

03 May 2025 - 03:24 PM

What to watch for: South Australia

03 May 2025 - 03:03 PM

Labor volunteer ’hip and shoulders’ Liberal volunteer

03 May 2025 - 02:43 PM

Ex-WA Labor premier Mark McGowan handing out flyers

03 May 2025 - 02:40 PM

Democracy sausages in short supply

03 May 2025 - 01:43 PM

The moments that have shaped the election campaign

03 May 2025 - 01:18 PM

Tight contest: Curtin may come down to just a few hundred votes

03 May 2025 - 01:11 PM

Ultimate election guide: How it works, key seats to watch and what it all means

03 May 2025 - 12:41 PM

‘Albo, Albo’: Chants greet PM as he makes third polling booth stop

03 May 2025 - 12:10 PM

Dutton banking on ‘quiet Australians’ as he casts ballot Dickson

03 May 2025 - 11:59 AM

Anthony Albanese casts his vote in Federal election

03 May 2025 - 11:50 AM

How is voting go around Australia? Let’s take a look

03 May 2025 - 11:34 AM

Gaza conflict an issue among some voters in PM’s Grayndler seat

03 May 2025 - 11:18 AM

What voters are saying in the PM’s electorate

03 May 2025 - 11:17 AM

Voters in PM’s Grayndler seat cite housing, climate crisis as major issues

03 May 2025 - 11:10 AM

Wilkie highlights Australia’s voting system

03 May 2025 - 11:03 AM

Where is Hanson during the WA how-to-vote debacle?

03 May 2025 - 10:50 AM

One Nation how to vote error in WA

03 May 2025 - 10:48 AM

Sunny skies in Brisbane as Watt supports local Labor

03 May 2025 - 10:33 AM

Steggall votes, pleads for voters to keep seat Independent

03 May 2025 - 10:23 AM

Ben Small’s final push for Forrest

03 May 2025 - 10:16 AM

Tom White arrives to vote in Curtin’s close race

03 May 2025 - 10:14 AM

Coalition divide denied as Bullwinkel race goes down to the wire

03 May 2025 - 09:59 AM

Forrest’s independent cast her vote, says attacks on her have no truth

03 May 2025 - 09:56 AM

Sage sausage advice from Madeleine King

03 May 2025 - 09:49 AM

Roger Cook, Madeleine King enjoy a democracy sausage variant

03 May 2025 - 09:33 AM

Madeleine King's royal entrance with the Premier

03 May 2025 - 09:31 AM

Albany voters heading to the polls at Mt Lockyer Primary School

03 May 2025 - 09:30 AM

Queensland premier throws support behind Dutton as he heads home

03 May 2025 - 09:17 AM

Albo, Dutton wrap up campaigning in key state

03 May 2025 - 08:45 AM

‘See you in caucus’: PM eyes Labor win in Liberal founder named seat

03 May 2025 - 08:40 AM

Dutton shares very long handshake at Melbourne petrol station

03 May 2025 - 08:37 AM

Dutton stops off at 17th petrol station

03 May 2025 - 08:05 AM

Polling booths now open across all of Australia

03 May 2025 - 07:58 AM

WATCH: Albanese, Dutton make final pitch to voters

03 May 2025 - 07:42 AM

‘No way in the world that Labor can form a majority’: Dutton

03 May 2025 - 07:36 AM

Dutton admits politics ‘comes at price’ personally

03 May 2025 - 07:19 AM

Everything you need to know about the democracy sausage

03 May 2025 - 07:11 AM

Dutton’s campaign completes 1.5 laps of Earth’s equator

03 May 2025 - 06:54 AM

Albo and Dutton break it down on social media

03 May 2025 - 06:28 AM

Dutton warns of disaster while making case to become PM

03 May 2025 - 06:14 AM

Voting booths open on Federal election day

03 May 2025 - 06:08 AM

Dutton’s election day morning in photos

03 May 2025 - 06:04 AM

Albanese’s election day morning in photos

03 May 2025 - 05:55 AM

Final poll points to historic election outcome

03 May 2025 - 05:40 AM

Dutton tells Melbourne he ‘can reduce crime’

03 May 2025 - 05:35 AM

Albanese reveals his secret election weapon

03 May 2025 - 05:30 AM

What nice thing Albanese has to say about Dutton

03 May 2025 - 05:27 AM

What nice thing Dutton has to say about Albanese. 

03 May 2025 - 05:23 AM

Albanese says he has been ‘working very hard’ and wants to do ‘better’

03 May 2025 - 05:19 AM

Albanese says he has left ‘nothing on the field’

03 May 2025 - 05:09 AM

‘I want to win today’, says Dutton

03 May 2025 - 05:05 AM

Dutton ‘humble’ after ‘hectic’ campaign

03 May 2025 - 04:59 AM

‘You should never give up’, says Dutton on election day

03 May 2025 - 04:56 AM

Where is Anthony Albanese of election day?

03 May 2025 - 04:44 AM

How to win the Federal election

03 May 2025 - 04:41 AM

Where is Peter Dutton on election day?

03 May 2025 - 04:31 AM

The one Aussie state that could hold the keys to the entire election

03 May 2025 - 04:20 AM

Final poll shows Labor on track for Federal election win

Caitlyn Rintoul

Dutton stops off at 17th petrol station

Peter Dutton has hit his 17th service station of the election campaign in outer Melbourne on polling day - pumping up his chances on the last day to appeal to voters.

The Opposition Leader has arrived in the safe Labor seat of Gorton at a Liberty station in the western suburb of Sydenham to spruik his fuel excise policy.

He appeared with campaign spokesman and frontbencher James Paterson while his local candidate John Fletcher was on polling booths trying to rally up votes.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton arrives at the Liberty Petrol Station in the Electorate of Gorton with Senator James Paterson in the ‘double trouble’ truck.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton arrives at the Liberty Petrol Station in the Electorate of Gorton with Senator James Paterson in the ‘double trouble’ truck. Credit: NCA NewsWire

Despite being a safe Labour-held electorate, Mr Paterson told journalists: “Good to be in a marginal seat”.

Mr Dutton appeared in a good mood at the station, buying cameramen who had shadowed his entire campaign chocolates and asking one where his staple hat was.

“Best hat on tour,” the leader joked.

Max Corstorphan

Polling booths now open across all of Australia

Australians are now voting across all of Australia, with Western Australia booths having just opened.

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have been out and about making their final plea to voters, both expecting victory when the votes are counted tonight.

Max Corstorphan

WATCH: Albanese, Dutton make final pitch to voters

Missed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Oposition Leader Peter Dutton’s final pitch to voters? Well, you can catch up right here.

Anthony Albanese takes us inside his 2025 federal election campaign.
The Liberal leader's last message to Australian voters as they go to the polls.
Max Corstorphan

‘No way in the world that Labor can form a majority’: Dutton

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he did not believe the polls that suggest he will lose, however, he called on older Australians to call ‘kids and grandkids’ to explain why this election is “so important”.

“I don’t accept where they’re (polls) at,” Mr Dutton said.

“We have to make sure that we are saved from a Labor-Greens Government.

“There is no way in the world that Labor can form a majority government.

“They’re trying to fool people in that regard.”

Mr Dutton said if parents or grandparents hadn’t called their younger family members yet, now was the time to pick up the phone.

Max Corstorphan

Dutton admits politics ‘comes at price’ personally

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has admitted being a leader comes at a “price”.

2GB’s Luke Grant asked the Opposition Leader if, after alleged threats against his home and family, his dad’s health scare and the “lies” Labor have thrown his way, he ever wanted to drop out.

“I am very privileged to be in the job that I am in,” Mr Dutton said.

“It comes at a price.

“I want to do everything we can to make sure we are a safe society and that we can do the best for Australian citizens.”

Elisia Seeber

Everything you need to know about the democracy sausage

For many Aussies, Federal election day just isn’t complete without indulging in a democracy sausage.

The classic bun, topped with a beef sausage, tomato sauce, mustard and onions is one of those simple ‘straya’ pleasures that just can’t be beat.

Today, primary schools and halls across the country will be packed with campaigners, pollies and voters exercising their democratic rights, as Australia decides who will be the next Prime Minister of our great country.

But the aroma of sizzling sausages and onions won’t fill the air at every polling place, so to save you from disappointment, we thought we’d point you in the right direction.

Here’s everything you need to know about the democracy sausage and where to get one.

Caitlyn Rintoul

Dutton’s campaign completes 1.5 laps of Earth’s equator

Media shadowing Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have criss-crossed the country during the 2025 Federal Election campaign.

While travelling to all jurisdictions except Canberra across 36 days, they have been on 39 flights across more than 63,000 kilometres.

That’s about equal to 1.5 laps around Earth’s equator.

The Liberal leader has campaigned in Melbourne this morning and is expected to have his election night event in Brisbane tonight.

It comes after a busy week for the leader, who has campaigned in 21 seats since Sunday.

After a 19-hour day yesterday across Adelaide, Perth and Victoria, travelling media have had an early start to follow his campaign with just hours to go until polling closes.

Max Corstorphan

Albo and Dutton break it down on social media

Taking to social media, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have made their case for why you should vote for them.

Max Corstorphan

Dutton warns of disaster while making case to become PM

Peter Dutton has had a brief chat with reporters trailing his campaign after cafe catch-ups with his Melbourne Liberal candidates, Benson Saulo in Macnamara and Tim Wilson in Goldstein.

Asked if he was “ready to run the country?”, Mr Dutton said “We’re ready to go!”

“This is an opportunity to get our country back on track.”

Mr Dutton went on to explain why he should become Australia’s 32nd Prime Minister.

“Firstly, because of our positive plan and our desire to get Australia back on track,” Mr Dutton said.

“And Australia just can’t afford three more years of this bad government. A Labor-Greens Government would be a disaster.”

Max Corstorphan

Voting booths open on Federal election day

Polling stations have now opened along the East Coast for Federal election day.

Residents in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and the ACT can now commence voting, with South Australia and the Northern Territory opening next.

Polling stations close at 6PM in each State and Territory.

Comments

Latest Edition

The Nightly cover for 08-12-2025

Latest Edition

Edition Edition 8 December 20258 December 2025

Spotlight on burgeoning deficit after Chalmers pulls plug on power rebates.