Federal election 2025 leaders debate four recap: Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton face off for last time

The debate has turned to housing, moderator Mark Riley has opened the questioning by bringing up the leaders’ property history and asking if they understand what Australians wanting to get into the market go through.

“Mr Albanese, you recently bought a $4.3 million beachside house. Mr Dutton, you’ve had $30 million in properties over your life. We can all agree housing is not an issue for you but for a lot of Australians. What does the Australian dream look like today for an average Australian in the property market?” Riley asked.

Mr Albanese is asked what he makes of the Coalition’s petrol excise cut, to which he reminds voters this isn’t a new policy - Scott Morrison did it before the 2022 election and it disappeared.

Mark Riley interjects that Labor’s household energy rebate disappears before it does, to which Mr Albanese reminds voters the Coalition plans to hike income taxes.

He says Labor has shown it has the ability to navigate through the cost-of-living and energy crisis in a “mature way”.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has been questioned about if his suite of cost of living policies are just sugar hits to get him over the line with voters at the May 3 poll.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has slammed Mr Dutton for the temporary nature of his election sweeteners indicating they are a “Ponzi scheme”.

Mr Dutton responded by turning the finger at Mr Albanese and saying he’s been lying about making it easier for Australians to get by.

“The Prime Minister looked the Australian people in the eye before the last election and on 97 occasions said power prices would come down by $275,” he said.

“They’ve gone up by $1300.”

The second question to the leaders is to the heart of cost-of-living concerns Australias are facing.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opened the questioning to spruik what he claims is a good record for Labor over the past three years.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton started his answer to moderator Mark Riley’s question “what will you offer to families in the way of cost-of-living relief from Sunday?” by promoting his fuel excise policy to reduce the bill at the bowser.

“We want to provide immediate relief to Australian families and that’s through a cut in the petrol tax, by 25c a litre - for petrol and diesel,” he said.

“It will save about $14 every time you fill up your tank. That’s the immediate assistance.”

He said from tradies to families, the fuel excise cut will help across the economy.

“Secondly, $1,200 back by way of a tax rebate. That will help people deal with Labor’s cost-of-living crisis,” he said.,

“But the Prime Minister promises a bandaid on a bullet wound. The damage that’s been done over the last three years is significant.”

The first question is about cost-of-living, specifically what the two parties will do to make people’s lives easier from Sunday.

Mr Albanese speaks first, he says he knows how tough it is for people out there, and while “Labor has done a lot already”, he says there is more to do.

“That’s why we’ll deliver an increased tax cut, not just one, but two tax cuts in the next term,” he said.

“That’s why we’ll continue to support real wage growth, real wages have grown five quarters in a row.

“We’ve also got the plans for cheaper medicines, $25, we’ve brought the cost down. Energy bill relief.

“The cheaper childcare policy that has benefitted families by $2,700. We will continue to address those cost-of-living measures while getting inflation down.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has started his opening statement by reminding Australians they have a “real choice” this Saturday, reminding voters they have a choice between continuing to build or “go back to the past”.

He gives his cost-of-living pitch, rattling off a list of policies, including the new 1800 Medicare phone service, the tax cuts, student debt cuts, first home ownership assistance, and strengthening Medicare.

“During this campaign, we have put forward clear, decisive policies. The opposition have chopped and changed, and Australians deserve certainty,” he said.

Peter Dutton has won the toss and elected to speak first.

The opposition leader has opened by describing the Coalition as the best economic managers. He asked voters whether they’ve been better off over the past three years.

“This election is all about who can best manage the Australian economy,” he started.

“We live in the best country in the world but we do know that many families are doing it tough.

“As we’ve moved around the country we’ve spoken to families literally in tears.

“They can’t afford to put food on the table.

“They’ve stopped the registration renewal on their motor vehicle or on their house.

“They have had a tough three years under this Government.

“We need to make sure our country can be kept safe and we need strong leadership in a very uncertain world to make sure that we can keep our country safe, and I believe very strongly that at this election, Australians will vote for change.

“There is a better way to manage our economy and to manage our national security, and that’s exactly what I have on offer at this election.”

The Final Showdown Leaders’ Debate on 7NEWS marks the fourth for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton on the campaign trail.

The debate will be moderated by 7NEWS political editor Mark Riley and hosted by Sunrise’s Natalie Barr.

There will be 60 undecided voters attending the live in-studio debate who will help choose the winner.

Tonight’s fourth leaders debate comes after the Sky News People’s Forum on April 8, the second debate was hosted by ABC on Wednesday, April 16 and third held by Channel Nine on Tuesday, April 22.

Just minutes ahead of the final leaders debate, the latest Newspoll results show that Labor has maintained its lead over the Coalition.

But despite the good news for the Albanese Government, the numbers project a hung parliament.

Read the full story here.

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the fourth and final leaders debate of the 2025 Federal election.

Stay with us as we bring you every blow in this debate, which is being held at Channel 7’s studios in Sydney.

The debate will kick off from 8pm AEST.