Australian election 2025: Albanese, Dutton on Day 34 of May 3 election campaign

Peter Dutton is remaining positive ahead of Saturday’s election, despite polls showing the Coalition is unlikely to stop Anthony Albanese winning a second term.

Former Morrison government treasurer Josh Frydenberg has suggested the Coalition might need a 2019-style “miracle” to win.

The final Redbridge polls shows Labor ahead of the Coalition 53-47 on the two party preferred vote.

Meanwhile, YouGov’s modelling points to Anthony Albanese winning a solid majority, with 84 seats with the Coalition set to lose a net total of 11 seats to end up with just 47 in the 15-seat parliament.

Independents would hold 14, Greens three, and KAP and Centre Alliance with one each.

“This is a dramatic campaign turnaround considering our data in February pointed to a likely Coalition government,” Paul Smith, director of public data at YouGov said.

“YouGov’s MRP shows Labor will now win decisively in the outer suburban and regional marginal seats that tend to decide Australian elections.

“It was in these types of electorates where the Coalition was leading just a couple of months ago.”

The Opposition Leader has promised to visit 28 key electorates in the final week as he sought to pick up the 21 extra seats it would need to win.

He was keeping up appearances while in his own marginal seat of Dickson in northern Brisbane Thursday.

“I feel positive. I feel good about where our candidates are and we’ve selected some amazing people,” Mr Dutton told reporters.

“We’ve got a record number of doors knocked in electorates, in many cases, and this is evidenced in the research that we’ve done.

“Our candidates have got a higher name ID than some lazy, sitting Labor members.

“They have done more work, they’re more connected with their local electorate, and that’s why I think we see a lot of surprises seat by seat on Saturday night, because there is an enormous amount of work that’s been undertaken on the ground.”

In another interview on 2SM, Mr Dutton pushed back on internal criticism of his campaign, saying he had put in three years of hard policy work.

“We’ve had dozens and dozens of backwards and forwards with the PBO (parliamentary budgetary office) on different iterations of policy. We’ve got a great organisation,” he said.

“People will play games and the rest of it, but is that going to help us convey our message? No. The only thing I’m focused on, quite honestly, is how we can save our country.”

Of the election more generally, Mr Dutton insisted “it’s not over” and said “the race is on”.

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High-fives, excited screams welcome Albo

Anthony Albanese has again been mobbed by school kids on the election trail, this time in Perth.

Students appeared overjoyed at the arrival of the Prime Minister, who ran into the screaming crowd of Years 4, 5 and 6 students with glee.

Kids angled to high five Mr Albanese and jumped up and down to get a view of the special guest.

Students from Winthrop Primary School were beside themselves to get a high five with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Later, Mr Albanese also answered a few questions from the students.

James, 11, asked what was his “favourite part of being prime minister,” to which Mr Albanese said “there was nothing more important to me than education”.

“And you can work with people … me and Roger (Cook) work really closely together, and you know, it will impact on people’s lives. So it’s an incredible privilege that I have.”

Sophia, 9, wanted to know what his “daily schedule was like as prime minister,” with Mr Albanese sharing his plans to visit six states on Thursday and Friday, and jet to Adelaide later in the day.

Year 6 student Nadia, 11, got a bit more political, asking “what’s your main plan for future Australia?”

Mr Albanese said he wanted to make sure that “every single person here has the opportunities in life to be the best that they can for themselves and their families”.

Students given stern warning ahead of PM’s visit

Students at Winthrop Public School in the Perth electorate of Tangney were warned to behave ahead of a special visit from the Prime Minister.

“(We want you to be) excited, regulated, but loud and clapping and cheering,” a teacher said.

“If you can’t do that, go grab a quiet reading pack.”

The primary school students were also asked to raise their hand if “they knew the prime minister’s name,” with one student quietly piping up with: “Trump”.

Anthony Albanese, rather than Donald Trump, was visiting the school held by popular Labor MP and former dolphin trainer Sam Lim, alongside WA Premier Roger Cook and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.

Mr Lim, who entered parliament in 2022, holds the seat on a 2.8 per cent margin.

‘Con job’: Labor blasts Coalition costings

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has accused the opposition of a “costings con job”, as shadow treasurer Angus Taylor will finally reveal the party’s long awaited policy costings on Thursday, two days out from the election.

Senator Gallagher said the Coalition’s nuclear plan was the real concern and rubbished the Opposition’s promise of reducing the budget deficit by more than $10bn and lower debt by $40bn over the next four years.

“I think this is a real costings con job from the Opposition … Five million people have voted and the costings still aren’t out,” Senator Gallagher told the Today Show.

“Your nuclear reactors are going to bankrupt the budget.

“We don’t know what they’re going to cut.

“We don’t know how much nuclear is going to cost in terms of how much they’ve allocated in the budget.

“But we do know that student debt is going to rise. Housing is going to be cut and income taxes are going to go up.”

Mr Taylor and finance spokeswoman Jane Hume will release the coalition costings later on Thursday, defending the timing.

“We’re putting them (costings out at exactly the same time as Katy and the Labor Party did at the last election,” he added.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor got into a heated debate on breakfast TV.

He told the Today show that in a nutshell, the Liberal Party opposes “bad Labor spending”, but cuts would affect essential services, health or aged care.

“By bringing down our debt and bringing down the deficits we bring down interest rates, inflation, and we put the economy in our country in a position where it can grow. We can get investment, and we can get our standard of living.”

Later, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he would leave it to Mr Taylor and Senator Hume.

“You’re the leader of the party though. Shouldn’t we be able to ask you questions about the details of the costings?” a reporter asked.

“And are they inaccurate because they don’t include nuclear?”

Mr Dutton said the costings were “absolutely accurate”, and noted that Anthony Albanese did the same thing when Labor’s costings were released Monday, leaving it to Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Bennelong 1 – MP apologises for dad’s slur

The Labor MP for one of the country’s most fiercely contested seats has apologised for his father after he made a homophobic slur while handing out how to vote cards.

Jerome Laxale, who is trying to retain the ultra-marginal seat of Bennelong on Sydney’s lower north shore, issued the apology on Thursday.

“I love my Dad, but the things he said were deeply offensive and completely unacceptable. He should not have said them,” Mr Laxale said in a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald.

“I’ve spoken to him and he regrets them, and apologises unreservedly.”

Alain Laxale allegedly was videoed saying “how’s your boyfriend” and “How’s your bum, sore today?” to a Liberal volunteer handing out at an early voting booth.

Albo clashes with reporter on Laxale issue

Anthony Albanese later clashed with a reporter, who asked if the Prime Minister had spoken to Jerome Laxale about his father’s actions at the polling booth.

“I don’t talk about people’s family. I don’t like people talking about mine. I don’t talk about others,” the Prime Minister said in Perth.

“I don’t talk about people’s family. Jerome Laxale is the candidate and he’s a great candidate for Bennelong.”

The reporter again pushed the Prime Minister: “Do you condemn those comments? Do you condemn the homophobic comments?”

An angry Prime Minister replied, calling the question “offensive”.

“Seriously, people’s families should be kept out of it. It’s beneath you, beneath you to ask whether I support homophobic comments,” he said.

“Because of course I don’t. Of course I don’t. And frankly, it’s offensive. Even suggesting it.”

NED-13123 NSW Federal election keyseats

Bennelong 2 – Liberal candidate denies distancing from Dutton

The Liberal candidate in Bennelong Scott Yung has also faced his own issues, with concerns about fundraising and the latest being he appeared to be distancing himself for Liberal leader Peter Dutton.

At the pre-polling site in Ryde on Tuesday morning, Mr Yung was observed talking to a voter who said their vote would be informed by “the party, the leader and the overall policies”.

As the voter shook hands with Mr Yung, he replied: “The leader’s not going to be there forever.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was asked about the alleged comments during a press conference in his own marginal seat of Dickson in Brisbane’s north on Thursday.

“Well, I note that Scott’s denied those rumours,” Mr Dutton said.

“What he’s telling and what all our candidates are telling the Australian public is that they can’t afford three more years of Labor,” Mr Dutton said.

“Three more years means higher costs, power prices are up, gas prices are up.”

Bennelong has become notionally Liberal – with a margin of 0.4 per cent – after a major redistribution brought parts of the former seat of North Shore back into the seat once held by former prime minister John Howard.

Dutton downplays Trump influence

Peter Dutton says US President Donald Trump won’t influence Australians at Saturday’s election.

“Have Donald Trump’s character and policies damaged your position?” Brisbane ABC Radio host Steve Austin asked the opposition leader on Thursday.

“I think people are smart enough here to realise this election is between a Labor minority government and a Liberal majority or minority government,” Mr Dutton said.

“There are international factors and there always will be, but the question here is: are you better off now than you were three years ago under Anthony Albanese?”

Mr Austin pressed a little further, pointing to Mr Trump’s influence on the Canadian election. Canada’s conservatives were on track for a landslide win mere months ago, but Mr Trump’s tariff policies and repeated attacks on Canada revived the centre-left Liberal government.

“I think if people are really sort of following politics day-to-day, then they’ll take an interest in those matters. But a lot of families haven’t switched on yet,” Mr Dutton said.

“That’s the truth for many Australians. So I think what they’ll look at is what is best for their family and what is best for their country.”

Next, Mr Austin brought up Anthony Albanese’s repeated claims that his opponent is seeking to “divide” Australians and start “culture wars”.

“Are you trying to start a culture war?” he asked.

“No. Smart political analysts like yourself will be able to call this out. Part of the reason the Labor campaign has been so negative is that he can’t tell people they’re better off today,” Mr Dutton replied.

“I think Australians are smart enough to see through that. The Prime Minister can throw all the mud he likes, but the reality is we do have a chance to put Australia back on track.”

Dutton starts day in key marginal seat – his own

Peter Dutton has started the day in his own seat Dickson to host the Salvation Army Pine Rivers Red Shield Appeal.

This is an event Mr Dutton has hosted every year for almost two decades.

“The Red Shield Appeal is something that every Australian should get behind, because the Salvation Army is a trusted brand,” he told the audience at Club Pine Rivers.

“They are somebody who you know you can turn to in a time of need, even over the course of the last couple of years.

“There are many people who are working full time jobs and are turning up for food hampers and asking for assistance. Never believed that they would have to do that in their lives, and so it’s confronting, but it’s just making it all the more important that we’re here this morning to do the work that we’re doing.”

It was a speech heavy on thanks for those who had sacrificed their time (and were about to offer up some money too) for the cause.

Mr Dutton flew from Melbourne to Brisbane overnight because he didn’t want to miss the fundraiser this time.

Still, his presence in Dickson two days before the election prompted an inevitable question: is he concerned about losing his seat?

Labor’s challenger in Dickson is Ali France, who also took on Mr Dutton in 2019 and 2022. It’s the most marginal seat in Queensland, with a buffer of 1.7 per cent.

“You’re here in Dickson today. You’ve got to win back 20 seats to win government. Why are you in your seat? Are you worried about Dickson?” a reporter asked the Opposition Leader.

“I’m here for the Red Shield Appeal breakfast. I do it every year, and I clear whatever is in my diary to do it,” Mr Dutton explained.

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“I’ve been supporting the Red Shield Appeal for almost 25 years in my seat, and we’ve raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, and it was set for today. I think, probably, the organisers thought there was going to be an election in April.”

Later, another reporter asked Mr Dutton why there was such a persistent Labor vote in Dickson, alluding to its status as a perennial marginal electorate.

“If you have a look at Dickson, it had what they used to call the one term curse,” Mr Dutton noted, listing off former MPs who had only lasted a single term of parliament.

He himself has held the seat since winning it off Cheryl Kernot in 2001.

“So it has always been a marginal seat, because as you look around us, there’s a diversity of suburbs and socio demographics,” Mr Dutton said.

“In my electorate, it’s a classic example of how people are really doing it tough. There’ll be a lot of families at the moment who are going without food. That’s the reality of their lives, and I’ve worked hard to represent them.

“Dickson is always a tight seat, but I never take it for granted. I’ve always worked hard. I’ve always had and I’m always very grateful to the people in this amazing part of the world.”

Kyle corners Albo on marijuana legalisation

Anthony Albanese has used the morning to do a radio blitz, starting with shock jock Kyle Sandilands grilling the Prime Minister on whether he would support the legalisation of marijuana.

Currently in Perth, the first of his 11th-hour six state blitz, Mr Albanese called into the top-rating KIIS FM program.

“You know, in the last election, I did say I was going to vote Liberal, but this time I spoke to Dutton the other day on the air, asked him about marijuana, and he’s still down that rabbit hole of, oh, it’s the gateway drug, when there’s so much evidence that for kids with real issues like ADHD …” Sandilands said before he was interrupted by Henderson.

While Mr Albanese was asked if he’d support the legalisation of cannabis, or at least “personally” back the policy, he said it was “up to the states”.

Sandilands also asked: “Can you ever imagine you and I blowing a spliff together?”

Mr Albanese said: “No, I can’t imagine that Kyle, but each to their own”.

While Sandilands stopped short of confirming he’d vote Labor, he gave an emphatic backing of Mr Albanese.

“I’ve really paid attention to the policies and really politically, both parties are not that far apart, but some things very different,” Sandilands said.

“And I think what you’re doing is protecting nearly all of us in one way, shape or form, the very the very needy and the wealthy and everyone in the middle.”

Henderson also said Mr Albanese was “fun”.

‘Deceitful’: Price slams Wong on The Voice

Coalition indigenous affairs spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has slammed Labor as “deceitful” after Foreign Minister Penny Wong hinted there may be hope for a successful Voice referendum in the future.

Senator Wong has come under fire for comments made about the failed Voice referendum on The Betoota Advocate’s podcast earlier this week.

“I think we’ll look back on it in 10 years time, and it’ll be a bit like marriage equality, don’t you reckon?” Senator Wong said.

Senator Price told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Thursday the comments were “a kick in the guts” and showed “utter disrespect” towards Australians who voted against the Voice referendum in 2023.

“They don’t respect the outcome. They don’t respect the will of the Australian people, because deep down, as Penny said it’s inevitable, she still believes in it,” Senator Price said.

“They’re deceitful. They tell lies. They have run scare campaigns, and unfortunately, there are some Australians that are fearful and they believe their scare campaigns.”

Speaking to SBS News on Wednesday, Wong backtracked on her comments saying “the Voice is gone.”

Poll shows trouble for Dutton in final days

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are hitting the road again as the penultimate day of campaigning for Saturday’s federal election gets under way.

Both leaders are setting a frenetic pace in the final days before Australians vote, trying to visit as many marginal electorates as they can.

The final RedBridge-Accent national poll before Saturday’s election has Mr Albanese extending Labor’s two-party-preferred lead an extra point to 53 per cent to the Coalition’s 47 per cent, News Corp reported.

The Prime Minister is in Perth for his 33rd visit to the west as the country’s leader. Western Australia was the state that secured Mr Albanese a majority government at the 2022 election and he has gone all out to keep the 10 seats Labor won then.

Meanwhile, Peter Dutton will be starting the day in his hometown Brisbane. Queensland is a stronghold for the Coalition and a major issue for Labor, which holds only five of the 30 lower house seats.

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Both Mr Dutton and Mr Albanese are keen to win back the three seats the Greens surprisingly won in inner-Brisbane in 2022 – Griffith, Ryan and Brisbane.

The Opposition Leader has promised to visit 28 electorates in the final week, as opinion polls show it will be a massive task for him to pick up the 21 seats the Coalition needs to secure a majority in the 150-seat parliament.

Neither leader is expected to make any more major announcements, but the costs of those promises already made will be front and centre.

Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor will reveal the Coalition’s costings, three days after Jim Chalmers unveiled the government figures.

Despite Mr Chalmers’ criticising the opposition for not revealing their costings, he waited until the Thursday before the May 21 election in 2022 to show how Labor would fund their promises.

Both major parties have pledged eye-watering sums of taxpayer dollars to fund their election commitments, with Labor accusing the Coalition of keeping their costings secret.

Labor, on the other hand, said it had managed to “offset” its re-election campaign pledges and rustle up an extra billion dollars in savings when it released its updated costings on Monday.

Mr Taylor has promised the Coalition’s costings would find the savings needed.

More than four million Australians have voted, with early voting ending on Friday before most people head to polling booths on Saturday.

More to come