Peter DuttonandAnthony Albanesehave both woken up this morning in Sydney, following last night’s debate. But it seems like the Dutton bus has hit what you might call an early road block …
A little earlier on ABC AM, the shadow finance minister,Jane Hume, was asked about Peter Dutton’s accusation that the ABC and the Guardian are “hate media”. Hume says they aren’t words she’d use:
Pushed further on whether that kind of language is helpful, Hume says:
There’s more back and forth, and Hume is asked whether the Coalition can point to any hateful coverage in the ABC or Guardian. Hume won’t bite, and won’t provide an example, she just repeats the line that her “focus” is on “what is important to ordinary Australians”.
Clare cautious over positive polling results
Cabinet minister and Labor spokespersonJason Clareis continuing his media rounds this morning.
On RN Breakfast he’s asked about the latest polling showing Labor ahead, but he tries not to get too giddy, saying it’ll be “very, very tight” on the weekend.
Clare reflects too on last night’s debate, callingPeter Dutton“aggro”.
Asked about what the mood is like in Western Sydney, where Clare lives, he says:
Asked whether he believes there should be a minister for Western Sydney in the government, Clare argues there’s five.Sally Sarapoints out while there may be five ministers representing Western Sydney, there’s no standalone minister.
With the Magic Round on the election weekend, AEC tells fans to ‘vote before you go’
With the NRL Magic Round (1-4 May) coinciding with the 2025 federal election on Saturday 3 May, fans are being encouraged to “vote before you go” by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
In excess of 150,000 fans from outside Brisbane are expected to attend Suncorp stadium for NRL Magic Round across the four days, prompting the AEC to urge fans to vote before they travel. Early voting is available at more than 550 early voting centres open around the country.
Evan Ekin-Smyth, an AEC national spokesperson, said the AEC was working with clubs to remind fans of the voting options available to them ahead of the round.
Early voting centres are available to all voters – including interstate travellers. Early voting locations available across Brisbane include:
Brisbane city hall
West End Uniting Church
St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Indooroopilly
St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Enoggera
The Gap Uniting Church
Mcleod country golf club, Mount Ommaney
Geebung Uniting Church Hall
St Gerard Majella Church Hall, Chermside West
Sometimes pollies can be nice to one another
Occasionally we do see some nice moments between politicians who sit across party lines.
The usually fiery duo ofTanya PlibersekandBarnaby Joycedid their usual battle on Sunrise this morning, arguing about costings and the cost of living.
Plibersek argued that Labor has outlined its costings through its March budget and mid-year economic update in December, and attacked the Coalition on trying to introduce a GP co-payment under the Abbott era. Joyce fired back, claiming Labor’s debt and interest bill has skyrocketed.
But at the end of the panel, hostNat Barrchallenged them both to say something nice about each other. Plibersek says:
Joyce says:
Clare on welcome to country: ‘I don’t think any of us want to be on the same side as neo-Nazis’
There were a few standout moments in the debate last night which are put to cabinet ministerJason Clarethis morning.
On ABC News Breakfast, Clare is asked about whether welcome to country ceremonies are “overdone – a claim Peter Dutton made. Clare says he hopes the issue won’t become a political football in the final days of the election.
Clare is also asked about the PM’s assertion that Donald Trump doesn’t have a mobile phone (and therefore Albanese can’t contact Trump that way). Clare says the way leaders interact is through a “formal process”:
A bit of a pointed reference there to the US defence secretaryPete Hegseththere.
The Greens will again demand the federal government back no new coal or gas projects in the event of a minority parliament situation. The minor party says the federal government would already have the legal powers to block new projects.
The Greens are critical that Labor has backed some new fossil fuel projects, and that greenhouse gas emissions haven’t decreased by a larger amount - saying Labor’s emissions are “flatlining” compared to the previous Coalition government.
Adam Bandtwill campaign in the seat of environment ministerTanya Plibersekon Monday, criticising her role in approving new coal and gas. The Greens are pointing to research they’ve commissioned from the parliamentary library, which says that the climate minister does have the power to stop new coal and gas projects, under provisions of Labor’s own safeguard mechanism.
The library research, seen by Guardian Australia, says “it would be possible for the Minister to amend the Safeguard Rule to specify that the baseline for a class of facilities, such as coal mines, is 0 (zero) or another specified number”.
The Greens say this would allow the Labor government to block new coal and gas, which Bandt says would be one of his priorities if Labor ended up in a minority government situation and requiring Greens support.
PM Anthony Albanese has repeatedly ruled out making a deal with the Greens in the event of a hung parliament - which many published polls say is a likely outcome after Saturday’s election. Bandt said:
NSW Greens senatorMehreen Faruqiclaimed “every one of Labor’s more than 30 coal and gas approvals puts more people at risk.”
Good morning,Krishani Dhanjihere with you to take you through the FINAL week of the campaign. And when I say final, I mean finally!
There are just five days left after the leaders faced their fourth (and final) debate last night. You can read what we learned from the debatehere, and the pivot byPeter Duttonto tread back into culture war territoryhere.
Of the four debates,Anthony Albanesehas won two, Dutton has won one, and neither won the ABC debate which had no verdict.
We’ll see more reaction to that as the leaders continue their blitz across the country – which we can no doubt expect to be sped up even further – to hit as many seats across as many states as possible each day.
We’ll bring all of that to you as it comes.