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Anthony Albanese is arguing that all the measures Peter Dutton is putting forward to address cost of living issues are “all temporary.”
They disappear in a year’s time. The difference between that and what we’re putting forward is that ours are permanent. Permanent tax cuts … We need permanent change that makes a real difference to the living standards of Australians.
Dutton said that “yes, it will take us time to clean up Labor’s mess,” but continued:
But in the interim, [there is that] immediate support – that 25c a litre cut in petrol that can be provided to help people with the bills that they’re facing now, and also the $1,200.
What will each leader do from Sunday to make Australian’s lives easier?
Anthony Albanese responded first, saying the government had “already acted on cost of living, but we know 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. That’s why we’ll continue to support real wage growth … We’ve also got the plans for cheaper medicines … Energy bill relief. The cheaper childcare policy that has benefited families by $2,700.
Peter Dutton said he wanted to provide “immediate relief”, pointing to the Coalition’s fuel excise policy.
It will save about $14 every time you fill up your tank. That’s the immediate assistance. Secondly, $1,200 back by way of a tax rebate. That will help people deal with Labor’s cost-of-living crisis.
The opposition leader argued that Albanese offers “a Band-Aid on a bullet wound”. He said the Coalition’s long-term plan is to “fix up the energy crisis because that’s what’s driven up the cost of … everything across the economy.”
Anthony Albanese makes opening remarks
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, was second to make his opening statement. He said that Australians have a “real choice this Saturday” to “continue building Australia’s future, or go back to the past”.
Labor has a real plan for cost-of-living support today, while building with investment for tomorrow. Tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer, strengthening Medicare … Making more things here in Australia, 20% cut in student debt, and a 5% deposit for first home owners.
We know that we live in very uncertain times and that’s why we need certainty, and during this campaign, we have put forward clear, decisive policies.
The PM argued that the opposition have “chopped and changed” throughout the campaign.
Australians deserve certainty. What we will deliver is just that.
Peter Dutton makes opening remarks
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, is making his opening remarks, saying this election is “all about who can best manage the Australian economy”.
If we can manage the economy well, it means we can bring inflation down, we can help families with the cost-of-living crisis that this government’s created … There are very few, if any, Australians I have met over the course of the last three years who can say they are better off under this prime minister’s watch.
Dutton said he “believe[s] 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 debate begins
The final leaders’ debate of the election campaign has now kicked off at Seven’s studios in Sydney.
Host Natalie Barr has just outlined the rules of the debate (as we outlined earlier).
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are standing at opposite podiums, with moderator Mark Riley in the middle.
What you missed from the previous leaders’ debates
There have already been three leaders’ debates in this federal election season, hosted by Sky News, ABC and Nine respectively.
The first leaders’ debate between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton was held on 8 April, with a treasurers’ debate between Jim Chalmers and Angus Taylor and an energy debate between Chris Bowen and Ted O’Brien that same week.
Neither Albanese nor Dutton made a major misstep in the Sky News forum held in western Sydney, where Albanese was voted the winner from a poll of 100 undecided voters – with 44 votes to Dutton’s 35 (21 were undecided).
The second debate, on the ABC, was held on 16 April, with the opposition leader responding, when asked if climate change fallout was getting worse, that he would “let scientists pass that judgment”. Dutton later clarified that he believed in climate change. Albanese denied claims his government had modelled the impact of any change to negative gearing, before later clarifying that the modelling did exist and that it wasn’t commissioned by his team. No winner was announced.
The third debate was held by Channel 9 on 22 April, with the most animated jousting coming when both leaders were invited to rebuff the “biggest lie” their opponent had pushed during the campaign. Dutton accused Albanese of mounting a scare campaign over Medicare funding, while the prime minister accused him in return of “desperation”. The three Nine Entertainment journalists who questioned the leaders declared Dutton to have won “by a nose” (2-1).
Who is moderating tonight’s debate and what are the rules?
Tonight’s debate will be hosted by Sunrise’s Natalie Barr and moderated by 7News political editor Mark Riley. Here are the ground rules for the showdown:
The debate will run for one hour.
Both leaders will have one uninterrupted minute to make their opening and closing statements.
A 30-second countdown timer will be on-screen to keep everything on track but microphones will stay on with no interruptions.
The debate will centre on six key questions for each leader before going into a “rapid-fire” round where Albanese and Dutton will give quick yes/no or short answers.
Viewer-submitted questions will also be included, gathered from both the broadcast and 7News’ online audiences.
Each leader will have one minute to respond to each of the first six questions, with the order of responses rotating to ensure fairness.
Albanese and Dutton will then face off for four minutes and will be able to directly ask each other questions – all moderated by Riley.
The leaders will then close the debate with a one-minute final pitch to voters.
No winner will be declared as part of the debate broadcast, however a show afterwards – The Verdict – will decide a winner based on a studio audience of 60 undecided voters. They have been independently selected by Roy Morgan.
Welcome to the final leaders' debate
Emily Wind
Good evening, and welcome to the final leaders’ debate of the federal election campaign, with less than a week to go until polling day. I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll be taking you through all of the action tonight.
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton will go head-to-head in one more televised debate on 7News, kicking off just after 8pm AEST tonight.
The showdown will be broadcast on Seven’s free-to-air channel as well as on catch-up service 7plus. Viewers can also stream it on 7NEWS.com.au. We will also be bringing you all the highlights from the debate right here on our live blog.
The debate will be moderated by 7News’ political editor, Mark Riley, and hosted at Seven’s studios in Sydney.
There will be no winner declared as part of the debate broadcast – instead, a studio audience of 60 undecided voters will give their verdicts post-debate. We’ll have more details on how the debate will play out shortly.
