Australia election 2025 live: Dutton makes 15th petrol station stop of campaign; Albanese takes aim at ‘raging’ Coalition in Press Club address | Australian politics
Dutton visits 15th petrol station of campaign
Josh Butler
Peter Dutton continues his campaign swing through Melbourne’s suburbs, and you’ll never guess where the bus has stopped now.
That’s right, we’re now at Dutton’s 15th petrol station photo-op of the campaign – that’s 15 – at a truck stop in Aston. Dutton’s plan to cut the fuel excise by 25 cents per litre is getting a major airing in his campaign material, the backdrops of his press conferences, and his photo opportunities.
More to come shortly, but you can bet that he’ll fill up the tank of a Liberal campaign vehicle, then go inside and buy a few snacks from the shop – just like he’s done for the previous 14 petrol station visits.
The truck stop was playing Abba’s “SOS” over the stereo when the media bus pulled up.
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Updated at 01.26 EDT
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Krishani Dhanji
Thank you all for joining me on the blog today, I’ll leave you with the fabulous Kate Lyons to steer you through the rest of the afternoon.
I’ll see you back here bright and early tomorrow morning!
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Voting 101: How do you actually vote on election day? – video
More than four million of you have already voted, but that means there are still approximately 14-ish million people who need to head to the ballot box very soon.
So, for anyone who needs an introduction or refresher on what happens on election day, and what the ballots all mean, Matilda Boseley has you covered:
Voting 101: How do you actually vote on election day? – videoShare
Updated at 01.32 EDT
Turnbull reiterates call for Aukus ‘backup plan’
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who’s spent much time in the public eye recently criticising the Aukus deal, is on the ABC, again calling for Australia to consider a backup plan.
Turnbull calls it a “terrible” deal, and says going back to the French would be “ideal”, though pretty difficult.
Now for anyone who’s fuzzy on the details, Turnbull had originally negotiated a deal for diesel (rather than nuclear) submarines with France.
That then got torpedoed by his Liberal successor, Scott Morrison, who negotiated the Aukus agreement for nuclear subs with the US and UK.
Turnbull says:
French subs would be one [alternative], but I think it’d be very hard to execute … I think that would be the ideal plan, but execution difficulty, probably 11 out of 10. But I think the other alternatives are ones that involve no submarines.
Turnbull later clarifies that he’s not saying Australia should “pull out” of Aukus, but that Australia could be faced with a decade or more of having no submarines if the US struggles to increase its building of submarines.
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Updated at 01.27 EDT
Dutton visits 15th petrol station of campaign
Josh Butler
Peter Dutton continues his campaign swing through Melbourne’s suburbs, and you’ll never guess where the bus has stopped now.
That’s right, we’re now at Dutton’s 15th petrol station photo-op of the campaign – that’s 15 – at a truck stop in Aston. Dutton’s plan to cut the fuel excise by 25 cents per litre is getting a major airing in his campaign material, the backdrops of his press conferences, and his photo opportunities.
More to come shortly, but you can bet that he’ll fill up the tank of a Liberal campaign vehicle, then go inside and buy a few snacks from the shop – just like he’s done for the previous 14 petrol station visits.
The truck stop was playing Abba’s “SOS” over the stereo when the media bus pulled up.
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Updated at 01.26 EDT
One Nation leader says Dutton needs a ‘backbone’
Pauline Hanson says she trusts Peter Dutton but he lacks a backbone, after her One Nation party made a preference deal with the Liberals.
Hanson told 2GB radio earlier today that Dutton has been “very lax” in getting his message to voters.
People don’t warm to Peter Dutton, he’s been very lax in getting his message across.
I like him, he has got fantastic principles and policies and I do trust him … but the fact is that he’s sitting on the fence. I wish he’d come out with a backbone and be the leader that people want, and stand up and stop back-pedalling.
But Coalition strategists have told Guardian Australia that Dutton’s move to put One Nation above Labor and other parties on some how-to-vote cards could damage support in metropolitan and inner-city areas.
You can read more on that report from Tom McIlroy here:
Pauline Hanson. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 01.10 EDT
Dutton campaign makes a pit stop at Melbourne patisserie
The next stop in the frenetic final week of Peter Dutton’s campaign is Montano’s, a patisserie and cafe in the seat of Aston in outer-eastern Melbourne, write reporters on the campaign trail.
Liberals are trying to regain the seat after it was sensationally won by Labor at a 2023 byelection, securing a margin of 3.6%.
Liberal candidate Manny Cicchiello joined the opposition leader on Wednesday afternoon with Victorian Liberal senator Sarah Henderson.
Arriving at the patisserie, Dutton received a mixed reception with one passerby muttering “here comes the big potato” while a car tooted its horn in support driving past.
Inside, Dutton and his wife, Kirilly, greeted the proprietors, Helen and Nick Montano, who have operated the business for almost 10 years.
The group went behind a refrigerated display case filled with cakes, tarts and other treats, with Dutton proceeding to stuff two cannolis, a chocolate eclair, a jam donut and piece of vanilla slice into a takeaway container.
“We need a bigger box,” Dutton remarked, prompting Henderson to later comment: “It’ll be as sweet as victory on Saturday.”
In a now-familiar routine, Dutton then quizzed the pair of small business owners about the tough operating environment facing their cafe.
“It’s been really tough,” Montana replied, saying that the elevated cost of living had dented demand from local consumers. “Everyone is spending money on their mortgages, on their bills,” she said.
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Updated at 01.02 EDT
The campaign trail doesn’t often follow fashion, but it seems Peter Dutton’s tie has drawn a little attention today.
You can see in the photo below, Dutton is sporting a tie by luxury menswear label (and favourite designer of former Labor PM Paul Keating) Zegna.
Peter Dutton drinks tea with Chinese community leaders in Glen Waverley. Photograph: Dan Peled/Getty Images
That tie doesn’t seem to be on the Australian site (it is available in Hong Kong), but similar silk ties retail for about $605.
One keen-eyed reporter noticed the designer accessory during Dutton’s earlier presser at a Melbourne charity. At the end they yelled out, “Mr Dutton, what’s on your tie?”, but the opposition leader walked away.
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Updated at 00.39 EDT
Dutton has yum cha in Chisholm in bid to woo Chinese Australian voters
While Albanese’s been at the National Press Club, Peter Dutton has been in the seat of Chisholm, which the Liberal party is hoping to win back from Labor.
Trying to woo the significant population of Chinese Australians in the area, Dutton had some yum cha.
Leader of the opposition, Peter Dutton, at a Chinese restaurant in Glen Waverley, Melbourne. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPPeter Dutton meets with Chinese community leaders alongside Katie Allen, the Liberal candidate for Chisholm, and wife Kirilly Dutton. Photograph: Dan Peled/Getty Images
The Liberal party suffered backlash from the Chinese community in areas like Chisholm, with its hawkish stance on China.
And particularly over its language on China, following the outbreak of Covid-19. You can have a bit more of a read of that here.
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Updated at 00.33 EDT
Benita Kolovos
Victorian premier Jacinta Allan weighs in on federal election
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has held a press conference at Melbourne Museum to mark the opening of the new Lego Star Wars exhibit.
It’s the first press conference she has held in a week and may be her last before the federal election, so she has been asked how she thinks the poll will go. Federal Labor had been very concerned early in the campaign that her government’s unpopularity would hurt their chances in the state but have been more optimistic recently.
Allan says:
Victorians are weighing up their choices, a choice between a Labor government that has invested significantly in rebuilding a GP system that was brought to its knees by a Peter Dutton Liberal National outfit that cut into our health system, that cut into our GP system, that cut into infrastructure here in Victoria and has said they would do it all over again.
Asked whether she got the impression voters were differentiating between state and federal Labor, she said “people weigh each election on its merits”. Allan went on:
Every election is a point in time … It’s a very special thing that we can live in a democracy, and we all can equally exercise our right to vote, have our voice and have our say on what is important.
As for the rumours federal Labor had requested she lay low in recent weeks, Allan said she had not received any directive then talked reporters through her recent commitments.
It’s been a very busy program.
Victorian premier Jacinta Allan. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAPShare
Updated at 00.33 EDT
PM shoots down idea of negotiating deal with crossbench in event of hung parliament
Our reporter Dan Jervis-Bardy asks the PM whether Labor – in the context of global uncertainty – would consider negotiating a deal with the crossbench in the event of a hung parliament, rather than negotiating on a legislation-by-legislation basis.
Albanese gives him a one word answer, “No”.
Dan asks him to elaborate.
I’ve elaborated every time, as I did before the 2022 election. I was asked the same thing. I mean I do find it quite ironic that a group called “the Coalition” are speaking about majority government.
There’s more back and forth on getting supply and confidence to govern in a hung parliament.
If no party wins an overall majority, the Coalition and Labor will look to members of the crossbench to guarantee “confidence and supply” (and you can read more about that here).
Albanese says again that he’s “campaigning for a majority”.
Another journo gets the final question, asking whether Albanese would undertake a review of Aukus in the event of a hung parliament, which several crossbenchers have been calling for.
Albanese gives another one-word answer, “No”.
And that ends his National Press Club address.
Albanese at the National Press Club in Canberra. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 00.01 EDT
Albanese asked about endorsement by Tiger King’s Joe Exotic
Celebrity endorsements aren’t particularly common in Australian politics, and this one’s come right out of the blue.
The Tiger King’s Joe Exotic – who is currently in jail for murder – has taken to social media to tell his supporters to vote for Albanese:
Keep Australia safe and awesome. All of my friends in Australia vote for @albomp
A journalist asks Albanese how he feels about that endorsement … cue lots of laughter and some confused looks in the audience.
“Good to see some levity!” Albanese says.
I have, ah, a very passionate, ah, support for one particular animal – Toto – and I’m looking forward to voting with her on Saturday.
The journalist follows up, asking, “No payment to the Tiger King”? Albanese replies:
He’s in jail. Isn’t that the question? I wasn’t even aware of I think the point of that question was to ask the question, rather than to get a serious answer, I hope.
And Albanese adds that wasn’t a criticism of the questions. It’s nice to have something to chuckle at.
Joe Exotic with one of his tigers. Photograph: Netflix US/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 23.53 EDT
Albanese won’t revisit EV tax break
While the Coalition has promised to repeal the tax break for electric vehicles (after previously saying they wouldn’t change the policy), Albanese is asked by Andrew Probyn whether Labor would consider changes when it costs the country half a billion dollars a year.
Albanese says the reason it costs so much is because it’s been “very successful”.
One of the reasons why it costs more is that it’s been very successful. Is that more people are participating in it. And it was designed to support lowering our emissions by addressing a change which is occurring.
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Updated at 23.42 EDT
Don’t ‘verbal’ the foreign minister when she’s in the room, says Albanese
Chloe Bouras asks the PM about Penny Wong’s comments to the Betoota Advocate podcast on the voice referendum.
She says: “Wong seemed to suggest it may not be gone for ever. Which is it? Where to here on recognition and reconciliation? Do you agree with the comparison to marriage equality?”
Anthony Albanese says that’s not what Wong said “at all”.
She’s right here, so probably not a great idea to verbal Penny Wong while she’s sitting there.
Chuckling, he adds:
I’ll just give you that tip for free. Ask any of the cabinet colleagues – they’ll explain to you why it’s a bad idea.
To the substance of the question:
We supported a voice to parliament. I did it out of conviction. Not out of convenience. It’s not easy to win a referendum in this country …
We put it to the Australian people, which was the gracious request. I think that was something I said I would do, and we did. We also said we would respect the outcome, and we have. What we are now working towards is practical reconciliation.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, listens to Anthony Albanese address the National Press Club on Wednesday. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPShare
Updated at 00.35 EDT
PM asked about Labor’s ‘Mediscare’ campaign against Dutton
Mark Riley asks whether the PM believes that voters are better off than they were three years ago.
It’s a line the opposition has been using has made a centrepiece of their attack on Labor.
Albanese starts off saying that Australians would be “worse off” under Dutton, but then says Australians are looking forward.
Just as people vote either this week or on Saturday, what they’ll consider is who has the best offer for them in three years’ time.
There’s been plenty of attack on the opposition in his address, and in his answers to journalists’ questions.
Albanese has been accused of using a “Mediscare” campaign against the Coalition, and Andrew Clennell asks why Albanese has had to “exaggerate” in this campaign.
Just days ago, he [Dutton] was saying that Medicare is not sustainable. Sussan Ley has stood up in the parliament and spoken about the Liberal party doesn’t value things which are free. Medicare’s free. Free Tafe.
Clennell pushes back, asking if Albanese is saying that Dutton will abolish Medicare. Albanese says:
He tried to abolish bulk billing. He tried, and then he tried, also, to introduce a tax – a payment – every time people visited a hospital.
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Updated at 23.39 EDT
PM asked about tax treatment of trusts
Albanese is drawn back to the question of increasing the tax base by Phil Coorey.
Coorey says it’s a “known secret” Treasury wants to go after the tax treatment of trusts – and was something Labor looked at in 2019. Is that something Albanese would consider after the election?
The PM starts the answer by talking about lower taxes, which is the opposite of increasing the tax base.
After a pushback, Albanese then tries to turn the attention back to the Coalition by accusing them of not having released their costings, while saying Labor’s plan is fully costed.
What about the proposed changes to tax on superannuation that the government tried to legislate in this term, asks Tom Connell.
Albanese won’t bite on that either, and says Labor’s costings are “out there”.
Sarah Ison also follows up with a question on superannuation taxation reforms, asking whether Labor would pursue a “compromised version” to replace taxing unrealised capital gains with a higher tax base rate for super accounts more than $3m.
Albanese says he’s not changing Labor policy at the press club.
We have our policy. We’ve had legislation. It’s been before the parliament. That’s our policy.
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Updated at 23.25 EDT
Albanese says Australia has ‘very strong’ regional trade relationships
Laura Tingle asks Albanese whether – in the current climate of global uncertainty – should Australia be joining a regional free trade bloc?
Albanese says Australia has “very strong trade relationships” in the region, which he says his government has built on.
He name checks Indian PM Narendra Modi, and the premier of China as having visited Australia.
We have built up really significant economic relationships, and what will be the third-largest economy in the world as well. We’ve improved our economic partnership with India. I think there’s a great deal in which that can grow. The US tariffs need to be put into perspective. Exports to the United States are under 5% of our total exports.
Tom Connell throws in a follow-up, asking whether we need a “refresh” following Donald Trump’s second ascendancy to power.
Albanese says:
You don’t need a refresh to tell any Labor prime minister, the party of John Curtin, that we need to defend ourselves.
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Updated at 23.13 EDT
PM sidesteps question on how to increase the taxation base
Moving on to the economy, Michelle Grattan asks what the government will do over the next decade to increase the taxation base.
The budget is looking at deficits over the next decade.
Albanese spruiks his “top-up” tax cuts to decrease the tax rate for the $18,200 to $45,000 tax bracket.
You’ll note that won’t increase the taxation base but decrease it, so will Albanese reveal whether there are other taxes or revenue raising measures that are being considered?
He won’t, and repeats the line that the Coalition will undo those top-up tax cuts.
We know that the Coalition is saying that they’ll jack up income taxes and they’ll undo that.
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Updated at 23.06 EDT
PM questioned about bulk billing rates
The first question from journalist Tom Connell asks about bulk billing and says the Australian Medical Association and RACGP have said they can’t see rates increasing to 90% by 2030. Connell asks how much bulk billing will increase by 2028.
Albanese says he knows the AMA “haven’t always been great fans” of Medicare, and says he’s not “shocked” that not all doctors are on board.
He won’t say a specific percentage point that bulk billing will reach by 2028, just that the aim is to achieve 90% by 2030.
Doctors under our scheme will go from getting – if they’re in a fully bulk-billed clinic, will go from earning around about $280,000 to above $400,000. The modelling that we’ve done shows that it will be in their interests to have fully bulk-billed service and throughout the country.
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Updated at 23.04 EDT
Australia needs stability ‘at a time of global uncertainty’: Albanese
Hot off the heels of Canada’s progressive Liberal party winning government, Albanese makes the case for stability with Labor at a time of global uncertainty.
In times of global economic uncertainty that is the stable and responsible approach that our people deserve and our nation needs. At a time of global uncertainty, when so much in the world is unpredictable, Australians can be sure of where Labor stands and what Labor stands for.
Albanese has spent some time blaming the Coalition for their record in government.
He then takes aim at the opposition over their criticism and attacks on Labor.
The Liberals and Nationals have spent three years raging about problems that their decade in office created.
The Liberals have not learned, they have not changed.
Anthony Albanese lashes out at the Coalition’s record in government. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 22.49 EDT
