Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton have clashed over election lies in their third debate.
Nine's "Great Debate" was moderated by A Current Affair host Ally Langdon, with questions chosen by a panel of journalists who also included viewer perspectives.
On the panel were Deb Knight from Sydney's 2GB radio, Phil Coorey of the Australian Financial Review, and Nine News' chief political editor Charles Croucher.
The leaders had 60 seconds each to answer the questions.
What have we learned?
The biggest clash of the debate came after the leaders were asked about the told about them, with Dutton pointing to historical claims about Liberal budget cuts. He said the PM could not "lie straight in bed". Albanese said the "personal abuse" was a sign of desperation.
Dutton underscored his commitment to , even though it’s been a muted campaign talking point and there have been no visits to nuclear sites.
The budget the Coalition would rely upon to pay for policies are still under wraps. Dutton says he can’t outline the budget from Opposition. This is likely to feed into Labor’s campaign talking point about the unknown cuts the Coalition won’t reveal to voters.
Albanese has confronted the campaign takedown from the opposition that he is . “Kindness isn’t a weakness,” he says.
Peter Dutton says he’s been hardened by his time as a police officer, in response to a question about whether he has a very "black and white" view of the world.
The prime minister says it would have been too hard to means test the energy rebates, even though they go to billionaires.
The Opposition leader has defended the , at a time when petrol prices are actually much cheaper.
Dutton has declined to say which visa categories his government would target to secure migration cuts, though SBS has managed to confirm .
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton were asked about their public image during the debate. Source: AAP / James Brickwood
Dutton said he admired Albanese’s family and that he was able to push AUKUS through caucus while he was opposition leader. The prime minister is also impressed by Dutton’s family and his longevity in the seat he holds by a thin margin.
Follow how the debate unfolded below.
Who was the winner?
The esteemed panel of Nine journalists have delivered their verdict, and Dutton was proclaimed the winner 2-1. But they did say he was coming off a lower base from previous debate performances.
Leaders deliver their final statements
Dutton described the election as a "sliding doors moment" for Australia.
He said he wants to cut migration to "restore the dream of home ownership", cut the fuel tax by 0.25 per litre, give a $1,200 tax rebate, bring down inflation and interest and grow the economy.
"We need to also make sure that at this election, we elect a prime minister who has strength of character and the ability to stand up for our country in a very uncertain time," he said.
"And I believe with my experience, I have the ability to say to the Australian people that I can lead our country through an uncertain time, rebuild the economy and help get the cost of living pressures down so that families can afford to live again."
In response, Albanese said Labor would strengthen Medicare, make more in Australia, and build up education. He also cited his record of building relationships with the US, the UK, and Australia's Pacific neighbours.
"This is a time to build Australia's future, not to cut," he said.
What are three nice things about each other?
We've reached the tail end of the debate and the leaders are asked to name three nice things about each other.
The prime minister says Dutton is "punching way above his weight" with wife, Kirilly. He also mentions Dutton's longevity in parliament, and the fact that during that time he has always held on to a very marginal seat in Dickson.
The Opposition leader feels the same way, says he "admires" both Albanese's son Nathan and partner Jodie Haydon, and acknowledges the PM's support for AUKUS and getting the Labor caucus to agree to it.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton during the third leaders' debate of the 2025 federal election campaign in Sydney, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Source: AAP / James Brickwood
Fact checks on energy plans
Now for one of the biggest points of policy difference: energy. The Opposition leader is asked about his nuclear power policy, which he has seldom mentioned during the election campaign.
"I haven't committed to for votes. I committed to it because it's in the best interest of our country," Dutton says.
"And when you look at the top 20 economies in the world, Australia is the only one that hasn't embraced or hasn't signed up to already has nuclear power."
(Live fact check: Six G20 countries do not generate any nuclear power. Three of those do not consume it either.)
Dutton then fact checks the prime minister on his 2022 election pledge to reduce power bills by $275 per year.
"We can't pretend that — as the prime minister and Chris Bowen keep talking about — that wind is free and solar is free. If that were the case, why [have] power bills gone up by $1,300?"
Albanese dismisses the comments.
"If nuclear stacked up, there'd be a few of people saying: 'we think this is a good idea, we're prepared to invest our own dollars in it.' Instead, taxpayers are going to pay for it, and in the Opposition's own figures [which say it will be cheaper] they assess a 40 per cent smaller economy. That means less jobs, less investment."
The policies not being talked about
Questions have turned to the issues not being talked about by either of the major parties.
Albanese is asked about aged care, pensioners, and older Australians.
He says his government "inherited a mess" in aged care, and highlights reforms including increasing nursing home staff and wage increased for the aged care workforce.
"We'll continue to talk about aged care because we're very proud of what we have been able to achieve in such a short period of time," he said.
Dutton is asked about whether he would consider increasing base payments for welfare recipients.
"I understand that ... people are in a very difficult situation and would want to see that that increase," he said.
"I don't believe that our economy, that our budget, can afford to do that at the moment."
Is the government spending too much?
The leaders are asked about fiscal responsibility, with economists critical that both major parties' policies bake in more structural spending into the national budget, which is already under significant pressure.
Dutton begins.
"It's no coincidence that this government delivered two surpluses right at the start of their term, and that every year into the future, under their economic projections, it's deficits as far as the eye can see."
"What they inherited from us allowed them to go into two years of surplus. They've blown that money, and now, of course, they've made economic decisions, which have thrust us into deficits for many years to come."
Albanese accuses the Opposition leader of promising fiscal restraint without revealing how he'd do it.
"There'll be cuts afterwards. He's just confirmed that, but they won't tell you what they are. Now, that's just not being fair dinkum," he said.
"He needs to come up with where the cuts will be, because on top of everything else, there's no plan for how they pay for their nuclear reactor plan, which will cost hundreds of billions of dollars."
Anthony Albanese says the Coalition will make cuts to pay for its nuclear plan. Source: AAP / James Brickwood
Liberal plans to make budget cuts
Dutton says the government has squandered a commodities windfall and that rising interest rates are a home-grown problem of the government's making.
"The Prime Minister spoke before about interest rates coming back. They've come back by 0.25 of 1 per cent, and they're not looking like they're coming back any time soon unless they unless they throw us into a recession.
"So we will look at government expenditure ... we'll see where the government's wasting money."
Albanese says Dutton had said recession was "inevitable".
"Said that was the only way the interest rates would come down. He verballed the Reserve Bank," Albanese says.
"PM let me tell you, you are loose," Dutton retorts.
Leaders asked about their public image
After a recent News Poll suggested 45 per cent of voters would not vote for the Coalition due to the Opposition leader's personality, Peter Dutton is asked about his public image, and whether his time as a police officer has led him to view the world in "black and white."
"I've always been serious in my public life as a police officer, I've been in parliament in protecting people, working with children in particular, and that's been the focus of much of my work in parliament."
"I hope what it says to people is that I'm absolutely determined and passionate about getting the best possible position to keeping us safe, to keeping the economy running well," he said.
Peter Dutton was asked about his public image and whether he viewed the world in "black and white". Source: AAP / James Brickwood
"It's just rhetoric. Kindness isn't weakness. Kindness is something I was raised with," he said.
"For example, on China. We have repaired the relationship without compromising any of Australia's values.
"You don't get to be prime minister and to lead the Labor Party without a toughness."
'What makes you think you have the temperament'?
On foreign policy, Dutton is asked "what makes you think you have the temperament and the relationships around our region to improve the situation for the allies in Australia?"
This is in response to Dutton's assertion last week that Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto had "confirmed" a report that Russia was seeking access to a military base in Indonesia — a point the Opposition leader eventually conceded was a "mistake."
"I bring more experience to this job than any predecessor. I've been the defence minister of our country, the home affairs minister, the immigration minister," Dutton says.
"I've got good relationships in the United States, in the United Kingdom, in Canada, in Japan, and that has built up over a period of time. And I'm very proud of the connections globally that I have."
The prime minister is in turn asked what he believes is the biggest threat to Australia.
"Complacency and an uncertain world," Albanese begins.
"This is the last time we'd want to take a risk. Peter spoke about his long experience, and that's true, but that's the problem. Every Pacific leader remembers him joking about water lapping at their doors."
Petrol bowser pressure
Dutton is pressed on his promise to save motorists 25 cents a litre — by halving the fuel tax excise for 12 months.
The policy is estimated to cost $6 billion to the budget bottom line.
He’s asked if it’s worth it or whether could that money be spent in better ways.
Dutton doesn’t think so saying it would help cut costs across the economy.
Peter Dutton promotes his fuel excise cut at a petrol station in Melbourne. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Focus turns to housing
The prime minister is asked: "Will your plans really see a young couple on an average wage be able to afford to buy a home if prices keep rising the way they are?"
Albanese answers: "Yes they will ... instead of families continuing to try and save to get to that 20 per cent deposit — and they keep going backwards — they never get there, because house prices keep increasing."
He points to his scheme to allow first home buyers to buy with a 5 per cent deposit.
"That's just one way that we are doing that. The second, of course, is reserving 100,000 homes for first home buyers," he says.
"And the third is our Help to Buy scheme... which is a shared equity scheme."
Dutton has ruled out changes to capital gains tax discounts and raises the possibility of Labor getting rid of negative gearing.
"Labor has always wanted to end negative gearing, which would be a disaster for people who are saving for a rental property to try and support themselves in retirement or to have a house that they might give to one of their kids when they pass away," he says.
Albanese rejects this: "The problem for the Coalition is that they said that prior to the last election, and there have been no changes to negative gearing or capital gains tax, the proof is in the pudding."
Last year, Treasury costed the impact of removing negative gearing, which the prime minister said at the time he would not pursue unless there was "compelling evidence" it would increase supply. "That is not the case."
'Do you feel better off now?'
The Coalition's repeated question to voters of "do you feel better off now than three years ago?" is put to the prime minister.
Phil Coorey of the AFR asks: "I would suspect that most people don't think they're better off. So why should voters trust you for another three years?"
"We understand that many people are doing a tough which is why we've provided significant cost of living relief, but we've had to do it in a way that put that downward pressure on inflation," Albanese said.
"As a result, inflation has a two in front of it — it's 2.4 per cent — but at the same time, we've created a million jobs.
"We have provided cost of living relief, whether it be cheaper childcare, free TAFE for 600,000 people, energy bill relief, and importantly as well, tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer."
Anthony Albanese (right) and Peter Dutton shake hands ahead of the debate. Source: AAP / James Brickwood
PM still can't get a call with Trump
Dutton is asked whether he believes he would have been able to get a better deal for Australia on tariffs from the US.
The Opposition leader does not directly answer, but cites his experience dealing with the Obama administration and previous Trump administration as a senior minister and success in negotiating the AUKUS submarine deal.
He brings up the government's inability to get a phone call with US President Donald Trump.
"Our ambassador at the moment, a captain's pick from the prime minister — Mr [Kevin] Rudd is in there — can't get a phone call with the president, cannot even get into the West Wing.
"No wonder the government's had no hope of putting Australia's case [on tariffs]. The Prime Minister himself can't get a phone call or meeting.
Coorey asks the PM whether the president had rung him back.
"We're continuing to engage constructively," Albanese says.
Dutton responds: "I think that's a no".
Albanese said it was “nonsense” for Dutton to imply he would be able to get a tariff exemption.
The leaders' biggest clash
Both leaders are asked to nominate the "biggest lie" the other has told about them and given the chance to refute it.
The question has exposed some verbal combat.
Dutton is quick to cite Labor attack lines on the cost of its nuclear energy policy.
He says Labor’s $600 billion figure (sourced from the Smart Energy Council ) is wrong.
He also refutes Albanese's claim that the Coalition cut $50 billion from health.
"The prime minister stands here with a straight face and says what he knows not to be true," Dutton asserts.
Albanese takes Dutton to task over his record on health and education spending describing 2014 budget plans as a cut to the budget.
"You ripped $80 billion out of those two items in 2014," Albanese says.
"You couldn't lie straight in bed. Honestly, this is unbelievable," Dutton retorts.
"You can go to personal abuse," Albanese replies. "That's a sign of desperation. Peter, frankly."
"Lying, that's a sign of desperation. Go to the 2014 budget papers. People can do that online. It's all available for all to see."
Meanwhile, the prime minister defends one of his signature Medicare policies.
He says the Coalition’s citing of Medicare bulk billing being in free fall is a misrepresentation — claiming the numbers had been distorted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anthony Albanese (right) and Peter Dutton during the third leaders' debate. Source: AAP / James Brickwood
'There's never been more undecided voters'
The first question is for the prime minister, about the number of undecided and uninspired voters. He is asked: "how is it not a failure" that more than a third of Australians don't vote for the major parties?
Albanese dodges the question by responding: "That reflects the changes in our economy, the changes in our society, and we recognise that.
"But what we have managed to do is in very difficult global times — with the biggest inflation shock since the 1980s and the biggest energy crisis since the 1970s — is get inflation down to 2.4 per cent, make sure we deliver cost of living relief that have made a difference to families on average of $7,200, whilst making sure that we put in place reforms that help build the future, with better schools funding, strengthening Medicare, and cheaper childcare."
Opening statements from the leaders
After a political truce from the leaders during the day as they paid their respects to Pope Francis, both began by reiterating their condolences.
Peter Dutton is up first, and repeats the Coalition's manta that "over the course of last three years, people have gone through the biggest drop in living standards compared to any other country in the world".
"We need to make sure that we can get our country back on track."
Anthony Albanese has instead taken a positive spin: "Labor's plan is to build Australia's future and to build your family's future".
Anthony Albanese leaves after attending an early morning mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne today. Source: AAP / James Ross
Around 200,000 Australians have already voted
The debate coincides with the opening of early voting across the country, with time running out for leaders to convince voters of their policies.
By midday, the Australian Electoral Commission reported 230,000 Australians had already cast their vote — with 50 per cent of Australians expected to vote before May 3, which makes every moment of campaign time between now and then critical.
New poll shows Labor increasing its lead
The latest Roy Morgan survey released today suggests Labor would be returned to government with an increased majority of 55.5 per cent (up 1 per cent from a week ago) on a two-party preferred basis, if the election was held today.
This compares to the Coalition on 44.5 per cent (down 1 per cent).
Primary support for Labor increased 2.5 per cent to 34.5 per cent, and is now just ahead of the Coalition on 34 per cent, up 0.5 per cent.
Support for the Greens was unchanged at a six-month high of 14.5 per cent (which helped to boost the Albanese Government’s two-party preferred result) and support for One Nation was unchanged at 6 per cent.
This was the first week in which all candidates for the election were known and support for independents dropped 2.5 per cent — to 7.5 per cent — as candidates are not running in all 150 seats.
There was also a slight decline in support for other parties, down 0.5 per cent — to 3.5 per cent — with many minor parties running in only a handful of seats.
Campaigning paused as the world mourns death of pope
Both Albanese and Dutton cancelled campaign events and attended church services to pay tribute to the late Pope Francis as early voting opened across the country.
Albanese had planned to campaign in Melbourne while Dutton was scheduled to hit the hustings in Orange.
"His kindness, humility and devotion was admired by people of all faiths and people of none, that's why his loss is being mourned," the prime minister said on Tuesday after attending mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne.
Dutton, who attended a service at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral, added: "I don't think it's a day for overt politicking at all, I think the day is best spent reflecting".
Peter Dutton attends a Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney today. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
— with AAP
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