Anthony Albanese speaking at a podium during a press conference at Parliament House

Anthony Albanese officially announced the 2025 federal election will be held on 3 May. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

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Anthony Albanese calls the 2025 federal election — as it happened

Peter Dutton's choice of location for this first speech of the federal election campaign sends voters a message.

Anthony Albanese officially announced the 2025 federal election will be held on 3 May. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

Published 28 March 2025 6:30am

Updated 28 March 2025 5:57pm

Source: SBS News

Thanks for joining us. Here's what happened on day one of the campaign

We're about to close our live coverage for today. Here's a recap of the key events of the campaign so far and what you need to know ahead of the election:

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has officially announced that
the 2025 federal election will be held on Saturday, 3 May.
He described the election as "a choice between Labor's plan to keep building, or Peter Dutton's promise to cut".
Labor go into the election with 77 of the 151 seats in the House of Representatives. The Opposition has 53 and crossbench MPs 19.
Early polling indicates it's neck and neck between the two major parties.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton delivered his first speech of the campaign from Brisbane. He said the Coalition had an "achievable plan" to get the country "back on track".

True or false? Five fact-checked claims as Dutton, Albanese and Bandt hit campaign trail

Greens Leader Adam Bandt is embracing the prospect of a minority government, saying
the major parties' offerings were "about as attractive as a dead fish."
Now that the election has been called, the government has entered caretaker mode. This means it must avoid entering into major contracts, making significant appointments, or making major policy decisions.
All Australian citizens aged 18 and older must enrol to vote and
update their details before the electoral role closes on Monday, 7 April.
Early voting will open from 22 April.

Thank you for joining our live blog. We'll be back tomorrow.

— Jessica Bahr

1 week ago28 Mar 8:11am

'Born ready'

Albanese started the press conference with a smile.

"Ready to go, you bet," he said to reporters.

"Born ready."

— Jessica Bahr

1 week ago28 Mar 8:03am

Election to be held on 3 May

The federal election will be held on 3 May, Anthony Albanese has confirmed this morning.

The Labor leader is speaking at a press conference in Parliament House after visiting the governor-general.

"Over the last few years, the world has thrown a lot at Australia," Albanese said.

"In uncertain times, cannot decide the challenges that we face, but we can determine how we respond.

"Now on 3 May, you choose the way forward."

— Charis Chang

1 week ago28 Mar 7:58am

Watch live: Prime Minister holds news conference to announce election

Watch the address from the Prime Minister here:

1 week ago28 Mar 7:54am

Lower energy prices, cuts to migration: What will the Coalition do if elected?

We got a glimpse into the Coalition's plans for government when Peter Dutton gave his budget reply on Thursday evening.

The plans included a National Gas Plan which he said will lower energy prices, a cutting of migration and a reversal of the 41,000 increase in Canberra-based public service.

He also announced $400 million in youth mental health funding if the Coalition is elected.

Read more about the budget reply by Ewa Staszewska here:

The Coalition revealed its vision ahead of the election. Here's what was in the budget reply

1 week ago28 Mar 7:43am

Cost of living, cheaper medicines: What will Labor do if re-elected?

A tax cut of up to $268 a year, energy bill relief and cheaper medicines all formed part of Labor's pitch to voters ahead of the election.

These items were all put forward in the

federal budget on 25 March,

which Treasurer Jim Chalmers described as "our plan for a new generation of prosperity in a new world of uncertainty".

The Opposition said the proposed tax cuts were a "cruel hoax".

Read more coverage of the federal budget from our reporter Rashida Yosufzai here:

Treasurer warns of 'storm clouds' as he unveils budget with tax cuts and $42bn deficit

— Alex Britton

1 week ago28 Mar 7:28am

In charts: The state of play

For those who like their news in pictures, here's how parliament looks:

The current makeup of the House of Representatives

The current makeup of the Senate

— Alex Britton

1 week ago28 Mar 7:25am

Prime Minister leaves for Parliament House

Anthony Albanese has left Government House after a 20-minute visit, and will be heading to Parliament House.

The election date is expected to be announced in just over 30 minutes' time.

— Alex Britton

1 week ago28 Mar 7:20am

The state of play going into the election

This election, there will be 150 races to be members of the House of Representatives. This is down one from the last federal election in 2022.

Forty of the 76 Senate seats will also be up for grabs.

At the last election in 2022, Labor won 77 seats in the House of Representatives and Anthony Albanese became Prime Minister.

The Liberal/National coalition won 58 seats, the Greens won four. Independents won 10, including the so-called Teals. Robbie Katter (Katter's Australian Party) and Rebekha Sharkie (Centre Alliance) won the other two.

But while Labor had a majority in the House of Representatives, they did not in the Senate.

There, they had 26 of the 76 seats, the Opposition had 32 and the crossbench of Greens, One Nation, Lambie Network, United Australia, People First, and an Independent had 18.

— Alex Britton

1 week ago28 Mar 7:10am

In pictures: Albanese leaves the Lodge and arrives at Government House

ELECTION25 ANTHONY ALBANESE ELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leaves The Lodge to go to the Government House to dissolve Parliament and call an election. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrives at Government House to meet with Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

1 week ago28 Mar 7:06am

Anthony Albanese arrives at Government House

And just a few minutes later, Anthony Albanese has arrived at Government House.

He is expected to address the media after his visit to the governor-general.

— Alex Britton

1 week ago28 Mar 6:59am

Prime Minister leaves the Lodge to call election

The Prime Minister has left the Lodge, his residence, and is heading towards Government House.

— Alex Britton

1 week ago28 Mar 6:55am

The 4km trip to start a longer one

For those who want a bit more insight into proceedings, the Prime Minister has to travel to the Governor-General's house to kick off the election.

From the Lodge, the Prime Minister's residence, it's about a five-minute car drive.

It's a 55-minute walk for those wondering, or an 11-minute bike ride. But perhaps you can forgive politicians for preferring the car and saving their energy for the campaign ahead.

— Alex Britton

1 week ago28 Mar 6:47am

The most likely date for the election is 3 May

While we won't know the date until it is formally announced, 3 May is the expected date of the election,

a senior government source told SBS News' Anna Henderson

on Thursday.

It comes after months of speculation about the date of the poll, which had to be held before 17 May.

— Alex Britton

1 week ago28 Mar 6:37am

How is an election called?

In our last post, we mentioned Anthony Albanese visiting the Governor-General triggers a series of events, so how exactly does it all work?

The first step is the Prime Minister speaking to a representative of King Charles, Sam Mostyn, to say they want to call an election.

Only the Governor-General has the power to dissolve parliament but they conventionally only do so at the request of the PM.

Following the governor-general's approval, parliament is dissolved and the Australian Electoral Commission is tasked with holding an election.

Dates for nominations, electoral rolls and the big day itself then follow.

Want to know more about the process? Alexandra Koster put together a guide here:

How an election is called and what happens afterwards

— Alex Britton

1 week ago28 Mar 6:30am

Welcome to our live coverage

The date when millions of Australians will choose the next parliament and prime minister is about to be confirmed.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to visit Governor-General Sam Mostyn in the coming hour, triggering a series of events culminating in Australia deciding its future in a few weeks' time.

Between now and then, hundreds of candidates will be fighting for your vote, and SBS News will cover the twists and turns of the campaign. Follow the latest from across the SBS network on

our Election 2025 hub

.

— Alex Britton

Anthony Albanese calls the 2025 federal election — as it happened