Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, wearing a suit, tie and glasses, standing at a lectern and speaking.

The Albanese Labor government has won a second term. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

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Politics

Anthony Albanese and Labor win the federal election as Peter Dutton loses his seat — as it happened

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has won a second term and is projected to have an increased majority, while Opposition leader Peter Dutton has lost his seat to Labor's Ali France.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, wearing a suit, tie and glasses, standing at a lectern and speaking.

The Albanese Labor government has won a second term. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

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Updated

Source: SBS News

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1 week ago
Albanese casts vote in home electorate
Anthony Albanese asked for a Labor Senate how-to-vote card before heading to a voting booth and casting his ballot this afternoon.

Accompanied by fiancée Jodie Haydon and son Nathan, the prime minister expressed confidence he'd win the local Marrickville West booth.
Three people smile at a voting centre while casting their votes
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, partner Jodie Haydon and son Nathan cast their votes at a polling booth at Marrickville West Public School in Sydney. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
"It's my local booth, if we don't win this booth we're in real trouble," he said.

The prime minister greeted Australian Electoral Commission workers as he took his place in the booth next to his son, spending less than a minute filling in his ballot.

He turned to photographers before dropping the green and white ballots in their respective boxes — his son almost cast his votes in the wrong box before the prime minister intervened.

"I voted for him," Nathan said.

— Ron Mizen, Kat Wong
1 week ago
Katy Gallager confronted by pro-Palestinian activist in Canberra
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has been confronted by a pro-Palestinian activist outside a polling centre in Canberra, the ABC reports.

Gallagher, who is running for a Senate seat in the ACT, was leaving a public school when she was approached by a spokesperson for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.

The international grassroots group organises actions intended to disrupt Israel's blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid.

The activist, James Godfrey, told Gallagher: "You're a minister in this government and you're doing nothing", to which Gallagher replied: "That's not true".

"Palestinians in Gaza are being starved at the moment," Godfrey can be seen yelling at Gallagher in the footage. "Sixty days plus of no food, no water, no medicines and no fuel, and your government is complicit in this genocide."

Groups including the United Nations have accused Israel of carrying out "genocidal acts" in its war on Gaza. Israel has rejected such accusations.
READ MORE

Australian speaks of 'shocking' drone attack on Gaza aid ship he was about to board

Since early March, Israel has completely cut off all supplies to Gaza's 2.3 million residents, and food stockpiled during a ceasefire at the start of the year has all but run out, according to international aid agencies.

Israel has repeatedly said it would not allow the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza until Hamas releases all remaining hostages. It has accused Hamas of hijacking humanitarian aid, which the militant group denies.

On Friday, Freedom Flotilla organisers accused Israel of bombing one of its ships bound for Gaza, with activists and aid onboard, off the coast of Malta.

The Maltese government said in a statement on Friday that everyone aboard the flotilla had been "confirmed safe".

Israel has not commented on the accusation that it was responsible.

— Alex Gallagher
1 week ago
Pups at the polling booth
What would an election live blog be without dogs?

Amid the long queues of voters and the scent of sausage sizzles, all manner of canines, big and small, have joined their owners at polling centres across the country.

Here are a few of the great snaps we've seen so far.
A dog in a red coat.
This dog is well prepared for the cold as as voters wait to enter the election centre at Brunswick East Primary School, in Melbourne. Source: AAP / Joel Carrett
A dog sits on the pavement
Archie the dog sits comfortably outside a polling station in the seat of Gilmore, NSW. Source: AAP / Dean Lewins
A dog being held.
This dog has a good seat as voters queue up to cast their ballot in Melbourne. Source: AAP / Joel Carrett
A woman carries a dog
This dog even got a lift outside this Melbourne polling station. Source: AAP / Diego Fidele
Two dogs standing either side of the legs of someone wearing green tracksuit pants and voting at a ballot box.
A pair of Fox Terriers with their owner in Sydney. Source: Getty / Lisa Maree Williams
— Cameron Carr, Alex Gallagher
1 week ago
Use SBS' News interactive map to see how marginal your electorate is
Elections can be decided by just a handful of seats, and some are more marginal than others.

These seats are often the target of political activity because changing the minds of just a few hundred or thousand residents could swing the results in favour of the opposite party.

Find your electorate and whether it's a marginal seat by using SBS News' interactive map — you can also check whether it's one of the key seats experts are watching.
READ MORE

Twenty key seats to watch on at the election as the results roll in

— Charis Chang
1 week ago
Pauline Hanson campaigning in Tasmania as One Nation's popularity appears on the rise
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is handing out how-to-vote cards in the electorate of Clark in Tasmania.

The party is running Cathy Griggs for the central Hobart seat, which independent Andrew Wilkie has held since 2010.
Pauline Hanson's daughter, Lee Hanson, is running for a Tasmanian Senate seat with the party.

Recent polls suggest the right-wing party is attracting an increase in primary support, and could secure more Senate seats this election.

The Coalition has listed One Nation above Labor on its how-to-vote cards in some seats, including some where the party is preferenced second.
READ MORE

One Nation's three 'obvious' chances at more power amid signs of growing support

— Cameron Carr, Emma Brancatisano
1 week ago
Which polling places have democracy sausages on offer?
It's getting pretty close to lunchtime in most states and territories, and Western Australians are easing into brunch.

For many Australians, it simply wouldn't be an election day without that most revered of traditions — a sausage between a bit of bread, some sauce, and perhaps a few grilled onions.

If you're keen on snagging a snag, then the crowd-sourced website Democracy Sausage has the information you need.
A woman holding a number of hot dogs outside a polling place
Donna McMckendray seems pretty happy with her democracy sausage outside a polling booth in the electorate of Goldstein in Melbourne. Source: AAP / Diego Fedele
For another year, the group has created an interactive map where you can find the polling booths with sausage sizzles and cake sales in your area, among other details.

Check out the more than 2,500 estimated booths serving food
here
.

— Cameron Carr
1 week ago
Understanding what the major parties have promised
After more than a month of campaigning, there have been dozens of pledges made by the major parties.

Rania Yallop and Elfy Scott from SBS News' Party Time election podcast series have broken down the big promises, as well as looking at what areas have been overlooked in the campaigns.

Have a listen below, or catch up on every episode of Party Time via your favourite podcast app or
here
.
LISTEN TO
Winners and Losers: Party Time Ep 5 image

Winners and Losers: Party Time Ep 5

SBS News

25:08
— Alex Gallagher
1 week ago
What are the minor parties' key policies this election?
More than 30 political parties are contesting this election, and most are minor ones.

At the last election in 2022, almost one in three Australians voted for a minor party or an independent candidate — the highest number in almost 100 years.
READ MORE

'Choosing the lesser evil': Why some Australians vote for minor parties

That led to 16 independent and minor MPs joining the crossbench in the House of Representatives, with the power to take part in debates and introduce bills.

As micro and mini parties increasingly grow in popularity, who are some of the key players, and what do they stand for? Yasmine Alwakal and Alexandra Koster have broken down the minor parties who are vying for your vote, and what they're offering
here
.

— Cameron Carr
1 week ago
Dutton challenger Ali France contesting seat for third time
Speaking of Dickson, Ali France is Labor's candidate for Peter Dutton's electorate in Queensland, which is held by the Coalition with a 1.7 per cent margin — the closest in the state.

SBS News' Andrew Chappelle spoke to France at a polling centre this morning, asking how she felt as she contests Dutton's seat for the third time.

"I'm hopeful," France said. "I think it's gonna be really close in this seat."
A woman in a red blazer putting a piece of paper into a ballot box.
Labor's Ali France, with her son Zac, votes at Albany Creek State school in Moreton Bay. Source: AAP / Jono Searle
"It's always close in this seat, but it feels a bit more positive than last time, so that gives me a bit of hope. We've worked exceptionally hard for seven years in this seat ... People know me, they know what I stand for, so it feels good this time around."

On the issue that's stayed at the forefront of voters' minds in the lead-up to election day, France said it's always been cost of living, and that, increasingly, people have been looking at which party is going to put more money in their pockets.
READ MORE

Peter Dutton's seat is the most marginal in Queensland. Meet the women taking him on

— Alex Gallagher
1 week ago
Dutton still 'very young' with a 'burning passion'
Earlier this morning, Peter Dutton made his final pitch to voters while appearing on breakfast TV.

Asked if he will step down as Opposition leader if he loses the election, Dutton says you "can't go into the grand final talking like that".
A man kneels next to a bowser and a truck at a petrol station.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has made several stops to petrol stations, which have become a hallmark of his campaign. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
"I'm 54. I'm still very young and I've just got a burning passion for this country," he told Nine's Today Show.

"I just think we live in the best country in the world. Whatever we can do to make it even better is what we contribute ourselves to."

The Coalition leader has made a number of TV appearances today, making several stops throughout Melbourne, and is expected to lodge his own vote in his Queensland electorate of Dickson later today.

— Cameron Carr
1 week ago
Who's running in the Senate in your area? And why is the ballot paper so big?
Forty of the Senate's 76 seats are up for grabs at this election.

Since senators represent entire states and territories, the ballot paper is much longer than for the House of Representatives.

In past state and federal elections, some ballots have measured over a metre long from the sheer number of candidates and parties running.

You can find out who is running for the upper house in your state or territory
here
.
READ MORE

Australia has one of the biggest ballot papers in the world. Here's why

— Cameron Carr
1 week ago
Polls now open nationwide as Western Australians head to the booths
Polls have opened in WA and are running across the country until 6pm local time.

While it could be days until we know the outcome of the election, the Australian Electoral Commission anticipates early results around an hour after polls close.

"It is reasonable to expect that some of the smaller polling places will have results posted from around 7pm local time with a steadier flow of mid-large sized polling places from around 8-8:30pm local time onwards," its website reads.

— Cameron Carr
1 week ago
Albanese speaks with volunteers at pre-poll centre
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made a pre poll appearance at the Liberal-held seat of Menzies.

A redistribution has made the multicultural suburban seat notionally Labor territory, with Labor candidate Gabriel Ng taking on Liberal moderate Keith Wolahan.

Albanese spoke with Labor volunteers, while Coalition campaigners stood quietly and respectfully nearby.

One Liberal supporter even shook the prime minister's hand, who thanked him for doing his part in democracy.

The tone was calmer than other pre-poll visits, in which Albanese has received a few heckles.

A woman had to be pulled away by security at a pre-poll centre on Friday after trying to confront the Labor leader.

— Naveen Razik
1 week ago
Voters start heading to polling centres
Polling centres have been open for nearly two hours now on Australia's east coast, and voters have begun heading to the polls in droves.

Here are a couple of photos from Bondi in Sydney, where locals are taking a break from catching waves to exercise their democratic rights.
People with surfboards walking into a voting centre.
Voters head to the polls at the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club in Sydney. Source: AAP / Bianca de Marchi
Pepole placing paper into ballot boxes, one is walking a dog.
Source: AAP / Bianca de Marchi
People putting votes into ballot box -- some are wearing bathers.
Source: AAP / Bianca de Marchi

— Alex Gallagher
1 week ago
Dutton spruiks fuel policy at petrol station
Peter Dutton is pulling up to his 17th petrol station of the campaign in Melbourne's north-west suburb of Melton, in the Labor seat of Gorton.

The electorate is held on a 10 per cent margin — but with member Brendan O'Connor retiring, it’s believed the seat is in play.

Liberal campaign spokesman James Paterson is waiting at the bowser to welcome the Opposition leader, who has pulled up in a truck with double trouble signage and a photo of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Dutton handed out chocolates to the media, bought with the hypothetical savings one could expect under the Coalition's
promised 25 cents per litre reduction to the fuel excise
.

He also said hello to a young boy about to go to a footy game who wished him good luck.

— Sara Tomevska
1 week ago
Barbecues heating up as voters queue in Melbourne
There were long queues at the voting station at Zinc Fed Square in Melbourne's CBD, which serves seven electorates; Melbourne, Macnamara, Cooper, Gellibrand, Wills, Maribyrnong and Kooyong.

But as polls opened, there was not yet much demand for the humble democracy sausage stall, which was being run by Fed Square fixture Mama's Gozleme — although a line can be expected to form once those hungry voters are finished.
A group of people making hot dogs at a barbecue outside
Source: SBS / Shive Prema
A sausage sandwich with onions on a serviette
Source: SBS / Shive Prema
— Shivé Prema
1 week ago
Prime minister accused of running scare campaign on pensions
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has categorically denied a Labor claim the Coalition is targeting age pensions, describing it as a "shameful" last-minute scare campaign.

The Coalition's costings include a line item to reduce overseas eligibility for social services payments to four weeks, calculated to make a saving of $74.3 million over four years.

The prime minister told SBS World News yesterday that the measure would target pensioners.

"If pensioners go overseas for four weeks, they will have their pensions suspended. That will impact many of your listeners, elderly Greek Australians, Italian Australians, Portuguese Australians, so many Australians who do share their time between Australia and the country of their birth," Anthony Albanese said.

But Dutton responded in an interview with SBS News saying that claim was untrue.

"It's just completely false and I think it's actually shameful the prime minister would seek to scare older Australians. It's just another lie out of this campaign," he said.

"We have no changes in relation to pensioners. In fact, there is more support we are providing to pensioners."

When pressed to explain who the measure was targeting, the Opposition leader said the budget saving would come from targeting the parenting payment, which will be paid for a month when someone travels overseas.

"It relates to some people, for example, on parenting payments who can go overseas at the moment for six weeks, and we are going to reduce that to four weeks before there's any change to their payment, so it's actually quite a minor change and it doesn't apply to age pensioners."

A Coalition spokesperson said: "Age pensioners will continue to be able to travel overseas and receive the pension for at least 26 weeks, as per the current rules."

— Anna Henderson
1 week ago
Watch Albanese and Dutton detail their visions for Australia
SBS News chief political correspondent Anna Henderson has interviewed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in the final stretches of the federal election campaign.

Henderson spoke with the candidates about their qualifications to lead the nation and their vision for Australia. Watch that below:
— Cameron Carr
1 week ago
Voting opens in South Australia and the Northern Territory
The polls have now opened in South Australia and the Northern Territory, and will close at 6pm local time.

The Australian Electoral Commission has a search tool you can use to find your nearest voting venue
here
.

If this is your first time voting, or you're feeling a bit rusty from the last federal election in 2022, here's a quick guide on casting your ballot today:
READ MORE

How to cast your vote in the federal election

— Cameron Carr
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