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.

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

Published 3 May 2025 6:44am

Updated 4 May 2025 12:12am

Source: SBS News

First polling centres open

It's 8am AEST, and polling centres in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania have now opened.

The Australian Electoral Commission website has a search tool for finding your nearest voting centre

here

Travelling interstate on election day? Here's what you need to know

If you have travelled interstate and are voting today, you will have to find a specific interstate voting centre to visit.

— Cameron Carr

2 weeks ago3 May 7:46am

Albanese: 'Grand final day' is here

The AFL metaphors have come thick and fast from the prime minister, spruiking the government's "strong offer" for the Australian people.

"Today is grand final day," Anthony Albanese told Channel 7. "I've left nothing on the field. And I'll leave nothing on the field over the next three years."

Talking up his candidates, Albanese said: "I'm captain of the team, but I'm not playing full forward, centre half, forward and half back."

The footy talk even extended to using an "MCG" as a unit of measurement for how many Australians are impacted by their policies.

"I must have won a prize for most footy puns," he joked with the media, on what has been a frigid morning thus far.

— Naveen Razik

2 weeks ago3 May 7:39am

Peter Dutton talks crime with Tim Wilson in Brighton

Peter Dutton is having his second coffee of the day at a cafe in the nearby electorate of Goldstein.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton and Liberal candidate for Goldstein Tim Wilson at a cafe in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

"Crime is such a big issue here," Liberal candidate Tim Wilson tells Dutton.

"There's so many stories of people being woken up in the middle of the night, it's scary."

The Opposition leader responds that such experiences can impact people for life.

"There's a lot more the government can do about it, it starts with organised crime … I think we can reduce crime in the suburbs if we take it more seriously."

— Sara Tomevska

2 weeks ago3 May 7:31am

Prime minister takes over the MCG

The prime minister has arrived at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to begin the election day big dance.

Anthony Albanese has described Labor's re-election strategy as "kicking with the wind in the fourth quarter", and has this morning taken that soaring rhetoric to new areas, walking onto the hallowed turf to do his breakfast television interviews.

Anthony Albanese takes a selfie in front of a large group of people.

Anthony Albanese will be doing his slate of morning interviews from the Melbourne Cricket Ground this morning. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

If it wasn't clear from this morning's photo opportunity, there is a supreme sense of confidence among the Labor camp, with the overnight Newspoll and YouGov poll suggesting Labor will win the two-party preferred vote.

But today's contest may still deliver a few surprises as the clock winds down.

— Naveen Razik

2 weeks ago3 May 7:19am

Opposition leader starts day in Melbourne's south

Opposition leader Peter Dutton's democracy day is beginning in the seat of Macnamara, considered a very safe Labor seat on a margin of 12.2 per cent.

Macnamara is in Melbourne's south, and is home to Australia's largest Jewish community — currently held by Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns.

The Liberal Party is looking for an upset as Labor decides to preference the Greens under the Liberal candidate, in response to the minor party's strident opposition to Israel's war in Gaza, which it has labelled a genocide.

Combating rising antisemitism in the community is one of Dutton's key election platforms.

At a local cafe, Dutton sat down with Liberal candidate Benson Saulo over a coffee. An innocent bystander enjoying a moment of solitude was surprised when suddenly swamped by cameras. He didn't seem to mind! Caffeine is key on election day.

— Sara Tomevska

2 weeks ago3 May 7:16am

Who is on the ballot? See who's standing in your local electorate

There are 150 House of Representatives seats and dozens of Senate seats up for grabs this election.

SBS News has created a guide of those running, organised into their relevant electorates. Find your local candidates by searching for your electorate

here

.

— Cameron Carr

2 weeks ago3 May 7:06am

Forty per cent of votes already cast

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will be campaigning hard on the final day of the election but many Australians have already made up their mind.

While the first polling stations will open at 8am AEST, a record number of Australians have already voted early this election.

According to the Australian Electoral Commission, 6.7 million people have cast their ballots on pre-poll and a further 1.6 million have submitted a postal vote, equalling around 8.3 million voters — roughly 40 per cent of registered voters.

While these votes have already been received by the AEC, we won't see the first results coming through until 6pm AEST.

— Cameron Carr

2 weeks ago3 May 6:50am

Welcome to our live election day coverage

Five weeks since campaigning started, election day is here.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is hoping to win a second term, as Opposition leader Peter Dutton aims to become the country's 32nd prime minister.

Our live blog will have all the important updates and colour from across the country as the day progresses and millions of Australians head to the ballot box.

— Alex Gallagher

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