Anthony Albanese during a visit to Midland Hospital on Day 3 of the campaign. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

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A Chinese vessel enters the election fray on day three of the campaign — as it happened

Anthony Albanese has confirmed a Chinese ship is navigating in Australian waters, and criticised Peter Dutton's decision to live in Sydney if he's elected PM, during a packed day of campaigning.

Anthony Albanese during a visit to Midland Hospital on Day 3 of the campaign. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

Published 31 March 2025 6:58am

By SBS News

Source: SBS News

Both major parties claim underdog status in 'close election'

Both major parties have said they are underdogs in the federal election while fronting the press this morning.

The Liberals' campaign spokesperson, James Paterson, spoke to ABC News Breakfast a short while ago, saying the Coalition are the underdogs in what looks to be a close election.

"We have a big task ahead of us. No first-term government has been removed from office in 100 years," he said.

"It shows the Australian people have a significant choice to make over five weeks."

Defence Minister Richard Marles also spoke to the ABC this morning, predicting a tight race.

"This is a close election; everyone knows we are coming from behind," he said.

YouGov modelling released on Sunday projects Labor could lose five seats to the Opposition but win two seats back from the Greens and one from the Coalition.

— Cameron Carr

3 days ago31 Mar 8:55am

Labor taskforce to define supermarket price gouging

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has elaborated on Labor's promise to create a taskforce investigating supermarkets which will have several tasks, including defining price gouging.

"We're going to have a task force that will look at this. This is with Treasury, the ACCC and other experts to really look at how you would define if a price is excessive. There's different definitions overseas," she told RN Breakfast on Monday morning.

"We saw [examples of price gouging] in COVID-19 when people were trying to buy rapid antigen tests, for example. So we have seen examples of it, and this will allow us to get ahead of that and have in place the right laws to send a message ... that this will not be tolerated."

Gallagher said the taskforce was another tool the government could use to address concerns of price gouging by supermarkets, despite a one-year investigation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) not finding evidence of the practice.

"It did find examples where, you know, prices had increased quite considerably, particularly on unnamed, branded products ... I wouldn't say that the ACCC report gave the supermarkets a clean bill of health."

Responding to cost of living pressures at the check-out, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned over the weekend that supermarkets

found to be price gouging will face heavy fines

, marking Labor's first election promise on the campaign trail.

Labor also plans to implement recommendations from the ACCC supermarket inquiry report, which suggested 20 ways to stamp out price gouging, dodgy discounting and shrinkflation.

— Ewa Staszewska

3 days ago31 Mar 8:18am

Peter Dutton arrives in Newcastle

The Dutton campaign has arrived in Newcastle, where it has two marginal Labor seats in the area in its sights.

Paterson, held by Meryl Swanson, and Hunter, represented by Dan Repacholi.

— Anna Henderson

3 days ago31 Mar 8:15am

Coalition has 'no plans' to hold any referendums if elected — with one exception

Liberal senator James Paterson says the Coalition will not hold any referendums if elected.

Speaking to ABC News Breakfast this morning as the Liberals' campaign spokesperson, Paterson is asked if the Coalition would hold a referendum on four-year fixed election terms or recognising Indigenous Australians in the constitution.

"No, we have no plans to hold any referendums," he said.

World leaders are cracking down on dual citizens — and Peter Dutton wants to join them

But he flags one exception.

"Peter Dutton has said a number of times if our efforts to protect the community from violent citizens and cancelling their citizenship is thwarted by the courts, then we will leave on the table as a last resort, a referendum," he says.

However, Paterson says the Coalition would look to

deport dual citizens found to have committed serious crimes

through legislative means first.

Over the weekend, Dutton was questioned on the possibility of holding referendums on all three — Indigenous constitutional recognition, four-year terms and deportations.

- Cameron Carr

3 days ago31 Mar 8:02am

In case you missed it

On the first full day of campaigning on Saturday, both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton were heckled during key campaign stops in Queensland.

On Sunday, Albanese announced a plan to

outlaw supermarket price gouging

, while Dutton framed the upcoming election as a test on economic management while visiting a brickworks in Sydney. He later attended an Assyrian cultural festival.

Catch up on those days as they happened at our previous live blogs below:

Both leaders heckled as first day of campaigning begins in Brisbane - As it happened

Cost of living takes centre stage on campaign day two — as it happened

3 days ago31 Mar 7:46am

Politicians not welcome at other mosques, Muslim community leaders say

Several Muslim community leaders in Sydney told SBS News the Opposition leader would have had a more hostile reception if he had tried to attend a mosque that had an Arab Muslim community with close links to the Middle East.

Lebanese Muslim Association general manager Khaled Alameddine from Sydney's Lakemba Mosque told SBS Arabic that no Australian politicians were invited to the mosque in protest of the major parties' actions and comments regarding the war in Gaza.

Prime ministers and other politicians often visit the mosque during morning prayers for the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.

It is the second year in a row that politicians have not been invited to participate by the Lebanese Muslim Association.

— Cameron Carr, Silva Mezher

3 days ago31 Mar 7:32am

Imam who hosted Peter Dutton mosque visit says he welcomed the Opposition leader

Peter Dutton was in western Sydney yesterday, where he visited the Al-Madinah Mosque in Liverpool, promising $25,000 in funding for extra security.

The mosque's Imam, Ahmad Hussain, said he welcomed the Opposition leader to visit his prayer room, even though many in the Australian Muslim community disagree with Dutton's ideas.

A man in a suit, hands clasped in front of him, is being directed to look at something by another man who is pointing. A group of people stands around them.

Peter Dutton was welcomed to the small mosque, which attracts a largely Pakistani and Indian community who mostly live in the marginal seat of Werriwa. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

Hussain expressed hope the visit would allow Dutton to see the Australian Muslim community in a positive light, saying the Opposition leader's views are "isolated" on certain issues.

"Many disagree with his ideas, but as a place of God, everyone is welcome," he told SBS News.

"We hope he can see us in a positive light, and he might see that he is isolated."

The festival of Eid al-Fitr at the end of the Ramadan month of fasting is underway, but a number of prominent mosques have been reluctant to host politicians, particularly given the deep resentment and frustration over the way both major political parties have responded to the war in Gaza.

A man in a dark suit shakes hands with another person, also in a dark suit and wearing a skull cap, while men and camerapersons stand around them, observing the exchange.

Peter Dutton met with members of the community at the Al Madinah Mosque in Sydney. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

There has been further ongoing concern from the community about the Opposition's sustained campaigning against antisemitism while being less vocal about Islamophobia in Australia.

— Anna Henderson and Hadil Al Swaiedi

3 days ago31 Mar 7:09am

Labor jumps ahead in latest polling

Labor has pushed ahead of the Coalition in two more national polls as party leaders make their way across the country on the election trail.

A national Newspoll survey conducted for The Australian newspaper, published on Sunday, has Labor ahead of the Coalition 51 per cent to 49 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis.

The survey of 1,249 voters indicated primary support for Labor rose from 32 to 33 per cent over the last three weeks, with the Coalition dropping from 39 to 37 per cent.

The Greens remained at 12 per cent while support for Pauline Hanson's One Nation dropped from 7 per cent to six.

The Resolve Strategic poll, conducted for Nine newspapers and published on Sunday, suggested the government gaining ground to be side by side with the Coalition at 50 per cent each on a two-party preferred basis.

The 3,237 voters surveyed put Anthony Albanese comfortably ahead of Peter Dutton as preferred prime minister, at 42 to 33 per cent.

The latest YouGov modelling suggests Labor is on track to win 75 seats. It needs 76 seats for a majority.

— Cameron Carr

3 days ago31 Mar 7:01am

The prime minister is in Perth

Anthony Albanese is in Western Australia today announcing a major upgrade to one of Perth's busiest hospitals, as the battle of the outer suburbs heats up.

Albanese and WA Premier Roger Cook will speak together today to launch a $355 million facelift to St John of God Midland Public Hospital in the key federal seat of Hasluck. Labor experienced swings against it in the recent WA state election in this area.

Despite that, the overall strong result for the Cook Labor government has buoyed Labor's prospects federally in a state where it holds 10 of 16 seats.

If re-elected, Labor is pledging to contribute $200 million to deliver additional hospital beds, operating theatres, ICU and a redesign of the neonatal and obstetrics unit.

St John of God Midland Public Hospital signage with the hospital building in the background.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce major upgrades to St John of God Midland Public Hospital in Perth. Source: AAP / Richard Wainwright

"We're working with the Cook Labor government to build Western Australia's future," Albanese said.

Labor has hinted at more health announcements in the coming days as it seeks to make Medicare a key election issue.

— Sara Tomevska

3 days ago31 Mar 6:58am

Welcome to our coverage of day three

Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of the third full day of campaigning in the 2025 federal election.

We have reporters on the campaign trail.

Follow the latest from across the SBS network on

our Election 2025 hub

.

— Alex Gallagher

A Chinese vessel enters the election fray on day three of the campaign — as it happened