Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton smile as they stand side-by-side

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton during the first leaders' debate of the 2025 federal election campaign in Sydney on Tuesday, April 8. Source: AAP / Jason Edwards

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As it happened - Undecided voters reveal their verdict on the election debate winner

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have gone head-to-head in their first debate of the 2025 federal election.

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton smile as they stand side-by-side

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton during the first leaders' debate of the 2025 federal election campaign in Sydney on Tuesday, April 8. Source: AAP / Jason Edwards

Published 8 April 2025 6:35pm
Updated 8 April 2025 11:45pm
Source: SBS News

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3 weeks ago8 Apr 9:07pm
Albanese wins the debate according to undecided voters
The undecided voters of the forum have provided their verdict, with almost half giving their vote to Anthony Albanese.

Forty-four of the 100 voters in the room thought Albanese won the debate, 35 voted for Dutton and 21 were undecided.
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3 weeks ago8 Apr 9:06pm
'His confidence was attractive': Audience weighs in
For IT worker Nizer, who was among tonight's audience, the prime minister was a clear winner.

"I think Albanese was pretty good," he told SBS News after the debate.

"His confidence was attractive to be honest. He was very confident about his policies, he was very good with the numbers and very steady and smiling every time.

"As compared to Dutton, he was not good with the numbers."

He felt the Opposition leader appeared nervous.

Nizer said cost-of-living measures would ultimately sway his vote.
3 weeks ago8 Apr 7:50pm
'It's dishonest': Dutton attacks PM on 'Mediscare' campaign
Peter Dutton is going on the attack, accusing Anthony Albanese of trying to run a "scare campaign" on Medicare and education.

Dutton said "there were no cuts".

"The prime minister goes out with this Medicare campaign and education scare campaign. It is not a truthful statement," he said.

"Now, what the Prime Minister is saying is that the funding didn't go up by as much as he would want each year, but there was no year where funding was cut from hospitals or from education.

"It's designed to scare people, and I think it's dishonest for the man who wants to be re elected as the prime minister of that country."

But Albanese says he has the receipts: "It is in the 2014 Budget papers. There's line items, really explicitly. $50 billion savings in health, $30 billion savings in education go down each year."

— Anna Henderson and Sara Tomevska
3 weeks ago8 Apr 7:45pm
First question is on Trump's tariffs
The first question is from Michael, asking how the leaders plan to respond to Trump's tariffs and the strategy for "getting Australia on the right foot forward"?

The Prime Minister has described the tariffs as an "act of self harm" which will have an impact on Australians but that his government was prepared.

"Last Thursday we were prepared. Australia got the best deal of any country … no one got a better deal than us," he said, referring to the 10 per cent tariff.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton pointed to exclusions that were secured under the last Liberal government.

He said any leader needs to "stand up against bullies" which is what he would seek to do if he was elected.

— Ewa Staszewska
3 weeks ago8 Apr 7:40pm
'Time to look forward': Both leaders deliver their pitch to voters
The Prime Minister has begun his pitch to the audience of undecided voters at Wenty Leagues Club, by reflecting on the fact that Australia has faced many challenges over the last three years, but said "What matters is how you respond".

He listed the government's economic credentials while stating "Now is not the time to cut, now is not the time to look backwards."

"Now is the time to look foward and seize the opportunities and build Australia's future."

Peter Dutton begins by stating the economy has "gone backwards" and reminds the room that Labor promised Australians a $275 reduction in their energy bills.

He says the Coalition has a "positive plan to get our country back on track."
3 weeks ago8 Apr 7:15pm
Peter Dutton's father rushed to hospital ahead of debate, reports say
The debate is about to start but The Daily Telegraph editor Ben English told Sky News political commentator Peta Credlin that Dutton's father has been rushed to hospital due to a medical emergency.

Nationals senator Matt Canavan told Sky News his thoughts and prayers were with the Dutton family.
3 weeks ago8 Apr 7:06pm
What Peter Dutton needs to do tonight
SBS political correspondent Naveen Razik has been on the campaign bus with Peter Dutton, here's his assessment:

"Tonight is an opportunity for the Opposition leader to reset after a bumpy first week on the trail: policies leaking, a dis-endorsed candidate, culminating in the ditching of the unpopular public service work from home ban.

And with US President Donald Trump’s tariff tirade ringing in his ears he has the opportunity to move the debate onto more comfortable territory — the economy and the cost of living — and hone in the question he wants voters to ask: are they better off?"
3 weeks ago8 Apr 7:05pm
Why western Sydney?
Tonight's debate is taking place in western Sydney.

Many experts believe the election can be won or lost in NSW.

This is partially due to the high number of marginal seats, a total of 15 across the state, held by a margin of 6 per cent or less.

Labor currently holds 26 of 46 NSW seats, however, nine of these are marginal.

Seats to watch include Bradfield, Bennelong, Calare, Reid, Parramatta, Werriwa, Gilmore, Fowler and Paterson.

Cost-of-living will be front of mind for many of tonight's 100 undecided voters, with Sydney residents paying some of the highest rents and mortgages in the country.

— Ewa Staszewska
3 weeks ago8 Apr 6:49pm
What's at stake for Anthony Albanese?
SBS political correspondent Sara Tomevska is following Albanese on the campaign trail, she gives her assessment of what's at stake for the Prime Minister.

"For Anthony Albanese this will be a litigation of his first term in office and he will be faced with questions from everyday Australians struggling with the cost of living.

He’ll be pressed on promises not kept, including a $275 cut in energy bills but he will also attack Peter Dutton’s policy backflips this week.

He'll try and build a case that the Coalition has not done its homework as he tries to capitalise on Labor’s week one momentum."
3 weeks ago8 Apr 6:35pm
Welcome to our live blog
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton will go head-to-head for the first time tonight from 7.30pm at a 'people's forum' in western Sydney.

Hosted by Sky News and The Daily Telegraph, the two leaders will face questions from 100 undecided NSW voters in an event moderated by Sky News' chief news anchor Kieran Gilbert.

We will be posting updates throughout the night so stay tuned.
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