TRANSCRIPT
The finish line draws nearer, but campaigning isn't done.
ALBANESE: "I'm working with guts out to ensure there's a majority government"
DUTTON: "Right up until polls close, people are contemplating what does our future as a country look like."
Whilst around six million Australians cast their vote early in the election, the party leaders are banking on the some people still being open to changing their mind.
The latest YouGov poll predicts Labor will win a majority... with the coalition to lose 11 seats, down to 47 seats - which would be the worst result in almost 80 years.
Peter Dutton says he's still in the race.
REPORTER: "How are you feeling? Do you need a miracle to win?"
DUTTON: "I feel confident. I feel good about where our candidates are. We've selected some amazing people.. And they have done more work. They're more connected with their local electorates, and that's why I think you will see a lot more surprises seat by seat."
As the Prime Minister was quietly confident on the last full day of campaigning.
REPORTER: "Who do you credit for finding your political mojo again?"
ALBANESE: "I'm me. I've always been me."
But there are dozens of seats around Sydney and Melbourne on a knifes edge, including Bennelong in Sydney's North.
The Coalition wants to flip the seat, which Labor's Jerome Laxale secured by just 1,954 votes in 2022, hoping the abolition of North Sydney and past voting demographics will swing the seat in its favour, which is now notionally Liberal on a 0.04 margin.
Bennelong voters told SBS...
"I guess I want to vote for anyone but Peter Dutton. He's divisive, and he got he's got no policies. I think both are just as bad as one another, so I've got to vote for the lesser evil."
"We're running up too much debt, way too much debt, massive spending. Yeah, I think the Liberals address that they always have.
"And what about Anthony Albanese?"
"He annoys me. Just the spend pattern, and he lies."
"25 to 55, the best generation, and somebody squeeze you like this, because all prices up."
"The thing that I've been most concerned about is for the young people to get onto the market, because I have a son who would like to get onto the market, and it's a big, big, big struggle."
"What do you think of Peter Dutton?"
"I think he's really sincere, and I think he's really, really wanting to do the best he can all the time."
"I vote for Liberal. I change. I don't vote Liberal anymore because I don't trust them."
Cost of living has been at the heart of the election.
Labor pitching tax cuts and affordable healthcare, while the Coalition promised short term relief and to fix the economy.
Peter Dutton banking Australians blaming the Prime Minister for falling living standards.
"We can bring three bad years of a Labor government to an end. Help families recover from that by way of assistance, and making sure that we can invest sensibly, to bring interest rates down, to bring inflation down, to keep our country safe."
Whilst Anthony Albanese hopes voters will back Labor in for another three years.
"We stand putting our views before the Australian people. We have run a solid campaign where we have put out policies for the future. Australians have a choice, building a better future or going back."
