TRANSCRIPT
The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader have faced off in a fourth and final leaders debate hosted by Chanel 7.
Anthony Albanese framed his pitch as a choice between continuing to build Australia's future, or going back to the past, arguing Labor offers certainty in an uncertain time.
He says the Coalition have chopped and changed with their policies throughout the campaign.
"Labor has a real plan for cost of living support today, whilst building with investment for tomorrow -- tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer; strengthening Medicare, including through our 1800Medicare line; making more things here in Australia; 20 per cent cut in student debt, and a 5 per cent deposit for first home owners."
Peter Dutton sought to pin the blame for the high cost of living on the Prime Minister, saying Australians don't feel better off under Labor's watch.
He argues the Coalition will bring strong leadership during uncertain times, and represents change.
"This election is all about who can best manage the Australian economy, and if we can manage the economy well, it means that we can bring inflation down. It means that we can help families with the cost of living crisis that this government's created. We live in the best country in the world, but we do know that many families are doing it tough, and as we've moved around the country, we've spoken to families, literally in tears, they can't afford to put food on the table, they've stopped the registration renewal on their motor vehicle or on their house. They have had a tough three years under this government."
There were times when the debate took a personal turn, with Peter Dutton accusing Anthony Albanese of being a liar, and saying he should be ashamed.
"Well, Peter can attack me, but I tell you what I won't let him do, I won't let him attack the wages of working people. I won't let him attack the changes that were put in place for cheaper childcare. I won't let him abandon free TAFE so that people can get an opportunity in life. I won't get let him get away with this nonsense about economic management."
Mr Albanese pointed to two budget surpluses delivered by Labor, and inflation's return to the Reserve Bank's target band to defend his government's record on economic management.
Peter Dutton countered by saying increased real wages don't compensate for the growing cost of groceries, suggesting that in fact, core inflation remains stubbornly high.
There were some rare points of agreement, though, including when host Mark Riley asked this.
"RILEY: Australia Day, should we change the date?
ALBANESE: "No."
DUTTON:: "No."
Beyond that, the leaders were less aligned on questions relating to Indigenous people.
RILEY: "Mr Dutton, as Prime Minister, we know you won't stand in front of the Indigenous flag. Will you have Welcome to Country ceremonies? Will you have smoking ceremonies? Will you acknowledge the traditional owners at your official events?”
DUTTON: Well, Mark the point I've made in relation to the flag is that I don't believe that we can be the best country we can be if we're asking people to identify under different flags. No other country comparable to ours does that. I want to unite our country I want every Australian to be equal."
Peter Dutton says it's "fair enough" to have a Welcome to Country ceremony for the opening of parliament as a mark of respect, but Australians have told him they're overdone, and this can cheapen the ceremony's significance.
The Opposition Leader says Welcome to Country ceremonies have the potential to divide the nation, also suggesting Anthony Albanese divided Australia with the failed referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
For his part, Mr Albanese says he accepts the outcome of the Voice referendum, saying he has moved on, and preferring to frame Welcome to Country as a matter of choice.
"Well, from my perspective, it's a matter of respect, but it's also, of course, up to the organisations that are hosting an event of whether they have a Welcome to Country or not. It's up to them, and people will have different views, and people are entitled to their views, but we have a great privilege, from my perspective, of sharing this continent with the oldest continuous culture on Earth."
The leaders were also asked some lighter questions, including the price of one dozen eggs.
"DUTTON: About $4.20.
RILEY: "No, you might get half a dozen."
BARR: "Mr. Albanese?"
ALBANESE: "$7 If you can find them, because it's hard to find them at the moment. "
RILEY: "Yeah, you're looking at, I reckon you're looking at eight plus. Nat?"
BARR: "Yeah, there you go. It's the Sunny Queen 12 eggs from Woollies, they're $8.80. From Coles, they're slightly cheaper, at about $8.50."
And the first thing they think of when shown a picture of US billionaire, Elon Musk, whom US President Donald Trump has tasked with cutting government spending:
ALBANESE: "Tesla, and a very rich man."
RILEY: "Mr Dutton?"
DUTTON: "I think evil genius."
In a follow up question, Peter Dutton was asked whether he's done enough to distance himself from the Trump administration's style, given Labor has sought to suggest the Coalition is adopting similar policies.
"I haven't sought to be anybody other than myself. And I believe very strongly that based on my experience working with John Howard very closely. He's been my political mentor, and I want to make sure we manage the economy, as he did."
With the election set for May 3, we will know soon enough how the style and message of both major parties resonates with Australian voters.
More than 13 per cent of ballots have already been cast through early voting, and with millions more expected in coming days, time's running out for the leaders to win voters over.
Chanel 7's panel of 60 undecided voters gave Mr Albanese the win, with half backing him, while 25 per cent picked Peter Dutton, and the final quarter said they remain undecided.
It's those voters the leaders will still hope to win over.
