TRANSCRIPT
- Voters split over Labor and Coalition in close races across the country.
- Pakistan urges calm amid fears of war with India over Kashmir incident.
- The Roosters defeat the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
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Millions of voters across the country are casting their ballots and claiming a democracy sausage as Australia elects a new government.
Polling booths have now opened everywhere in the country as some 10 million people are expected to vote on Saturday.
More than seven million people voted early at pre-poll centres with many saying their biggest concerns are related to cost-of-living pressures.
The marginal Sydney seat of Bennelong is currently held by Labor MP Jerome Laxale, but is now considered Liberal with the thinnest of margins of 0.04 per cent margin after a redistribution.
Bennelong voters told SBS they're torn between Labor and the Coalition.
VOXPOP 1: "I changed. I don't vote Liberal anymore. I don't trust them. Peter Dutton, I don't trust him. He's like 'oh, I do this, I do that.' Back it up mate."
VOXPOP 2: "Way too much debt. Massive spending. I think the Liberals will address that, they always have."
VOXPOP 3: "I've always been a Liberal voter and I'll probably still vote Liberal because they tend to be more conservative and better on the budget as a whole."
VOXPOP 4: "I can connect more warmly with Anthony Albanese. I think I find it easier to connect with him when I see him speaking."
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made a pre poll appearance at the Liberal-held seat of Menzies.
A redistribution has made the multicultural suburban seat notionally Labor territory, with Labor candidate Gabriel Ng taking on Liberal moderate Keith Wolahan.
Mr Albanese told Nine's Today Show it will be a tight race in Menzies.
"We'll be campaigning not just to hold seats here in Victoria, but to win seats like Menzies and Deacon in the eastern suburbs as well, which are very tight races. We'll be campaigning all day right up until six o'clock. We will leave absolutely nothing on the field and that's important."
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Peter Dutton has pulled up to his 17th petrol station of the campaign in Melbourne's north-west suburb of Melton, in the Labor seat of Gorton.
The electorate is held on a 10 per cent margin — but with member Brendan O'Connor retiring, it’s believed the seat is in play.
Mr Dutton says he wants to win tonight so that the coalition can implement polices that he says will help Australians who are hurting.
"I came into politics in 2001, so it's been a long journey, but I've had a great career and I've enjoyed it very much. But I want to win today so that we can get the implementation of our policies, which I think are really important for a lot of Australians who are really hurting at the moment."
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Pakistan's envoy to the United Nations has sought to ease tensions with their neighbour India, after suspected militants killed at least 26 tourists in the disputed region of Kashmir last week.
India has blamed Pakistan for involvement in the latest militant attack in the Himalayan region and raised concerns of war between the two nuclear armed countries.
Pakistan has repeatedly denied any involvement with the militants.
Pakistani Ambassador to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, says his country wants to lower the temperature to avoid conflict.
"India's conduct marked by a disregard for international law and regional stability is incendiary and dangerous with the potential for far-reaching and disastrous consequences. Pakistan does not seek escalation. This has been made clear by the political leadership of Pakistan and at all levels. At the same time, should India resort to aggression, Pakistan will exercise its inherent and legitimate right to self-defence."
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Activists have released footage of the moment after their Gaza-bound aid vessel was bombed by drones in international waters off the coast of Malta.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition NGO uploaded footage showing a fire on one of its ships, the 'Conscience', and accused Israel of being behind the attack.
This is a clip from the vessel immediately after the attacks.
ACTIVIST 1: "We have an attack just a few minutes back. Some drones attacked the Conscience. We are asking emergency relief to the Maltese authorities."
ACTIVIST 2: "We got bombed. You see the holes over here? Oh, my God. Oh, my God. The fire is still going on. The Conscience has been bombed two times a few minutes ago."
Israel has so far not responded to these claims.
The ship is carrying humanitarian supplies for Gaza as the territory has run out of food and medicine due to a 60-day Israeli blockade.
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Sydney Roosters' centre Robert Toia wants to follow in the footsteps of Greg Inglis and play for Queensland.
Toia had the best match in his nine-game NRL career in the 36-26 win over the Dolphins on Friday night.
Two tries showcased his body swerve and deadly right-foot step.
After back-to-back ACL ruptures, the 20-year-old former Redcliffe junior's career is starting to take off.
His two tries and a try assist were just too much for the Dolphins to handle in front of almost 50,000 spectators at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
