Federal election 2025 live updates: Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton campaign in final week before Australia votes – latest news (2025)

Dutton says there’s not going to be a nuclear site in his electorate, after treasurer Jim Chalmers claimed twice that the Coalition would build a plant in Dutton’s seat of Dickson.

Dutton was asked recently whether he’d feel comfortable living near a nuclear power plant, to which he replied yes. Then Chalmers twice told reporters that the comment meant the Coalition would build a plant in his seat. On Monday, Chalmers said:

To all of those people in that wonderful part of southeast Queensland, in the electorate of Dickson, you all need to know that your local member wants to build a nuclear reactor in your suburbs.

Today, Dutton accused Labor of “playing games”:

Those seven sites were identified around the country. There’s not one in my electorate. So the Prime Minister can play all sorts of games.

He was also asked about the anti-nuclear protesters earlier today, when he was pledging funding for a local football club. He blames the teals and the Greens for pulling “stunts”.

In relation to the kids who I think were disappointed to have their event disrupted, it would have been nice to spend more time with them but there were Greens and teal supporters dressed up and it was a stunt…

It made no difference to me in terms of protest activity, but it disrupted an event where we wanted to talk about helping kids play junior rugby.

Josh Butler had the full story here.

Dutton says costings will be provided ‘in due course’ despite only four days until election

It feels like rapid-fire today, Dutton’s giving shorter answers, and skipping through reporters trying to ask follow-up questions.

He’s asked about how he’ll pay for all of his promises (a reminder, the Coalition hasn’t yet released its costings). The AFR’s Michael Read says Dutton’s mentioned that the tax offset and petrol excise will cost $16bn, and he’s looked at reversing Labor’s tax cuts to pay for defence spending – so how will it all be paid for?

Dutton says the costings will be provided “in due course” (there are only four days left until election day).

We’ve provided some of the costings and we’ll provide those costings in due course in relation to our policies but they’ll demonstrate that the bottom line will always be better under a Liberal government. We’ll always manage the economy more effectively.

Dutton quizzed over Exclusive Brethren church members volunteering for Liberals

There are plenty of Coalition-related headlines today – the next that gets thrown to Dutton is on members of the Exclusive Brethren church volunteering for his party.

Dutton says the Liberal party “has not recruited people from particular religions”.

We’re not discriminating against anybody on the basis of their religion. We have people of I suspect every religion supporting us …

Again the reporter tries to push back, saying, “Isn’t it weird that … ” before they also get cut off by Dutton and he moves to the next reporter.

Dutton is asked about a candidate who, it was revealed yesterday, had made disparaging remarks at Tanya Plibersek after it was reported her daughter had experienced domestic violence at the hands of a former partner.

Dutton yesterday said the candidate for Fowler, Vivek Singha, had apologised but wouldn’t address questions on whether the candidate should be disendorsed.

He’s asked again today whether it’s appropriate he should sit in a Coalition party room when the Coalition has been touting its plan to address domestic violence. Dutton says:

I’ve condemned the comments you referred to. They’ve been apologised for. I’m not going to take a lecture from the Labor party …

The reporter interjects to say it’s not a “lecture from the Labor party”. Dutton continues:

I’m not going to take a lecture from the Labor party in terms of candidate selection. They have people out there who are questionable to say the least.

He then moves on again despite the reporter trying to push back again.

Peter Dutton evades question on One Nation preference deal

The Coalition has made a preference deal with One Nation – something that hasn’t been done by the Liberal party from John Howard to Scott Morrison.

Dutton is asked why the minor right-wing party has been preferenced in the majority of electorates.

He doesn’t really answer the question:

We’ve taken the decision that we want to make sure that Australians can preference us first. That’s the most important way to be able to change this government …

The reporter pushes back asking specifically why One Nation is being preferenced.

But Dutton is trying hard to control the press pack today and says he’ll only take one question each from reporters, and goes to the next question.

Dutton says Greens, ETU and CFMEU members ‘intimidate’ polling station workers

Dutton is asked about the vandalism of his office in his seat of Dickson.

He blames the Greens as well as ETU and CFMEU union workers for their behaviour.

I want to make sure that we have disagreements and we can have disagreements …

To see Greens supporters and others out there shouting at booths, you know, we employ security guards now at booths because ETU workers and CFMEU workers intimidate older ladies. And you see the vandalism, that is outrageous.

Dutton fronts the media – take two

Peter Dutton has now moved to the southern highlands in NSW, after the location of his first planned media appearance was taken over by some protesters.

Dutton starts his preamble with the campaign greatest hits – he spruiks the tax rebate, fuel excise cut, and investments in crime and defence.

It’s a quick preamble, and he gets on to questions – the first on whether he’s been underestimated by voters.

Dutton doesn’t really go to the crux of the issue, but says, “I think there are a long way to go and people are undecided.”

The dog days could soon be over for the prime minister as a different species of pollster moves in his favour, AAP reports.

The fate of Anthony Albanese’s campaign was placed in the snouts of predictive pooches during an FM radio blitz in Brisbane on Tuesday morning.

Suki, Snapper and Marlin, who belong to the crew of the Robin and Kip with Corey Oates radio show, were asked to choose between two treat plates: a red one for Labor and blue for the Liberals.

As the humans vacated the room, Suki and Snapper made a beeline for the Labor dish while Marlin took a moment to ponder before following suit.

The hosts also discussed Albanese’s own cavoodle as the prime minister brandished fresh socks emblazoned with his fur-baby’s face.

“I share custody of Toto with my ex-wife,” he told Kiis radio.

The Australian Electoral Commission has referred to its integrity taskforce a video which showed two people wearing Monique Ryan T-shirts and saying a community organisation – which has historical links to the Chinese Communist party’s foreign interference operation – told them to vote for the teal MP.

An AEC spokesperson said in a statement that it is aware of the story published in the Age newspaper.

Ryan told Sky News this morning she had contacted the AEC and the Department of Parliamentary Services about the issue, and told them to investigate if there were any concerns.

Certainly no one’s been compelled to volunteer for me, but I’m grateful for those people who’ve come out to volunteer on my camp.

The AEC spokesperson said it was also aware of Liberal senator James Paterson’s comments calling for the matter to be investigated by the federal police and Asio.

The AEC is aware of the article published in The Age yesterday, as well as the statement published by Senator Paterson. The AEC will review this matter in the same way that we review all matters that are raised with us.

This includes referral for consideration by the Electoral Integrity Assurance taskforce. The AEC was not contacted by the Age prior to the original story running.

Multiple agencies contribute to the electoral integrity assurance taskforce, including the federal police, Asio, Australian signals directorate and home affairs department.

Before Peter Dutton’s media appearance was gatecrashed by anti-nuclear protesters from a local union group, he was meeting members of the St George’s Basin Dragons football club.

We’ve now got the announcement he was planning to make there, a $3.5m commitment to build a pavilion at Francis Ryan Reserve in Sanctuary Point.

The money will go toward a new amenities building, to include changerooms and amenities for women and match officials, a veranda, a kiosk and store, fitness spaces, a ticket booth, and a terrace comms box.

It’s in the Labor seat of Gilmore, where Liberal candidate Andrew Constance is challenging. Dutton said in a statement:

This new pavilion will meet the needs of this growing community and the increased participation of young women and girls in rugby league and cricket.

A Coalition government I lead will never leave Sanctuary Point or the South Coast behind. The community has a powerful and experienced advocate for their needs in Andrew Constance.

The Dutton campaign is winding its way through the beautiful NSW south coast today. We’re expecting the rescheduled press conference to occur sometime later today, once we stop the bus.

PM visits Bonner and gets snapped with another baby

We have some more pictures of Anthony Albanese out at a pre-poll station in the LNP held seat of Bonner.

Pollies just love holding babies out on the campaign trail don’t they?

Welcome to country ceremonies to go ahead at Women’s State of Origin and NRL’s Magic Round

Welcome to country ceremonies will be held as planned before both Thursday’s Women’s State of Origin clash and the men’s Magic Round, which gets under way on Friday, as the NRL remains committed to its Reconciliation Action Plan despite the politicisation of the practice.

Peter Dutton said the ceremonies were “overdone” in a televised debate on Sunday with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who said deciding whether to include a welcome to country was up to individual organisations but that the practice was a “matter of respect”.

The Magic Round will be held on the same day as the federal election on 3 May.

You can read the full story here:

The Australian electoral commission put out a call yesterday, encouraging those attending the Magic Round to “vote before you go”.