Australian news and politics recap April 22: Dutton, Albanese face off for third leaders debate
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Key Events
So who won the debate? The verdict is in
The verdict is in from Channel 9 panel on who won the debate…?
First up is 2GB’s Deb Knight, who says Peter Dutton edged it over Anthony Albanese.
“I think that they both performed very strongly. They were both very relaxed. They were both not just sticking to the talking points, but showing a bit more of humanity, which is what we wanted to encourage in this debate,” she says.
Ms Knight praised Mr Dutton for making strong and clear points and for debating with confidence.
It was “very, very close,” but he won over the PM when he needed to, she says.
Phil Coorey, the AFR’s political editor, says Mr Dutton won a number of fronts, including on the cost-of-living, where he was more precise and made points that were easier to digest.
“He had to come from further behind and he had to do better,” he says, but Mr Coorey still gives the victory to the PM by “half a percent” as Mr Dutton lost his composure at the start of the debate.
With the deciding vote, Charles Croucher, political editor at 9News rules the winner is Peter Dutton – “by a nose!”
Mr Dutton had his best of three debates tonight, he says.
“He brought his best cost of living material today and his facts down pat.”
Debate gets fiery over recession language
Both leaders have been in a spin around who would be the best economic manager.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton was asked about where he would make cuts in his “economic surgery” to restore the budget.
While responding he accused the Labor Government of trashing the budget and only having some positives to tell because they have “benefited from a variation in the commodity prices”.
“That means that the prices of iron ore and our other commodities have gone up, and that’s what’s given the government a bigger revenue than expected,” he said.
He accused them of being the biggest spending government in four decades.
“That’s what has led the Reserve Bank Governor to warn Australians and to warn this government that our home grown inflation problem is of the government’s making,” he said.
Mr Dutton went on to say: “The Prime Minister spoke before about interest rates coming back.
“They’re not looking like they’re coming back any time soon… unless they throw us into a recession.”
After his remarks, Anthony Albanese piped up at his wording.
He accused the Liberal leader of putting words in the RBA Governor’s mouth and making “extraordinary comments” on a recession.
“The leader of the Opposition just made an extraordinary comment, which exemplifies one of the things this election is about - him talking Australia down,” Mr Albanese said.
“He just talked about recession and said that was inevitable - said that was the only way the interest rates would come down.
“He verballed the Reserve Bank.”
Mr Dutton interjected and fired back: “PM let me tell you, you are loose”.
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Leaders debate still fiery after subdued day 26 on the campaign trail
The third leaders debate has been more fiery than anticipated after the subdued day on the campaign trail.
Both leaders had suspended their campaign activities earlier in the day in respect of Pope Francis passing on Easter Monday.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton had even been out in Orange for a regional announcement but had cancelled the appearance to fly to Sydney for mass at St Mary’s Cathedral.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was in Melbourne and also attended mass.
Their responses left many questioning if the debate would go ahead and if it did, what it would look like.
But the leaders put on a show. There were interjections, mudslinging, and plenty of talking points.
Mr Dutton was strong on energy and cost-of-living. Mr Albanese was stern and appeared prepared on economy. Both tore down each other on multiple occasions.
A good show and getting better from the first and second debates.
It’s giving indication that Channel 7’s debate on Sunday, April 27 is going to be the best yet.
Thanks for joining us.
So who won the debate? The verdict is in
The verdict is in from Channel 9 panel on who won the debate…?
First up is 2GB’s Deb Knight, who says Peter Dutton edged it over Anthony Albanese.
“I think that they both performed very strongly. They were both very relaxed. They were both not just sticking to the talking points, but showing a bit more of humanity, which is what we wanted to encourage in this debate,” she says.
Ms Knight praised Mr Dutton for making strong and clear points and for debating with confidence.
It was “very, very close,” but he won over the PM when he needed to, she says.
Phil Coorey, the AFR’s political editor, says Mr Dutton won a number of fronts, including on the cost-of-living, where he was more precise and made points that were easier to digest.
“He had to come from further behind and he had to do better,” he says, but Mr Coorey still gives the victory to the PM by “half a percent” as Mr Dutton lost his composure at the start of the debate.
With the deciding vote, Charles Croucher, political editor at 9News rules the winner is Peter Dutton – “by a nose!”
Mr Dutton had his best of three debates tonight, he says.
“He brought his best cost of living material today and his facts down pat.”
PM uses final pitch to say Labor will protect Aussie from Coalition cuts
In the Prime Minister’s final pitch to voters, Anthony Albanese stuck to his party’s sweet spots.
He listed off their $8.5 billion Medicare plan, promised no cuts to education and health, and investment into schools and TAFE.
“We are in uncertain times, and this is not the time to cut, which is what the Coalition will do,” he said.
“The last time the Coalition came to office, they said there’d be no cuts to education and health. “This is a time for building, for strengthening Medicare, for helping to make things here in Australia, for helping to build up our schools from early childhood learning through to our schools program, which will give proper and fair funding for every student through to free TAFE.”
He also touched on the turmoil abroad and pinned himself as the safest pair of hands to steer Australia through it.
“This is a time as well where we need to make sure we have serious relationships with the world,” he said.
“From someone who’s engaged and built those relationships, has a record of building relationships - whether it be with the United States, the UK, whether it be in our region, in Asean or with our Pacific neighbours - This is a time to build Australia’s future, not to cut.”
Dutton sticks to key talking points in final pitch to voters
In their final pitch to voters, both leaders stuck to their strengths and campaign messaging.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton opened as he won the coin toss and started the debate.
He referred to the election on May 3 being a “sliding doors moment for the nation, to shake it up after three years of increased hardship.
“I think this is a sliding doors moment for our country,” he said.
He again touched on migration, housing, fuel and energy costs.
“We want to cut migration so that we can help restore the dream of home ownership,” he said.
“We want to cut the fuel tax by $0.25 a litre.
“We want to give you $1,200 back through the tax rebate.
“We want to make sure that we can fix the economy so that we can bring inflation down, bring interest rates down and grow the economy.
“We want to help people with cost of living pressures.
“(We) also make sure that our country can be safe in a very uncertain time.
“We need to also make sure that at this election, we elect a Prime Minister who has strength of character and the ability to stand up for our country in a very uncertain time.
“And I believe with my experience, I have the ability to say to the Australian people that I can lead our country through an uncertain time, rebuild the economy and help get the cost of living pressures down so that families can afford to live again.”
Leaders credit each other on their care for their families and dedication to politics
The leaders were asked to provide three nice things they like about each other.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joked: “I only ever prepare for one” - clearly ready for the common debate question.
He credited rival Opposition leader Peter Dutton being a family man and for his “longevity in politics”.
Mr Dutton responded to echo the family remarks, mentioning Jodie and saying his son Nathan is “a great young bloke”. He also credited him for his support of the Coalition-prompted AUKUS deal.
Both leaders reject Greens in the event of minority government
Both leaders have been asked if they would do a deal with the Greens in the event of a minority government. It’s a question that has been asked throughout the campaign.
Both have previously said “no” and again said “no” during the debate.
It’s been a key attack line of the Coalition against Labor, though.
Awkward: Dutton slams PM for rejecting debate requests...during debate
There was a bit of an awkward moment towards the end of the debate.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton was responding to questions around his nuclear plan and ended his response by accusing the PM of rejecting his debate requests.
“Let’s have a mature debate. I wrote to the Prime Minister six months ago, offering a debate anywhere, any time. He’s never taken up that offer,” Mr Dutton said.
Host of the third leaders’ debate on Nine Ally Langdon questioned: “Well, we’re here? Debating tonight?”
Then, Mr Albanese responded:
“I, as Prime Minister, unlike other prime ministers in the past, have agreed to four debates,” he said.
“I’m happy to have debates and hopefully… we’ll have one more. And, you know, I’m happy to argue the case because what Peter hasn’t been able to come up with is where the money comes from.”
Albanese makes his final pitch
In his closing statement, the PM picks up his common refrain that “we are in uncertain times”.
He turns on the Opposition saying “this is not the time to cut, which is what the Coalition will have to do in order to pay for their nuclear plants.”
He says Labor is committed to building the country, “strengthening Medicare….helping to build up our schools from early childhood learning through to our schools program, which will give proper and fair funding for every student through to free TAFE.”
He also spruiks Labor’s ability to “make sure we have serious relationships with the world” and its record of “building relationships, whether it be with the United States, the UK,” or in the region with Pacific neighbours.
“This is a time to build Australia’s future, not to cut”
Dutton admits nuclear isn’t a vote winner but says he’s ‘committed’
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has been asked about his nuclear policy.
While it has been a big talking point prior to the election, the Liberal leader has barely mentioned it on the campaign trail except when prompted by journalist questions.
Despite travelling to a dozen fuel stations nationwide to spruik his fuel policy, he hasn’t visited one of his proposed reactor sites.
Journalist: “Mr Dutton, the election has variously been described as a referendum on several things, one of them being nuclear energy. If you’re unsuccessful on May 3rd. Will you bend your nuclear energy policy?”
Dutton: “We are committed to nuclear - not because it’s politically popular,” he stated.
“I haven’t committed to nuclear energy for votes.
“I committed to it because it’s in the best interests of our country.
“And when you look at the top 20 economies in the world, Australia is the only one that hasn’t embraced or hasn’t signed up to or already has nuclear power.
“We’re paying three times the cost of electricity in this country compared to other parts of the world that have nuclear underpinning renewables.
“We can’t pretend that, as the Prime Minister and (Energy Minister) Chris Bowen keep talking about, that wind is free and solar is free.
“If that were the case, why have your power bills gone up?
“As the Prime Minister pointed out, he signed up to the nuclear submarines knowing that it was a safe technology. It zero emissions. So it’s the only way?”
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