Federal election 2025 LIVE updates: Dutton pledges $40b debt cut; Albanese campaigns in Perth
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6.21am
Dutton's drive-by: Opposition leader hits Kooyong, no questions allowed
Rachael Dexter
On Wednesday night Opposition Leader Peter Dutton made a rare appearance in the seat of Kooyong, joining Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer at the Tower Hotel in Hawthorn East — a venue that has become known for its vocal anti-Monique Ryan campaigning with an enormous anti-Monique Ryan sign mounted on the pub.
It marked just his second visit to the seat the Liberals are eager to win back.
Despite the significance of the visit, the man hoping to become prime minister did not take questions from the media.
This masthead was present when Dutton arrived at the venue, delayed by anti-nuclear protesters stationed outside the pub and dressed in hazmat suits.
I attempted to approach Dutton to ask several questions — most pressingly, for his response to reports of neo-Nazis impersonating Liberal campaigners in Kooyong, which dominated local headlines yesterday.
However, a media advisor from Dutton's office informed me that questions would not be permitted, as the event was not a press conference.
It appears media attendees were invited solely for photos and vision, with no opportunity to engage the opposition leader directly.
The visit to Kooyong was part of a broader blitz across Melbourne's marginal seats, with Dutton also stopping in Dunkley and Aston on Wednesday.
After one of the most dramatic days in Kooyong, the opposition leader came, smiled, and left — all without taking a single question.
Follow our Victorian hot seats blog here.
6.21am
Albanese outlasts Whitlam
Anthony Albanese on Wednesday marked a small victory - surpassing Gough Whitlam's time in office.
The Prime Minister said he was determined to become a leader with a long legacy.
'The problem [with Whitlam] was that yes he introduced Medibank, but he wasn't there long enough and a lot of his reforms disappeared,' Albanese said, as he ducked and weaved volunteers around the local polling booth.
'A long term Labor government, like [under] Bob Hawke, his reforms entrenched a lot of change.'
One woman lining up to vote told Albanese as she shook his hand that she 'believed in his values'.
'It's all about that, what you say, no one left behind and no one held back,' she said.
Albanese quipped that she had evidently watched his National Press Club address earlier that day.
6.20am
Mixed bag for PM's arrival in WA
Jeers and adulation greeted the prime minister as he made a wicked blitz to the west on Wednesday evening.
Fresh off a speech in the nation's capital, Albanese has soared across the country to court voters at a pre-polling booth in the Perth suburb of Midland.
Shoulder-to-shoulder with two local candidates the group took to a voting centre which borders the crucial seats of Hasluck and Bullwinkel.
Things got off to their usual start with the prime minister cooing at five-and-half-month -old Annabelle as mum Kyra lined up to cast her vote.
But the situation quickly devolved.
Liberal volunteers began yelling 'keep the sheep', kicking off a chain reaction of chants from party supporters. Labor's army began repeating their party name, prompting one Greens supporter to yell 'stop AUKUS'.
Though voters remained relatively unfazed.
'It's an enormous privilege to meet you,' David Leith said as Albanese greeted queuing locals.
6.20am
Good morning
By Angus Delaney
Good morning and thank you for joining our live coverage of the election campaign.
There's just two more sleeps until polling day! My name's Angus Delaney and I'll be helming the blog into the afternoon.
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an hour ago
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The Advertiser
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Perth Now
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