60 second guide to 2025 federal election campaign

Herald Sun

29-04-2025

The federal election campaign has been quite a wild ride … often for matters away from Australian shores.
From the death of a Pope to the birth of tariffs, from stage falls to the cost of eggs, this is your 60-second guide to the 2025 election. 1. Tariff-gate
America's 10 per cent tariff on Australian goods was not based in any logic, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared – yet damage was already done during the election campaign.
Donald Trump's trade war turbocharged the campaign, with Albo fighting back and Peter Dutton vowing it to take it to the US President. 2. Albo falls off a stage … or did he?
Anthony Albanese spectacularly backtracked on an admission that he fell off a stage in the first week of the election campaign – just hours after making the remarks.
Speaking at a WA leadership breakfast the Prime Minister revealed that 'probably falling off the stage' was the worst moment of the campaign so far.
But Mr Albanese later became shirty during a press conference, where he was grilled about the awkward incident.
'It was a joke,' Mr Albanese said. 'Chill out … I didn't fall.' 3. Dutton backflips, twists and double-pikes on WFH
Peter Dutton ditched his plan to make Canberra public servants work from the office five days a week after the policy proved unpopular with voters, particularly among women who want work flexibility, telling Australians 'we have listened'.
Mr Dutton admitted he was asking for forgiveness from female voters, saying it was a 'mistake' to stop Canberra public servants working from home. 4. Albo's goes nuclear on Dutton's $600bn dream
Anthony Albanese trolled Peter Dutton and his nuclear plan by visiting the town of Collie in WA – one of seven locations where the Opposition Leader plans to build a power plant.
'Peter Dutton has not been anywhere near any of the nuclear power plants that he proposes,' the Prime Minister said amid a string of ad campaign slamming the nuclear proposal.
'He hasn't been here. He hasn't been to Liddell. He hasn't been to Callide. Yesterday he was in Orange. He could have dropped by to Lithgow, deliberately went to Orange rather than Lithgow.' 5. Four debates, 12 eggs, no winners
Peter Dutton left the audience of the final leaders' debate gobsmacked when he could not answer how much a dozen eggs cost – though Albo did marginally better with his guess.
During a quickfire round on the Seven Network's Final Showdown, both Anthony Albanese and Mr Dutton were asked about the cost of a dozen eggs.
The Opposition Leader left audience members stunned by his answer of 'about $4.20,' with some audibly laughing at his guess.
The Prime Minister's answer was closer to the mark, with moderator Mark Riley declaring a dozen eggs would set a shopper back $8.80 from Coles and $8.50 from Woolworths. 6. Cost of living descends into battle of tax cuts
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton spent their election campaigns spruiking their cost of living measures to voters.
RedBridge polling showed cost of living measures are one of the most important factors in how Australians are choosing to vote.
In April 2025 Mr Albanese, who has previously said 'my word is my bond', conceded he did break his word on stage 3 tax cuts. 7. Polling blows and blow-ups
Polls have consistently pointed towards Labor being able to cobble together a minority government or a skinny majority, with the party remaining ahead of the Coalition on a slim margin.
In what could deliver the Greens and independents key control, a minority government is on the cards, much to the chagrin of many voters. 8. Russia comes knocking next door
Did Albo lie, or simply hide the truth?
When and how much Anthony Albanese knew about a Russian request to use a military base off Papua, just 1300km from Australia, for its own aircraft caused much debate.
Beyond fears of a Russian invasion came serious question marks over the honesty of the PM. 9. So much energy spent on ... energy
Anybody who predicts the direction of power prices now is 'making a punt,' Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said, in a stunning reversal compared to Labor's position prior to the 2022 poll when it vowed to slash household costs.
The cost of enegery bills has remained a topsy turvy affair which has got us talking and politicians sweating. 10. Much ado about Harry
Peter Dutton took the extraordinary step of rolling out son Harry to explain just how tough it is for young Aussies to afford a house.
The problem? His dad reportedly made $30 million worth of property transactions involving 26 pieces of real estate and was standing right next to him.
The Opposition Leader also receives a taxpayer-funded salary of $432,000. 11. Prop of green and gold terror
Anthony Albanese announced a new free, nationwide 24/7 health advice line and after hours GP telehealth service called 1800 MEDICARE as his last big political gamble of the election.
That continued weeks of a 'Mediscare' campaign in which Labor claimed Peter Dutton would slash Medicare. 12. The kiss that wasn't a kiss
When Anthony Albanese awkwardly snubbed Tanya Plibersek's attempt at a hug at his official campaign launch, no one inside the Labor machinery was surprised.
The pair's mutual dislike is well known by their colleagues and has been on full display in the final months of Labor's first term – but has a long and rich history dating back years. 13. Campaign's biggest moment wasn't a campaign moment
Both the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader paid tribute to Pope Francis after the pontiff's death, calling him a 'devoted champion and loving father' to Australian Catholics, and a man who 'served God with the utmost devotion'.
'He urged us to remember all we hold in common, and he asked the world to hear the cry of the Earth, our common home,' Albanese said.