Anthony Albanese Wins First Federal Election Debate

In the first leaders’ debate of the 2025 federal election, Anthony Albanese came out on top, comfortably beating Peter Dutton in a town hall-style forum that zeroed in on cost of living—a key issue for voters right now. The final score from the 100 undecided voters? 44 backed Albanese, 35 supported Dutton, and 21 were still on the fence.

The debate didn’t break new ground on policy but had its moments, especially when it came to household finances. Both leaders pitched their solutions: Labor pushing a smaller, permanent tax cut, while the Coalition offered a bigger, temporary cut to the fuel excise.

Dutton, however, left the door open to extending his fuel tax cut promise beyond one year, especially after being nudged by a truckie in the crowd.

The two also went head-to-head on health, education, housing, and migration—though always with the cost of living in mind. The vibe from the audience was clear: people are feeling the pinch, and they want real help now.

Albanese leaned into a hopeful message, encouraging Aussies to “seize the opportunities,” while Dutton was more critical, saying Australians had “gone backwards” over the past three years. That contrast set the tone for the night.

There was also a glimpse into foreign policy: on Trump’s tariffs, Albanese said Australia is “prepared” and well-positioned for global trade, while Dutton took a tougher stance, saying he’d stand up to bullies. On the war in Gaza, Albanese stuck to his call for a ceasefire and a two-state solution, while Dutton quickly turned the focus to condemning local acts of violence.

But some of the most powerful moments came from everyday Australians in the crowd. One emotional point came from Janine, a 74-year-old grandmother worried about her kids’ and grandkids’ future in a housing market increasingly impacted by foreign investment. Both leaders reassured her they support a two-year ban on foreigners buying existing homes.

There were a few zingers too. Albanese jabbed that the Coalition’s “only gas policy is gaslighting the Australian public,” while Dutton fired back at Labor’s Medicare rhetoric, saying a Medicare card alone won’t cut it when gap fees are rising. Albanese responded by reminding viewers Dutton extended the Medicare rebate freeze as health minister.

In a quickfire round at the end, Dutton promised no changes to work-from-home policies (after already backing down on that earlier this week), and Albanese vowed not to legislate the Indigenous Voice following the failed referendum. And while Albanese said there’d be “no deals with the Greens,” Dutton closed with a warning about a potential Labor-Greens minority government.

All up, it was a punchy start to the campaign—more about tone and trust than big policy reveals. But for many voters, especially those feeling the crunch, it was a chance to see how each leader connects with real people.