Opposition Leader Peter Dutton narrowly won the third and final leaders’ debate of the federal election campaign, following a fiery exchange with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over key issues such as the cost of living, nuclear energy, budget savings, and foreign policy.
The debate, aired on Nine’s The Great Debate, was decided 2-1 by a panel of experts. Nine political editor Charles Croucher and radio host Deborah Knight gave the edge to Dutton, while Australian Financial Review’s Phil Coorey favoured Albanese.
“Very close, but I think by far Peter Dutton’s best debate… in my eyes, he won by a nose,” Croucher said.
The debate turned heated early when Albanese accused the Coalition of slashing $80 billion from health and education in the 2014 budget.
Dutton interjected, “Prime Minister, you couldn’t lie straight in bed. Honestly, this is unbelievable.” Albanese replied, “You can go to personal abuse, that’s a sign of desperation, Peter, frankly.”
AAP FactCheck later clarified that Dutton’s 2014 plans included $50 billion in proposed but unrealised hospital spending reductions, along with $30 billion in projected education savings.
Moderator Ally Langdon criticised both leaders’ fiscal plans, saying, “I’m not sure that anyone at home is feeling that either of you are being fiscally responsible… we’re really concerned about the level of debt we’re going to be leaving our grandkids.”
Dutton backed nuclear energy, saying it was essential despite political unpopularity: “We’re paying three times the cost of electricity… compared to other parts of the world that have nuclear underpinning renewables.”
Albanese dismissed nuclear as a “friendless policy,” citing legal and state-level roadblocks. “That’s why the business community signed up to our plan… Renewables, but backed by gas, hydro and batteries,” he said.
Dutton, who previously admitted to never meeting Donald Trump, emphasised his experience with past US administrations and accused Albanese of weak diplomacy: “He can’t even get a phone call.”
Albanese called Dutton’s claim that he could negotiate tariff exemptions with Trump “complete nonsense.”
Despite the combative tone, there were brief moments of consensus. Both leaders supported making big tech pay for news and restricting under-16s from social media. Dutton said the parties were on a “unity ticket,” and Albanese called the ban “world leading.”
They also exchanged compliments when asked to name three things they admired about each other, with both citing family as a shared value.
The debate concluded a high-stakes campaign stretch with Dutton gaining momentum, though the final decision now rests with voters.
Source: 9News.
