Peter Dutton named winner by panel in third leaders' debate — as it happened (2025)

Thanks for joining us for another day on the election campaign and third leaders debate. I hope you’ve had fun and maybe even learned a thing or two.

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Just joining us now? Have no fear, here's a quick recap of what went down.

• Both leaders kicked off the debate by sharing a message of condolence for Catholics at the passing of Pope Francis.
• Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was repeatedly asked why he couldn't convince voters struggling with the cost of living to vote for the Coalition.
• Anthony Albanese said he'd be willing to stake his prime ministership on bulk billing rates. It led to a heated exchange between the pair.
• It's probably no surprise that the PM was asked about a promise he made at the last election to reduce power bills by $275 (and probably even less of a surprise he deflected to talking about Labor's energy bill subsidies).
• Dutton says he'd be willing to let his kids access their super to buy a house, and ruled out reforms to the capital gains taxif elected.
• The pair traded barbs over the handling of Donald Trump's trade tariffs.
• Dutton was asked if his outlook is too black and white, while Albanese was questioned if he's too "soft".
• But both leaders stumbled on their slogan to viewers.
• In their final pitches, Dutton describes the election as a "sliding doors moment" while Albanese says now is not the time to switch up the government.

Sam:I don't think either leader of there parties had there big moment, they had smaller moments where they looked good but overall it was close but I say Albo in the debate

MB:The debate (as expected) was largely rehearsed lines. Dutton's approach just doesn't seem to try to capture the centre of Australia, whilst Albanese seems so keen to stay in the centre he loses some of his more progressive voters who are likely to vote Greens instead. All in all, Albo probably won for me - though it certainly wasn't an outstanding debate or an opinion changer!

Gen:As a young female voter, I’m feeling more confident in Dutton’s ability to run the economy. He appears to care more about spending. I appreciated his honesty about aligning with independent parties, where I suspect Albo wasn’t as truthful.

Nine's panel has just delivered its verdict, and the winner is Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

But the panel was split.

Deb Knight says it was very close but Dutton performed better than Anthony Albanese tonight.

Phil Cooreysays while Dutton was more concise, Albanese won it "by a nose".

Charles Croucher says Dutton also performed better than previous debates and says he "won by a nose".

Luke:Why do the leadership debates to help inform undecided voters only involve the leaders of the two majors, and not Adam Bandt for example? Given the likelihood of a hung parliament, it would seem appropriate the Greens and Bandt be part of these debates and the issues that matter to voters.

While the prospect of minority remains high, it's all but certain that either Anthony Albanese or Peter Dutton will be prime minister. It would then be for Albanese or Dutton to negotiate with Bandt and the crossbench to form government.

That said, it's not without precedent for a third leader to be on the stage, just not in Australia.

In 2010, the British election featured a TV debate with the incumbent PM, Labour's Gordon Brown, Conservative rival David Cameron and Liberal Democratic leader Nick Clegg. Cameron went on to win the election in minority, offering Clegg the deputy prime ministership in a Coalition government. No such three-way has been seen in the years since

Neither Albanese nor Dutton are offering a coalition agreement like that with the Greens

Nine's experts are still deciding who won, but here's who you thought performed best:

Rob: Albo all the way. Even the state libs don't want nuclear, surely the libs drop Dutton and this policy after they lose the election.

Steve: I think Dutton is more pragmatic with a touch of hope. Albanese has been in government for years and is spruiking a lot of programs that could have been done by now. The way forward in today's economy is with caution and getting the best from our resources. I'd give Dutton a fair go to get Australia back on track.

Big Ben: Albo didn't answer the question on bringing insurance prices down... and Dutto missed a free kick to nail that one for himself. Sad. Albo wins by half a length.

Back to this moment during the debate where Albanese said he wouldn't form a government with the Greens and Dutton called that claim an 'untruth'

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A lot of ground was covered during the debate, but no real spectacular moments.

The rapid fire round at the end did provide some colourful moments though.

They had a tussle over whether Labor would join with The Greens to form government, in the event the Australian public elect a minority government.

The PM said they wouldn’t. Dutton argued they would.

How about their first priority if they are successful? Albanese: cut student debt. Dutton: halve the fuel excise.

Elsewhere in the debate, there was a heavy focus on cost of living and housing. Both leaders think they are taking winning policies to the electorate, although experts have been critical.

Albanese was asked about how young Australians will afford a home if prices keep climbing. Albanese insisted buying a house would still be within reach because buyers only need a five per cent deposit.

Dutton was quizzed on his policy to access superannuation to buy a home, telling the audience he would advise his son to do it because buying a house sooner would leave them better off.

It was a civil affair capped off by the leaders appointing each other’s families as their main “something nice” about their opponent.

But ultimately, both stuck to their talking points. Will the fourth and final debate on Sunday be any different?

J: Love listening to party leaders completely ignore the question and talk about something else entirely... -.-

Harry:This debate feels like a win for the major parties and the real loser in the tax payer. No substantive differences, both leaders are giving very dim outlooks on the next few years of government.

Stevel: As an outsider unable to vote, I think Dutton has a clearer message with facts, Albo is good at waxing. Think Dutton is winning this

Frances: Feel a bit silly that I never knew that Dutton was a good bit taller than Albanese.

Anthony Albanese has the last word tonight. He says we live in an uncertain time and now is not the time to make cuts.

"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 says.

No sign of a Medicare card though (Albanese has been whipping it often out during the campaign).

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is first up to deliver his closing remarks for tonight's leaders debate.

Dutton says this election is a "sliding doors moment for our country".

He's listed off the Coalition's policies, including a fuel excise cut, reducing inflation and tackling crime.

"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," he says.

It's a classic leaders' debate question with a twist: they have to name threenice things about each other.

"I only ever prepare for one," Albanese jokes.

His list includes Dutton's "terrific family" whom he says he "clearly cares about", then adds his "longevity in politics" and the fact he has contested a marginal seat for much of his time in parliament.

Dutton also begins with family, saying Albanese's son Nathan is "a great young bloke" as is his partner Jodie. And he adds that he admires Albanese's support of AUKUS from opposition .

What is the first item on the to-do list if Anthony Albanese is re-elected?

The PM says the first cab off the rank is introducing legislation to cut student debt by 20 per cent.

Meanwhile, Peter Dutton points to his plan to cut the fuel tax excise and support to first-home buyers.

Moderated Ally Langdon has to interject as he goes a little over the allotted 10 seconds.

It's a simple response from both leaders.

Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese say they support four year electoral terms.

But Albanese says he won't go to a referendum on it.

"Will you do a deal with minority parties?"

Albanese says no. Dutton says "not with the Greens" but he would with independents, before accusing Albanese of lying and saying Labor "will fall over themselves to do a deal with the Greens."

"No I won't, as I said consistently," Albanese says.

Anthony Albanese has jumped in again. He says he's happy to continue debating the opposition leader on nuclear.

"I'm happy to argue the case because what Peter hasn't been able to come up with is where the money comes from," he says.

Peter Dutton has interjected and says nuclear energy is a more efficient way to generate electricity.

He says the reason people won't invest in nuclear energy in Australia is because it's illegal.

"Their policy requires an overbuild of the system," he says.