Australian news and politics recap: Anthony Albanese flails on bills and Peter Dutton fails to land knockout

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Let’s not sugar-coat things - this was a pretty boring affair, with about as much action as the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul boxing match.

Neither party managed a knockout blow and you can’t help but feel that neither of them really detests their opponent.

Peter Dutton was strong on energy and his admission that he got it wrong regarding his response to the Indonesia/Russia story.

It’s the first time he’d admitted that publicly since the story blew up late yesterday afternoon.

And he was at his strongest when attacking Anthony Albanese on his “problem with the truth”.

The PM was more confident in rattling off his list of achievements, and generally focused on his own Government more when given the chance.

But he got stuck when the host, David Speers, repeatedly asked him when power bills were coming down, a key promise of Albo’s on the 2022 campaign trail.

He didn’t answer, of course. Because he couldn’t.

Albanese delivers his closing statement but has to be cut offf as he’s over time.

“This election is a real choice, a choice between Labor’s plans to build Australia’s future and the Coalition’s plans for cuts when it comes to education,” he says.

“We have schools funding, childcare making it more affordable. Our universities accord, or a plan to get rid of free TAFE, to cut schools like what happened last time, with $30 billion of cuts on Medicare ... we’ll strengthen it.

“People know that we believe in Medicare. And they know that the last time they were in government and Peter was the Health Minister, they tried to introduce an abolition of bulk billing. That is a choice that they have.

“On climate change we’ve heard tonight acceptance of the science of climate change. We accept it and we’re acting on it with renewables backed by gas, batteries and making sure that we deliver on climate change and on renewable energy.

“When it comes to agenda issues we didn’t confront today, we had a women’s health program, the most significant we have had. We had paid parental leave. We have had a gender program that puts women at the centre of our economic and social agenda. And the Coalition have not done anything on any of those issues.”

“As we go to May 3, people need to reflect on what’s happened in our country, in your lives over the course of the last three years. And as I said in my opening remarks, can you answer the question are you better off today than you were three years ago?

“For the vast majority of Australians the answer is no.

“We have a positive plan for our country. We have a desire to manage our economy.

“If people vote for the Liberal and National parties at the next election, we’ll successfully manage the economy to clean up Labor’s mess. We’ll bring inflation down which brings interest rates down. We’ll restore the dream of home ownership.

“If Australians vote for the Liberal and National Party candidates at the next election they’ll get a 25 cent reduction in the price of petrol and diesel and $1200 back, the tax you’ve paid, to help you cope with the pressures that you’re under at the moment.

“I want to make sure we can invest into defence and make sure that we can take crime seriously and reduce the problem of crime as it exists in our communities, in our suburbs across the country.

“My vision for our country is to make us a safer, more prosperous nation. And on May 3, I ask for the support of the Australian people.”

The leaders were asked whether it would be a disaster if their counterpart won.

Mr Dutton said the two could see eye to eye on some issues, but not all.

“On matters of national security or issues that are important for our country, the Prime Minister and I can have a conversation and have on a number of occasions to find a bipartisan position to advance that cause,” he said.

“But as Anthony points out, we’ve got different visions and different pathways.”

It’s time for closing statements. Speers has a chuckle while asking whether it would be diastrous for the country “if the other guy won”.

Albanese goes first.

“I think there are very different values that we have,” he says.

“I can have a private discussion with Peter and call him round to the office and he does so regularly.

“And my office is open to every member of parliament. But I don’t take this personally.

“I have a very different view of Australia and I think that Peter has taken his party to a more conservative bent that it has ever been.

“And I want very much to be able to continue the work that our government has been able to achieve.”

Speers asks the PM what Labor’s plan is to close the gap, noting the massive discrepancies around suicide rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Albanese acknowledges neither side has done well for First Nations people.

“That’s just a fact, and that’s something that breaks my heart,” he says.

“But, what we did post (The Voice) referendum ... I went to GARMA and spoke about economic empowerment of Indigenous people. We have a series of programs.

“We accept the decision of the Australian people in that referendum.”

Peter Dutton has referred to the failed Voice referendum when asked why he had not visited an Aboriginal community on the campaign so far.

“We went to Alice Springs and we spoke to a lot of people after the Voice in particular where people were devastated because the practical assistance promised by the Prime Minister hasn’t been delivered,” he said.

“And the attempt was made to divide our country on the Voice, I think the Government has done a lot of damage in relation to this area.”

The AUKUS deal is up next. Speers asks the PM whether there is a need for any contingency plan if Elon Musk advises Trump the US ship building industry can’t cope with sharing submarines with Australia.

“No. This is in the interests of both Australia and the US and the UK as well,” he says.

“The important thing about international relations is that you shouldn’t try to score domestic political points through it.”

Peter Dutton says he would repeat the Coaltion’s previous deal with US to get exemption on tariffs.

Mr Dutton said he could emulate the previous tariff exemption won by Australia.

“As we did last time, we were able to leverage relationships,” he said.

“Sadly for our country, ambassador Rudd can’t get into the West Wing and can’t get a meeting with the President.”