In the third leaders’ debate of the Australian election campaign, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was narrowly declared the winner by a panel of experts.
The debate, hosted by the Nine Network on April 22, 2025, featured Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Dutton engaging in a spirited discussion on key policy issues and personal attributes.
Who Won the Debate?
The Nine News panel, consisting of Deb Knight from 2GB, Phil Coorey of the Australian Financial Review, and Charles Croucher from Nine News, voted 2-1 in favour of Dutton. While Coorey believed Albanese performed slightly better overall, he acknowledged Dutton’s strong performance on cost-of-living issues.
Knight praised Dutton for his confidence and clear points, while Croucher noted that Dutton had his best debate yet, bringing precise facts and strong arguments on cost-of-living matters.
Key Takeaways from the Debate:
- Cost of Living: Dutton emphasised his plan to cut fuel taxes and provide tax rebates, which resonated with the panel. Albanese highlighted Labour’s cost-of-living relief measures, including cheaper childcare and energy bill relief.
- Energy Policy: Dutton defended his nuclear power policy, arguing it is in Australia’s best interest, while Albanese countered that nuclear energy does not stack up economically.
- Personal Attributes: The debate touched on personal qualities, with Dutton addressing concerns about his public image and Albanese defending his leadership style as kind yet tough.
- Policy Differences: The leaders clashed over budget cuts, with Dutton accusing Albanese of misrepresenting Coalition spending reductions. Albanese pointed to past cuts under the Coalition.
- Final Statements: Both leaders delivered strong closing statements, with Dutton framing the election as a “sliding doors moment” and Albanese emphasising Labour’s commitment to building Australia’s future without cuts.
The debate marked a significant moment in the campaign, with early voting underway and less than two weeks until the election. While Dutton was declared the winner, the margin was narrow, reflecting the closely contested nature of the campaign.