A week-on from both Labor and the Coalition’s campaign launches, many voters have either ‘switched off’ or are on leave in a week sandwiched between Easter Monday and ANZAC Day.
With the 2025 Federal Election just over a week away, Pope Francis’ unexpected passing saw both Leaders opt to pause their respective campaigns, attend Mass, and pay their respects to the late Pontiff. Despite the subdued campaigning, both Leaders faced off in their third televised debate in Sydney. The debate saw both Leaders trade barbs on cost-of-living, bulk billing rates, housing, and Australia’s relationship with the United States.
While many pundits saw the debate as Opposition Leader Dutton’s strongest performance to date, with Gen Z and Millennials making up 42 per cent of the Australian voting population, Leaders’ debates are increasingly becoming about grabbing one-liners to connect with voters who grew up with smartphones in their pocket.
Although national polling sees Labor leading the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis, the outcome of the 2025 Federal Election will likely be determined by results in key marginal electorates across Australia. Over the coming days, expect both Leaders to crisscross the country and well exceed their daily 10,000 steps.
Top talking points
- Newspoll Polling: Labor leads[paywall] the Coalition 52-48 on a two-party preferred basis, with the Coalition’s popularity amongst female voters declining.
- Campaigns paused: Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Dutton paused their campaigns following the passing of Pope Francis. 9
- News Leaders’ Debate: Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton faced off again for their third debate in a televised debate on the 9News.
- Health Debate: Mark Butler and Anne Ruston outlined their health policy platforms in a debate hosted by the National Press Club.
- National Press Club Address: Nationals Leader David Littleproud addressed the National Press Club.
Making headlines this week
Coalition’s defence spending announcement
Ahead of ANZAC Day, Shadow Minister for Defence Andrew Hastie announced a $21 billion increase in defence spending. This will see Australia’s defence outlays increase from 2 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per of GDP within 5 years, increasing to 3 per cent of GDP over the next decade. This represents a $30.9 billion increase to the defence budget by 2029–30, $8.4 billion more than the Albanese Government’s planned spend for that year. Shadow Minister Hastie has argued that the increased defence spending will help increase recruitment into the Australian Defence Force, acquire more F-35 fighters, and cement the AUKUS submarine deal with the US.
Early voting commences
Australians have begun casting their ballots ahead of the 2025 Federal Election, with early voting closing on 30 April 2025. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is anticipating that over half of Australia’s 18 million voters will cast their ballots before the 3 May election date. Ahead of the 2022 Federal Election, AEC data shows that more than 5.6 million Australians opted to pre-poll their votes and another 1.8 million returned a postal vote, what does this mean for the much loved democracy sausage?
Things to watch
📺Final Leaders’ Debate: The fourth and final televised debate between Prime Minister Albanese and Opposition Leader Dutton will be hosted by 7News this Sunday.
💼Costings: Ahead of election day, expect both parties to release their costings next week.
🎙 MRP Polls: Look out for YouGov and Redbridge’s final MRP polls of key marginal electorates ahead of the 2025 Federal Election.
Support to end financial abuse and ABS spending data
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) welcomed the Albanese Government’s recent commitment to take steps to end financial abuse. Alongside ASFA, the Super Members Council, and Women in Super voiced its support, advocating for measures such as broadening the Forfeiture Rule to block offenders from receiving inheritances and strengthening the investigative authority of superannuation funds to withhold death benefit payouts.
Elsewhere, the ABS released government spending data from the 2023-24 financial year, showcasing Australia’s net operating balance was $18.9 billion in 2023-24, $19.3 billion from the previous year. Government revenue rose 5.9 per cent and expenses rose 8.4 per cent.
Free Trade Area Upgrades and Military Exercises
In trade, the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) Upgrade entered into force for Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, and Brunei, easing the process for traders to access a reduction or elimination of tariffs on 97.7 per cent of all Australian exports to the region. The Upgrade also provides regulatory certainty for service providers, new commitments on e-commerce and consumer protections, and new chapters concerning sustainable development and micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Lastly, the Department of Defence announced that Australia and Papua New Guinea will host Exercise Talisman Sabre from 13 July to 4 August 2025 with participating military personnel from 19 nations. The exercise will focus on combat across land, air, sea, space, and cyber domains.
Road funding commitments and communications updates
On the campaign trail, the Coalition unveiled a $250 million investment in the Roads to Recovery program, facilitating local governments to maintain and enhance safer roads. Additionally, Peter Dutton matched Labor’s commitment to invest $300 million in a new interchange for the Calder Freeway in Melbourne.
In communications, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) called for politicians across the political spectrum to address the digital divide between rural, regional, and metropolitan Australians, referencing connectivity concerns. Meanwhile, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young demanded the Australian Government to take further action to ban gambling advertising, following claims that the Anthony Albanese intervened to prevent reform.
Campaign commitments for Mental Health, Penalty-rates and Medical Education funding
On the campaign trail, Labor committed to a $16.7 million investment in free personalised mental health support for new and expectant parents, opening an additional eight Perinatal Mental Health Centres across Australia. Labor also promised to deliver end-to-end medical training for students in Launceston at the University of Tasmania (UTAS).
Elsewhere, the Coalition pledged financial support for healthcare upgrades in Darwin, including an urgent care clinic, $60 million in residential aged care infrastructure and $6.2 million for Headspace Darwin.
Lastly, in the employment policy, Anthony Albanese pledged to legislate penalty rate protection to ensure the wages of three million workers are not cut, if re-elected.
In case you missed it...
📺 To interview or not to interview, that is the question – Teal Independent Monique Ryan dodges questions: