2025 Australian federal election debates and forums
 2025 Australian federal election |
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Several debates were held during the campaign for the 2025 Australian federal election between senior figures of the governing Australian Labor Party and the opposition Liberal Party of Australia. Additionally, debates were held between representatives of minor parties, and between ministers and their shadow counterparts.
Leaders' debates
[edit]8 April – Sky News and The Daily Telegraph People's Forum
[edit]The first leaders' debate took place on 8 April and was hosted by Sky News and The Daily Telegraph.[1] The debate was held at the Wentworthville Leagues Club in Western Sydney.[2] The two leaders were asked questions by moderators and by an audience of 100 undecided voters.[1]
Albanese was declared the winner of the debate, receiving 44 votes, while Dutton received 35.[1] 21 audience members were undecided.[1] Both the Labor and Liberal social media accounts declared their leaders to have won the debate.[1]
The Sky News debate had a viewership of 410,000.[3]
16 April – ABC News Leaders Debate
[edit]Albanese and Dutton debated again on 16 April on the ABC.[4] It was hosted by David Speers.[4] This was the first ABC Leaders Debate held without association with the National Press Club since 2007.
The ABC debate had a viewership of 1.7 million across broadcast TV and ABC iview.[5]
22 April – Channel 9 The Great Debate
[edit]Albanese and Dutton debated on 22 April on the Nine Network. This debate was moderated by A Current Affair host Ally Langdon and questions were asked of the two leaders by journalists from Nine Entertainment's media companies: Charles Croucher from 9News, Deb Knight from 2GB, and Phil Coorey from the Australian Financial Review.[6] The panel decided in a split decision that the Opposition Leader narrowly won the debate.[7]
The Channel 9 debate had a viewership of 2.1 million across broadcast TV and 9Now.[8]
27 April – 7NEWS The Final Showdown: Leaders' Debate
[edit]Albanese and Dutton debated on 27 April on the Seven Network. Seven News Political Editor Mark Riley was the moderator for the debate. Host of Sunrise Natalie Barr hosted the event. This was the last leaders debate before the 3 May election.[9]
A panel of 60 undecided voters assembled by pollster Roy Morgan declared Albanese the overall winner of the debate with 50% of the votes, with Dutton winning 25% of the votes and 25% remaining undecided. Several other topics were also polled.[10][11]
The Channel Seven debate had a viewership of 1,675,000.[12]
Other debates
[edit]9 April – Sky News Treasurers' Debate
[edit]Sky News hosted a debate between treasurer Jim Chalmers and shadow treasurer Angus Taylor.[13] It was hosted by Ross Greenwood.[13]
10 April – National Press Club Energy Debate
[edit]The National Press Club hosted minister for climate change and energy Chris Bowen, and his opposition counterpart Ted O'Brien for a debate on energy policies.[14] The debate was hosted by Tom Connell.[14]
16 April – National Press Club Housing Debate
[edit]The National Press Club hosted the housing minister Clare O'Neil and shadow housing minister Michael Sukkar for a debate regarding housing policies.[15]
17 April — Housing Ministers Debate on 7.30
[edit]On the ABC's 7.30 program, Sarah Ferguson interviewed O'Neil and Sukkar for a debate on housing policies.[16]
23 April — National Press Club Health Minister Debate
[edit]Mark Butler and Anne Ruston competed in a debate held by the National Press Club relating to health policies.[17]
23 April — Business debate
[edit]On 23 April a debate was co-hosted by the Business Council of Australia and the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia where Chalmers and Taylor debated alternative policies regarding business prosperity.[18]
Minor party debates
[edit]6 News Debates
[edit]6 News Australia hosted four debates between minor party candidates for each state's candidates for the Senate.[19]
Questions were asked of the following senators or candidates:
11 March Queensland
- Belinda Jones, from Legalise Cannabis
- Senator Gerard Rennick, from People First
- Senator Malcolm Roberts, from One Nation
- Jim Willmott, from Libertarian
12 March Victoria
- Jordan Dittloff, from Libertarian
- Fiona Patten, from Legalise Cannabis
- Warren Pickering, from One Nation
- Jordan van den Lamb, from Victorian Socialists
19 March South Australia
- Christopher Brohier, from Family First
- Jennifer Game, from One Nation
- Rex Patrick, from Jacqui Lambie Network
- Dianah Walter, from SA Matters
15 April New South Wales[20]
- Miles Hunt, from Legalise Cannabis
- Craig Kelly, from the Libertarian Party
- Warwick Stacey, from One Nation
- Lyle Shelton, from Family First
28 April Western Australia[21]
- Steve Klomp, from the Australian Christians
- Megan Krakouer, from Australia's Voice
- Jason Meotti, from Legalise Cannabis
- Elana Mitchell from the Australian Democrats
29 April Tasmania[22]
- Chrysten Abraham, from the Libertarian Party
- Phillip Bigg, from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
- Matthew Owen, from Legalise Cannabis
Dickson debate
[edit]On 1 May, 6 News hosted a debate between candidates for the seat of Dickson where Peter Dutton, the leader of the Liberal party is the incumbent.[23] Peter Dutton and the Labor challenger Ali France chose to skip the debate. Independent challenger Ellie Smith, and Vinnie Batten of the Greens did attend.[24]
Paul Murray The Mavericks: Live Pub Test
[edit]Paul Murray from Sky News hosted The Mavericks: Live Pub Test debate on 14 April, featuring National Party of Australia senator Matt Canavan, Katter's Australian Party leader and member for Kennedy Bob Katter, and One Nation leader senator Pauline Hanson.[25]
See also
[edit]- Debate
- 2016 Australian federal election debates and forums
- 2019 Australian federal election debates and forums
- 2022 Australian federal election debates and forums
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Guinto, Joel and Turnbull, Tiffanie (9 April 2025). "Albanese and Dutton face-off in first Australia election debate". BBC News. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
Cost of living issues dominated Tuesday night's debate, organised by Sky News Australia and The Daily Telegraph, and the two leaders were also asked about US President Donald Trump's tariffs.
- ^ Butler, Josh (9 April 2025). "'Congratulations Peter Dutton': LNP incorrectly declares leader election debate winner before audience votes for Anthony Albanese". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 11 April 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
Albanese won 44 votes out of 100 at the Wentworthville leagues club in western Sydney, Dutton won 35 and 21 people remained undecided. Neither leader made a major misstep in the Sky News forum and many political commentators described the face-off as a spirited draw.
- ^ "First leaders' debate breaks live Sky News audience records reaching 410,000 Australians". Sky News. 10 April 2025. Archived from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
- ^ a b "ABC to host election leaders' debate on April 16". ABC News. 3 April 2025. Archived from the original on 11 April 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ^ Gosby, Tom (17 April 2025). "TV Ratings Wednesday 16 April 2025: Albanese & Dutton debate draws 1.7 million viewers". Mediaweek. Archived from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
- ^ Jeffrey, Daniel (14 April 2025). "Nine to host third leaders' debate between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton". 9news.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ Branco, Jorge; Hohne, Josh (22 April 2025). "'He won by a nose': Peter Dutton named winner of third federal election leaders' debate". 9news.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 April 2025. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
- ^ Gosby, Tom (23 April 2025). "TV Ratings Tuesday 22 April 2025: Nine's debate tops election coverage". Mediaweek. Archived from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
- ^ "7NEWS to host the final Federal Election debate with Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton ahead of Australians voting on May 3". 7NEWS. 14 April 2025. Archived from the original on 21 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
- ^ Butler, Josh (27 April 2025). "Who won the final leaders' debate? Seven takeaways from Albanese v Dutton". The Guardian. 1. Albanese was voted the winner. Archived from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
- ^ Laidlaw, Kyle (28 April 2025). "Albanese scores victory in SEVEN'S Leaders' Debate ahead of election day". TV Blackbox. Archived from the original on 28 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ Gosby, Tom (28 April 2025). "TV Ratings Anzac Long Weekend 2025: Big audiences tune in for footy and election debate". Mediaweek. Vinyl Group Operations. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ a b Dumas, Daisy (9 April 2025). "Chalmers calls Coalition's economic plan an 'ambush' as Taylor plugs spending cuts in treasurers' debate". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ a b Goodsell, Oscar; Harrison, James; and Hevesi, Bryant (10 April 2025). "Federal Election 2025 Energy Ministers' Debate: Chris Bowen and Ted O'Brien battle over energy in National Press Club debate". Sky News. Archived from the original on 21 April 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ McHugh, Finn (16 April 2025). "'Sliding doors moment': Fiery housing debate sets stage for leaders' face-off". Capital Brief. Archived from the original on 21 April 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ Ainsworth, Kate and Johnson, Paul (17 April 2025). "Clare O'Neil and Michael Sukkar clash over housing policy and trade claims of lying in fiery live debate". ABC News. Archived from the original on 21 April 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ Dhanji, Krishani (23 April 2025). "Australia election 2025 live: Hastie says he supports women serving in ADF but 'doesn't resile' from previous comments about gender". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 23 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
- ^ Adams, David (23 April 2025). "Chalmers, Taylor duel over company tax breaks in heated business debate". SmartCompany. Archived from the original on 23 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
- ^ "6 News to broadcast live Senate debates". 6 News Australia. 12 March 2025 [18 February 2025]. Archived from the original on 21 March 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "6 News to host debate for New South Wales Senate candidates". 6 News Australia. 13 April 2025. Archived from the original on 21 April 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ 6 News Australia [@6NewsAU] (27 April 2025). "LATE CHANGE: One Nation's Tyron Whitten is unable to participate in tomorrow's Western Australian Senate debate on 6 News" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2025 – via Twitter.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ 6 News Australia [@6NewsAU] (29 April 2025). "TONIGHT: Our final Senate debate of the 2025 federal election – three candidates in Tasmania tackle major issues and go head-to-head on party policies" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 29 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025 – via Twitter.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ 6 News Australia [@6NewsAU] (1 May 2025). "TONIGHT: Peter Dutton's marginal seat of Dickson is in the spotlight at a candidates' forum, organised by Pint & Parmi Politics and broadcast by 6 News" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025 – via Twitter.
Dutton, Ali France (Labor), Ellie Smith (independent), and Vinnie Batten (Greens) have been invited LIVE from 6:45pm AEST
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ 6 News Australia [@6NewsAU] (1 May 2025). "Both Peter Dutton and Ali France have chosen NOT to attend tonight's Dickson candidates' forum after being invited – Ellie Smith and Vinnie Batten will still attend" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025 – via Twitter.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Mageros, Adriana (14 April 2025). "How to watch Paul Murray Live Pub Test: The Mavericks edition with Pauline Hanson, Bob Katter, Matt Canavan in Tweed Heads". Sky News. Archived from the original on 23 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
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