The Final Showdown: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s last debate before the Federal Election

On Sunday night Channel Seven hosted the final Leaders’ Debate between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Roy Morgan provided the studio audience of ‘undecided voters’ to assess both leaders on key questions.

The results were conclusively in favour of Prime Minister Albanese who won on five out of 7 questions – and overall.

Importantly, the Prime Minister’s biggest win was on the Cost of Living – 65% of the undecided voters agreed with Albanese  compared to only 16% for Dutton.

Albanese also won easily in the ‘Hot Takes’ section – Albanese 50% compared to Dutton 14%; and the section on Tax Cuts – Albanese 49% compared to Dutton 21%.

There was a narrow victory for Albanese on Housing on 35% compared to Dutton on 30% while Opposition Leader Peter Dutton performed well on two issues, winning on the issue of Defence – Dutton 43% just ahead of Albanese on 37% and a clear win on Indigenous Affairs – Dutton on 46% compared to Albanese on 27%.

Dutton’s clear win on Indigenous Affairs recalls the Opposition Leader’s successful campaign against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament in 2023.

Overall though, the verdict was clear – Albanese easily won the debate attracting 50% support of the undecided voters compared to only 25% who said Dutton won the debate and a further 25% of the audience was still undecided.

The strong result for Prime Minister Albanese in Sunday’s Channel Seven debate augurs well for the Government as we head towards election day on Saturday.