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Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are preparing for the first election debate — and they’d better be prepared for anything, writes Joe Hildebrand.
View in browser 8th April 2025
 

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Joe Hildebrand
Federal election correspondent

Strap on the boxing gloves and crank up Eye of the Tiger - it’s Debate Day.

For the first time in this campaign the two leaders will go head-to-head, facing off against each other — and the public — at the Sky News People’s Forum in Western Sydney tonight.

If Budget Day is Canberra Christmas for political nerds, election debates are State of Origin: Knock-down, drag-out gladiatorial combat that is won in part by felling your opponent and in part by getting the crowd on side.

THE DEBATE: How can I watch, what will the leaders be asked

imageThe Coalition Agenda by Brett Lethbridge.

The town hall format of the People’s Forum makes it even more exciting because instead of getting questions from press gallery journos it is questions from 100 members of the public who have what is probably a once in a lifetime chance to personally confront the future prime minister about what matters most to them.

And this is where the Rocky montage is needed.

Likewise questions from a panel of press gallery journos are often more about demonstrating their policy expertise than the candidates. But when regular punters take the floor anything is possible.

This makes it the most interesting, insightful and exciting style of “debate” and it comes with a verdict at the end, with the 100 undecided voters revealing in a secret ballot who won the day — which usually preempts the election result. So don’t miss it!

CLICK HERE FOR JOE HILDEBRAND'S FULL ANALYSIS

Election update
Gloves on, Eye of the Tiger cranking - it’s debate time. Anything is possible
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are preparing for the first election debate — and they’d better be prepared for anything, writes Joe Hildebrand.
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VIDEO OF THE DAY

imageScreaming protester leaves Albo hijacked again

A climate protester has again interrupted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s press conference during the election campaign. Mr Albanese was campaigning on mental health in Ashfield within his own electorate of Grayndler. 

Toward the end of a press conference the young woman attempted to walk into headspace Ashfield while yelling out about climate change. “You are condemning young people to a lifetime of climate disaster ... we have poor mental health,” she said.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

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