Election 2025 live updates: PM boldly opens campaign in Dutton’s electorate as heckler with camera and questions about housing interrupts presser
Albanese begins day one of the federal election campaign pitching healthcare
Ok and we are up and running, with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, speaking on day one of the election campaign.
He’s begun by talking about Medicare, and spruiking his government’s delivery of urgent care clinics:
I’ve gone around the country, what I’ve seen is how valued urgent care clinics are. Providing the midpoint of not being in an emergency department, watching people exceed you in the queue because they’re life-threatening and getting access to your local GP. More than 1 million Australians have benefited from these 87 urgent care clinics that we have delivered.
We promised 50, we have overdelivered. We’re going to deliver at least another 50. That’s on top of the $8.5bn we are funding to triple the bulk-billing incentive, to bring the rates up to 90km/h. Healthcare is so important.
What this election is about is strengthening the economy, strengthening Medicare, versus Peter Dutton’s plan for cuts to everything, except your taxes. That’s what is at stake in this election.
Key events
It appears the heckler from earlier today has taken to X to brag about his heckling:
And we understand opposition leader Peter Dutton is due to also launch his campaign in Brisbane, at the XXXX Brewery.
PM ‘looking forward’ to debates with Dutton
And the PM wraps up his presser by taking a heavy swing at the opposition, saying that they were “not ready for government.”
He goes on to mention that he is “looking forward” to his debates with Dutton, as well as ministerial debates, before taking one final swipe:
Frankly, there are a range of people who sit on their front bench who I doubt whether any of the press gallery here would know what their portfolios are. That is just a fact.
… My government is made up of fantastic people who are committed to making a positive difference and building Australia’s future, not going back. We can’t afford to go back.
PM: ‘I am one for one in election campaigns’
Asked about his disastrous start to the 2022 election – where he failed to name the cash rate and unemployment rate – the PM grins and says:
I am one for one in election campaigns.
I reckon there would be a few people who would like to have that number. I have been both been in politics for a long time, for a long time … I’ve gotten better each and every day because I’ve learnt something every day.
Albanese sets aim as ‘majority Labor government’
Asked if he was out at Dickson as part of an “attack” the PM defiantly says:
I’m out to win new seats.
Striking a confident tone, Albanese declared that he wants to see a “majority Labor government” and that he wanted to emulate John Howard in being the first PM to see out a term and be re-elected.
I want a majority Labor government. I want the last seven elections that have produced seven different prime ministers. 2004 was the last time that a prime minister had served out a term was re-elected and that was John Howard.
I think that one of the things that characterised my government isn’t just what we have done, isn’t just what we will do going forward, it is the stability and orderly way in which we have conducted ourselves.
Anthony Albanese speaks on support to disaster-hit Queensland
The PM is again asked about why the campaign, across all the major parties, has started in Queensland.
Albanese was asked how “critical” Queensland will be come election day, and especially considering how important it was in delivering him victory in 2022, and the PM rattled off some of the support his government has provided to the state:
We worked so hard during the recent floods and the floods before then in North Queensland. That’s why I have a very constructive relationship with the premier David Crisafulli and I spoke with him last night.
This morning I spoke with David Littleproud. His electorate of Maranoa is affected. Jenny McAllister is attending a meeting today of Queensland’s emergency cabinet – they have their processes. We will make resources available.
PM says his government inherited ‘mess’ in gas prices
On we go, with the next question on Dutton’s gas plan, where Albanese has begun by discussing the “mess” in gas prices his government inherited:
His plan that he talks about ignores the fact that we have had a plan in place, one he voted against.
When we came to office, the spot price was 30. Today it is around 13. 13 is lower than 30. That is the mess that we had to inherit.
We have provided already six times the supply that he has said on Tuesday night he wanted to provide. This is an embarrassment, given that they actually voted against as well strengthening the australian domestic gas security.
Albanese defends record on housing after heckler
Next the PM is asked about the heckler and the question he raised about Labor’s track record on housing.
Albanese is asked why Labor has “not actually constructed a single new home,” to which the PM disagrees, saying that isn’t “completely accurate.”
There have been on our watch around 400,000 additional homes during this time. We have, under construction, tens of thousands of homes under the social housing policy that we’ve put forward.
The previous government didn’t even bother to have a housing minister, let alone to build any public housing. Common sense tells us that if legislation, some of which was held up by the Greens and the Coalition for a long period of time – if [that] legislation has only passed – some of our housing legislation was [only] passed in December.
Back on track, the presser has gone to questions, and the first is what “message” the PM is trying to send the opposition leader by starting in Dutton’s home seat of Dickson.
Albanese batted the implications away, and instead, attempted to make it about Labor’s candidate for the seat, Ali France, who is running against Dutton for the third time.
Well, it is the most marginal seat in Queensland. We have in Ali someone who is running for the third time. Ali France is someone who has courage, conviction and is passionate about representing this community.
Heckler interrupts before Chalmers steps up to speak
And it appears we have had our first election incident – the press conference has been interrupted by a heckler.
As the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, steps up to speak, an audience member seemingly began by asking the PM a question before launching into a tirade about migration.
Mr Albanese, don’t you think 1.5 million more immigrants are going to increase the demand on the medical system?
What about the fact that people my age can’t get any housing, can’t get rentals anymore, we have no future in this country, don’t you think that is kind of ridiculous?
Security escorted the man out of the presser, who was heard saying “you can’t touch me, mate”.
We understand that the heckler came prepared, and was carrying a camera.
Albanese begins day one of the federal election campaign pitching healthcare
Ok and we are up and running, with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, speaking on day one of the election campaign.
He’s begun by talking about Medicare, and spruiking his government’s delivery of urgent care clinics:
I’ve gone around the country, what I’ve seen is how valued urgent care clinics are. Providing the midpoint of not being in an emergency department, watching people exceed you in the queue because they’re life-threatening and getting access to your local GP. More than 1 million Australians have benefited from these 87 urgent care clinics that we have delivered.
We promised 50, we have overdelivered. We’re going to deliver at least another 50. That’s on top of the $8.5bn we are funding to triple the bulk-billing incentive, to bring the rates up to 90km/h. Healthcare is so important.
What this election is about is strengthening the economy, strengthening Medicare, versus Peter Dutton’s plan for cuts to everything, except your taxes. That’s what is at stake in this election.
Dan Jervis-Bardy
How did this go in 2022?
Before the presser kicks off, it’s worth remembering what happened on the first day of Albanese’s 2022 election campaign.
The then Labor opposition leader couldn’t name either the cash rate or the unemployment rate, prompting a flood of negative headlines.
Albanese quickly recovered and of course went on to win the election, but he’ll be hoping for a better start this time.
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Man sneaks in quick gym session before work
Anthony Albanese has just arrived at his first campaign stop. But before arriving at the urgent care clinic, he’s made a quick detour to a nearby gym, where he was mobbed by gym-goers pumping iron on a Saturday morning.
Cue the inevitable headlines about the PM getting “match fit” or “flexing his muscle”
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Why is Dickson the PM’s start line?
How’s that for an early shot across the bow?
Anthony Albanese will start day one of the campaign in none other opposition leader Peter Dutton’s seat of Dickson in Brisbane’s northern suburbs (as below, we’re just waiting for that presser to start).
Dutton holds the seat on a slender 1.7% margin – so it’s winnable on paper – but the choice of campaign location is clearly more about sending a message.
Albanese will hold a presser conference shortly at one of Labor’s urgent care clinics alongside his Dickson candidate, Ali France, the health minister, Mark Butler, and the treasurer, Jim Chalmers.
Expect Albanese to not just spruik Labor’s health agenda, including its plans to establish 50 new urgent care clinics if re-elected, but also draw attention to Dutton’s record as health minister under Tony Abbott – including his attempt to introduce a $7 GP co-payment.
