- Nearly 7 million Australians have voted early—over 38% of the electorate.
- Albanese rules out legislating a Voice to Parliament if re-elected.
- Dutton predicts a 2019-style Coalition upset despite Labor’s polling advantage.
The final day of campaigning in Australia’s 2025 federal election saw high drama, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visiting Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s seat of Dickson, symbolically waving a giant Medicare card to push Labor’s healthcare agenda.
While opinion polls suggest Labor could form a majority government, Peter Dutton has dismissed the projections, predicting major upsets similar to the Coalition’s unexpected 2019 victory.
Final Blitz: Albanese, Dutton Duel for Key Seats as Election Day Nears
Labor leader Anthony Albanese visited the marginal seat of Dickson in a bold move on the eve of the election, highlighting Medicare with theatrical flair and aiming to destabilize Peter Dutton on his home turf. This comes after a tour of an urgent care clinic in Longman, another LNP seat Labor hopes to flip. Albanese continues to stress that the election is far from over, warning against complacency and invoking the surprise Coalition win in 2019.
Dutton, for his part, remains defiant and optimistic. Promising “big surprises,” he’s betting on discontent in outer suburbs and regional seats to carry the Coalition through. His wife, Kirilly Dutton, also stepped into the spotlight, making a heartfelt appeal for voters to trust in her husband’s leadership and commitment to families and security.
The Voice to Parliament debate resurfaced prominently today. Albanese was pressed by ABC’s Patricia Karvelas to give a clear answer on whether he would legislate the Voice. His response—“No”—was unequivocal, aimed at quashing speculation fueled by Coalition messaging. The PM emphasized instead a focus on practical reforms for Indigenous communities.
Meanwhile, the Australian Electoral Commission confirmed that nearly 7 million people have already voted, surpassing early voting records. This includes pre-poll, postal, and remote voting, indicating a population eager to have their say. With unpredictable weather forecast for the east coast on polling day, turnout patterns may still shift.
As Australia braces for a tightly contested election day, both major parties have made their final pitches in a high-energy close that underscores just how much is at stake.
“Just a simple yes or no, will you legislate a Voice to parliament?” — Patricia Karvelas
