liveFederal election 2025 live: Clare O'Neil says office 'politely declined' campaign help from Chinese organisationBy Georgie Hewson and political reporters Courtney Gould and Joshua BoscainiTopic:Australian Federal Elections1h ago1 hours agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 8:34pmSkip to timelineabc.net.au/news/federal-election-2025-live-albanese-dutton-campaign-/105231912Link copiedShareShare articleHousing Minister Clare O'Neil says her office did not make any request for assistance from the Hubei Association for campaigning in her electorate.The organisation has been associated with the Chinese government and its foreign-influence operation.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is preparing to address the National Press Club and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is in Melbourne on a marginal seat push.Follow the day's events on our live blog below.Or you can try out the ABC's Vote Compass tool to see how your views align with those of the different political parties.Key EventsDutton hopes for smoother ride on campaign trail today35m ago35 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:36pmChalmers responds to reports Trump will take Australia's call soon54m ago54 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:17pmClare O'Neil says she did 'not make any request' for Hubei Association assistance1h ago1 hours agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 8:56pmShow all key eventsSubmit a comment or question Log in to commentLive updatesLatestOldest5m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 10:06pmSupply to make home ownership more accessible, Bragg saysCBy Courtney GouldShadow Assistant Minister for Home Ownership Andrew Bragg is up next on ABC's Radio National Breakfast. He argues negative gearing and the capital gains tax exemption helps people get into housing because it "promotes construction and supply"."If you look at all the expert analysis, people will tell you that if you change it or wind it back, it won't make a material difference to pricing. So it's the wrong lever to pull," he says.Asked about where he'd like house prices to go if the Coalition were to win government, Bragg says we "don't live in the Soviet Union, so we [the government] don't set the house prices".He says the focus is making home ownership more accessible.Host Sally Sara twice asks if accessibility is about pricing."Well, it's about recognising the fact that it's a constrained market. There's not enough supply. We need to build more houses that will improve accessibility," he says.ReactReactCopy link21m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:50pmWhat is the treasurer hoping to see in today's inflation data?CBy Courtney GouldAnd we're back to inflation. The Australian Bureau of Statistics will release an update to the inflation figures later today.Treasurer Jim Chalmers is asked what he'd consider a good number."I think any headline inflation rate today with a two in front of it is a powerful demonstration of the progress that we've made together as Australians on inflation," he says.The latest data comes just days after the credit agency Standard & Poor's declared Australia's AAA rating could be at risk (a warning Labor has downplayed).He says the agency should be "reassured" by the two surpluses Labor has delivered in the past.But what about the forecasted more than $150 billion in deficits over the next four years?He goes back to talking bout the surpluses."We got the deficit down this year and we've done a lot of work on budget repair and we found room to help people with the cost of living and build more houses," he says."And so our record on the budget is a record of responsible economic management."ReactReactCopy link25m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:46pm'All the parties do it': Lambie on text messages from TOPGBy Georgie HewsonLambie is asked if unsolicited messages from the Trumpet of Patriots Party should be banned."All the parties do it. The only thing is that Clive has more money," she says."The only time you see majors come together, doing electoral reform, [is] when it suits themselves and they want to get the independents out."It's filth."Finally, she is asked if this will be her last term in the Senate if she is re-elected."That's it for me, mate. I'll be 60 then.""Sixteen years of Jacqui Lambie. People say that's enough."ReactReactCopy link27m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:44pm'Volatile times' make it the 'worst possible time' for a Dutton win: ChalmersCBy Courtney GouldTreasurer Jim Chalmers is everywhere in his morning media blitz ahead of the release of the latest inflation data later today.He's just stepped into the Radio National Breakfast studio, where he again declined to say if Australia had a call locked in with US President Donald Trump this weekend."I'll leave it for others to elaborate on that. Obviously Australia, like every country around the world, is engaging with the Americans right now," he says.OK, it's much the same as the answer he gave to ABC's News Breakfast earlier. But host Sally Sara is not easily deterred.She asks the treasurer to provide more details about the contact the government's made with the White House. Chalmers sticks pretty close to his lines (colleagues are working on this etc) before pivoting to draw a line between the Albanese and Dutton campaigns."Volatile times like this are the worst possible time for a volatile leader like Peter Dutton, and I think that's one of the things that's at stake on Saturday," he says.ReactReactCopy link30m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:41pm'People are bored with policies out there': Jacqui LambieGBy Georgie HewsonJacqui Lambie has appeared on News Breakfast this morning, saying decisions on whether to have Welcome to Country ceremonies at Anzac Day events should be left up to organisers.She is asked if she fears Indigenous issues are becoming a political football topic during the final days of the election campaign."I'm surprised this is becoming a hot topic in the last few days, going into the election," she says."It just goes to show how bored people are with policies out there, there's no doubt about it."I would hope that, you know, I would just hope this doesn't get vicious over the next few days or anything like this."There's much bigger issues on the table. One for housing out there, and the cost of living, which is absolutely killing people. And trying to keep our small to medium businesses open [is] really, really difficult and they're not getting a fair go from state or federal government at all."ReactReactCopy linkKey Event35m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:36pmDutton hopes for smoother ride on campaign trail todayPBy Pablo Vinales, on the trail with DuttonIt’s a new day and, after the chaos of yesterday, Peter Dutton will be hoping for a smoother ride today in Melbourne. Last night, Dutton appeared on Sky News in the Man Cave, with presenter Paul Murray taking viewer questions for an hour.He spoke on a range of issues, from the cost of living to mental health and defence spending. Dutton again took aim at Labor's economic credentials after the global credit rating agency warned Australia could lose its AAA credit rating. Standard and Poor's has warned both major parties that the ranking is at risk if big spending continues.
A downgrading of that rating would increase the cost of repaying debt.
“We're seeing with the ratings agency now, they're warning that this government spending is going to result in the prospect of a downgrade of our credit rating which, of course, means that we pay more for that $1.2 trillion worth of Labor debt and the interest payments go up." On Monday, the prime minister dismissed the concerns, saying there was no suggestion the credit rating was at risk.ReactReactCopy link41m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:30pmCoalition to release long-awaited costings tomorrowCBy Courtney GouldDeputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley has confirmed what's been speculated: the Coalition's costings will be released tomorrow.The opposition has been under pressure to explain just how it will pay for its swathe of election promises beyond pre-announced pledges to scrap the Housing Australia Future Fund and the Rewiring the Nation scheme."Not long to wait now … the costings will come out tomorrow. But let's not forget on the matter of costings, Labor has spent $5 billion in 20 days trying to buy this election," she told Sky News."Every single dollar they are wasting is coming from the pockets of a hardworking Australian taxpayer."ReactReactCopy link53m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:18pmShould we change the law to put a stop to the Trumpet of Patriots texts?CBy Courtney GouldYou've probably received one of the mass text messages from Clive Palmer's Trumpet of Patriots. Chalmers is asked if the Spam Act needs to be changed in order to stop mass text messaging or to force those sending them them to include an opt-out at a bare minimum.The treasurer says banning political parties from texting voters altogether would be "counterproductive" but he'd be lying if he said he thought "deeply about this part of electoral law"."It remains to be seen whether the text messages people are getting from the Trumpet of Patriots crowd is helpful or harmful to their prospects," he says."My job is to focus on the economy."ReactReactCopy linkKey Event54m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:17pmChalmers responds to reports Trump will take Australia's call soonCBy Courtney GouldTreasurer Jim Chalmers stopped by ABC's News Breakfast this morning, where he was asked about US President Donald Trump's acknowledgement of Australia's repeated phone calls.Trump told reporters: "They are calling and I will be talking to him, yes."Asked how much contact the government's had with the White House during the election campaign, Chalmers remained coy."We've made it really clear … for some time that we're engaging with our counterparts in the US as the Australian people would expect us to," he says."We're speaking up for and standing up for our national economic interest."On the Canadian election, Chalmers said he "couldn't be happier for Prime Minister [Mark] Carney and his team".ReactReactCopy link58m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:14pm'This is totally desperate': fiery exchange between Hume and O'NeilGBy Georgie HewsonO'Neil's goes on to say the Coalition doesn't support penalty rates and that Peter Dutton can't even acknowledge climate change is real.It kicks off a heated exchange between her and Hume who says "that's nonsense"."Check the record Jane," O'Neil says."It's not been the greatest of campaigns. One of the many blunders has been Peter Dutton saying he can't quite bring himself to acknowledge climate change.Hume says he didn't."Labor respects you deeply," O'Neil addresses young people."That's why we've got a policy offering that's going to make a real difference to you on the cost of living, on housing, on your are your HECS fees and other matters that you care about.""Go out to polling booths and you can see thousands of young people supporting the Liberal Party in this election, because they feel let down by the Labor Party," Hume replies."I thought Peter Dutton didn't think they were mature enough to understand they had to vote Liberal," O'Neil says.Jane Hume then says "Chinese spies are handing out for you" and urges O'Neil to refer herself to the electoral integrity task force."Jane, you sound a bit wild right now," O'Neil says."This is totally desperate".The conversation takes a turn when the pair are asked to say one nice thing about each other and they talk about catching up for a cocktail after the election.ReactReactCopy link1h agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:05pmHume defends Dutton's comments that young Australians side with Labor while rentingGBy Georgie HewsonMoving on, Clare O'Neil and Jane Hume are asked about housing this morning on Sunrise.They were played a clip where Peter Dutton says he believes younger voters tend to side with Labor, while renting, and before they own a home, and start to worry about the economy and job security.Hume is asked if you have to have a mature political view to vote for the Coalition."There is no doubt young people felt behind by the Albanese government and we want hope for their future," she responds."They feel like they've missed out on prosperity of Australia, which is why home ownership policies are so profoundly important."There is no doubt that as you get older and you have a family, for instance, that you start looking forward to what's better economic management opportunities, what's the future going to hold for the prosperity of our nation, not just for you, but for your kids as well."I think that's a pretty...a pretty basic assumption."O'Neil is asked why she is laughing."Look, I just...you know, it's Peter Dutton's 'it's not me, its you' moment," she says."In my experience, that doesn't work romantically and it's certainly not going to work politically."Fancy coming in days away from an election and pointing at at entire generation of people and saying 'You're not voting for me because you're not mature enough.'""It's offensive and ridiculous."ReactReactCopy linkKey Event1h agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 8:56pmClare O'Neil says she did 'not make any request' for Hubei Association assistanceGBy Georgie HewsonHousing Minister Clare O'Neil has told Sunrise her office did not make any request for assistance from the Hubei Association for campaigning in her electorate.The housing minister made headlines this morning after being linked to an organisation which has been associated with the Chinese Government and its foreign influence operation.The Hubei Association had reportedly been recruiting volunteers for Clare O'Neil's electorate, before the minister's office was forced to decline the offer."My staff and my office did not make any requests for assistance from this organisation," she says."The organisation offered assistance to the office, and my team did exactly the office, and my team did exactly the right thing, which is politely decline that offer of support."She was further asked if it looked "dodgy" and if there was concerns the group was trying to "infiltrate" her campaign."All I can say is my staff did exactly the right thing here," she says. "As I say again, I didn't make any requests for assistance from this organisation."The same group is now at the centre of an election watchdog probe into foreign interference within teal MP Monique Ryan's campaign after volunteers said they were required to support her.ReactReactCopy link1h agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 8:47pm4 million Australians have already cast their voteGBy Georgie HewsonThe AEC has released its latest pre-polling figures, revealing 4 million Australians have already voted. By this same time during the federal election campaign in 2022, just over 3 million Australians had voted.There have also been more than 100,000 votes cast with mobile voting teams and 2.6 million postal vote applications.ReactReactCopy linkKey Event1h agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 8:40pmAnthony Albanese to deliver 11th National Press Club addressJBy Jane Norman, on the trail with AlbaneseFrenetic is probably the best word to describe Labor's campaign style in this final week of the contest. It’s a fast-paced, high octane and, at times, chaotic affair that's seen the prime minister take more risks than usual; going for street walks and stopping by busy, open-air food courts at lunchtime. It's all by design. Labor has had the momentum since the start of this campaign and Anthony Albanese wants the images to reflect that. Today, though, he's back in the nation's capital, where he'll give his last set-piece speech of the campaign before a final, 72-hour surge to polling day.Albanese will address the National Press Club — his 11th such address since becoming leader (something he often mentions to try and emphasise the fact that he's accountable, fronts up and answers journalists' questions). His objective today is to neatly wrap up Labor's campaign themes and clearly make his case for re-election, before a six-state, 72-hour blitz to election day. The prime minister and senior ministers will hit "key locations" to sell Labor's message so, if you're in any doubt about which seats are in play on Saturday, follow the leaders over the next few days!ReactReactCopy link1h agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 8:24pmGood morning👋GBy Georgie HewsonGood morning and welcome to another day on the campaign trail.With just four days left, each leader has a jam-packed day.Anthony Albanese is in Canberra this morning as he prepares to address the National Press Club later today.Peter Dutton will begin the morning in Melbourne and is expected to target several key seats.ReactReactCopy linkPosted 1h ago1 hours agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 8:34pm, updated 34m ago34 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:37pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)TimelineRead nextCommentsTimelineKey EventsLatestDutton hopes for smoother ride on campaign trail today35m ago35 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:36pmChalmers responds to reports Trump will take Australia's call soon54m ago54 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:17pmClare O'Neil says she did 'not make any request' for Hubei Association assistance1h ago1 hours agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 8:56pmAnthony Albanese to deliver 11th National Press Club address1h ago1 hours agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 8:40pmTop StoriesAustralia faces a 'lonelier' world with rules-based order crumblingTopic:National SecurityPhoto shows Two men wearing glasses and suits behind the backdrop of the world map.Data shows shift in views towards Australia's relationship with US and ChinaTopic:Foreign AffairsThere's a reason Dutton can't resort to a scare campaign with older AustraliansAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbHolmes à Court fuels movement that denies he'll have seat at the tableTopic:Political Parties and MovementsFinal campaign dash as Albanese sweats on Dutton suburban fightbackTopic:ElectionsJust InDe Minaur powers through at Madrid as Djokovic pulls out of Italian OpenTopic:Tennis9m ago9 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 10:02pmSome HESTA members 'caught unawares' by super fund outageTopic:Superannuation31m ago31 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:40pmChinese community urges rethink on Labor, Coalition's Darwin Port plansTopic:Australian Federal Elections33m ago33 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:38pmFishing rod returned to owner 40 years after it was lost at seaTopic:Recreational Fishing33m ago33 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 9:38pmMore Just InBack to top