Election 2025 live: Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton go head-to-head in second leaders’ debate

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Tasmanian Labor drops its own diss track following Coalition’s ‘Leaving Labor’

Before we jump into the debate, let’s go to Tasmania, where the campaign diss track madness is (unfortunately) continuing.

In case you missed it: on Monday, the Liberals released a “diss track” titled Leaving Labor – a homage to the viral feud between rap rivals Kendrick Lamar and Drake. The lyrics were critical of Labor’s record on the cost of living, claiming the economy was “looking a mess” and that “eggs and cheese” cost $100.

Now, the Tasmanian Labor branch has hit back with a diss track of its own, shared on TikTok and Instagram. It started with:

Your diss track was mid, why’d we have to wait three years for it? It’s election time now, and you’re still full of … No plan, no clue, just more of the same.

If you’re dying to listen to the rest of the track, you can so below:

Pro-Palestine protestors gather outside ABC studios ahead of debate

Pro-Palestinian protesters have been gathering outside the ABC studios in Parramatta, ahead of tonight’s leaders debate.

Here are some photos that have been filtering through from AAP:

Protesters gather outside the ABC studios in Parramatta. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Another shot of the protesters. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Flags are raised by the protesters outside the ABC studios in Parramatta. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Experts question whether tonight’s showdown will shift votes

Anthony Albanese was judged the winner of the first leaders’ debate, a Sky News-hosted people’s forum in which a crowd of average voters posed questions on topics ranging from housing and the fuel excise to GP costs and the Gaza conflict.

Leaders’ debates are a feature of each campaign, billed – particularly by the host broadcaster – as make-or-break moments capable of turning the campaign. But campaign veterans have differing opinions as to how decisive the set-piece events actually are.

For more on this, you can read Dan Jervis-Bardy’s story below:

Both leaders arrive at ABC Parramatta studio for the debate

Both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have arrived at the ABC studio in Parramatta, ready for tonight’s debate.

Anthony Albanese. Photograph: Abc Pool/AAP

Peter Dutton. Photograph: Abc Pool/AAP

Welcome to the second leaders' debate

Good evening and welcome to our live blog for the second leaders’ debate as part of the federal election campaign. I’m Emily Wind and I’ll be taking you through all the action tonight.

The ABC will host tonight’s debate between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton from its new Parramatta site – the first to be held in an ABC studio since 1993. The debate will kick off at 8pm AEST.

The ABC will choose the topics and questions, with the event moderated by the Insiders host David Speers.

Following a more traditional debate style, the prime minister and opposition leader will each present opening and closing remarks, and be granted equal time to respond to questions.

The debate will be broadcast free on ABC TV, iview, ABC Radio and the ABC listen app. And, of course, I’ll bring you all the key takeaways right here.

For more on tonight’s debate – as well as previous and future debates – you can have a read below: