Federal election 2025 as it happened: Albanese reveals authorities launched legal proceedings to protect him after a ‘serious incident’; Dutton reportedly targeted in teenage boy’s terror plot

Thanks for reading today’s rolling coverage of the election campaign. This is where we’ll end our live updates. Join us early tomorrow as we bring you all the action from the election trail.

As you settle in for the evening, here’s a wrap of the headlines you need to know.

• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed authorities have launched legal proceedings to protect him after a “serious incident”.
• Noongar leaders in Western Australia have attempted to block a town hall event featuring Coalition Indigenous affairs spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.
• Victoria Police are investigating the source of unauthorised banners with homophobic messages about Labor MP Julian Hill spotted in south-east Melbourne on Friday morning.
• A 16-year-old boy is facing a Queensland court charged with allegedly targeting the opposition leader in a planned terrorist attack.
• The Coalition has built on its pitch to commuters by promising to dump Labor’s penalties on gas-guzzling vehicles, due to begin in July.

The electoral commission has referred former One Nation senator Rodney Culleton to the federal police over allegations he made a false declaration about his bankruptcy status to become a 2025 Senate candidate for Western Australia.

Culleton will be listed on ballots in WA after submitting a completed nomination form declaring he was not bankrupt, despite being listed on the National Personal Insolvency Index as an undischarged bankrupt.

Former One Nation senator Rodney Culleton.Credit: Stefan Gosatti

Under the Electoral Act, the Australian Electoral Commission can’t reject a completed candidate nomination form. As a result, Culleton’s nomination was accepted despite him apparently giving incorrect information about his status as an undischarged bankrupt.

Culleton was declared bankrupt in 2016 for failing to repay a $280,000 debt to Wesfarmers director Peter Lester and was disqualified from the Senate.

In 2017, the High Court ruled that Culleton was never legally elected because he was convicted of grand larceny before the election.

We’ve been keeping a close eye on every movement and spending promise Albanese and Dutton have made on the campaign trail (and will do so every day before the election on May 3).

Use the interactives to see where the prime minister and opposition leader have travelled and learn the dollar figures behind their campaign pledges.

Nazis have distributed extremist leaflets in the letterboxes of residents in Melbourne’s west, drawing condemnation from incumbent MP Tim Watts for there “hateful, racist fear-mongering” content.

The member for Gellibrand said in a statement the material had been reported to the relevant authorities and that it was people of every race, ethnicity and religion that made the seat a rich and vibrant community.

The leaflets referenced voting and government immigration policy.

Assistant minister for foreign affairs Tim Watts.Credit: Getty Images for Cricket Australia

“I’m aware that people from outside our community have been distributing hateful material in people’s letterboxes in recent days,” Watts said in the statement posted to social media.

“This material is not just disturbing, it is an attack on the Australian way of life, which is why I won’t be publicising it further. There’s no need for anyone to share this rubbish anywhere.

“The best way for us to respond is to show that we won’t allow outsiders to divide us.”

Gellibrand is a safe Labor seat and takes in multicultural suburbs to Melbourne’s west such as Altona and Truganina.

Victoria Police said in a statement it was investigating if any crimes had been committed.

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have made their way around the country this week and our photographers have been there to capture them at their best and worse.

Photographers James Brickwood and Alex Ellinghausen have been there from day one. Here’s a selection of their best photos from week two.

Anthony Albanese’s fall from a stage in week one, and the swift denial that followed, set the tone for an eventful second week on the campaign trail.

A week when each day was once again dominated by havoc being wrought from the White House.

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen/James Brickwood.

While most eyes were drawn towards the stock market shocks, Albanese, Peter Dutton, and the political parties they lead, were making questionable claims.

Here’s the week that was on the campaign trail, fact-checked.

Noongar leaders in Western Australia have attempted to block a town hall event featuring Coalition Indigenous affairs spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

Elder Renae Isaacs-Guthridge and other local community members objected to Price’s visit due to her polarising views on Indigenous policy after she played a critical role in defeating the Voice to parliament referendum proposal.

Local Indigenous leaders said they were not consulted about Price’s event in Bunbury with Liberal candidate Ben Small and frontbencher Michaelia Cash.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Police were on the scene to ensure she was able to enter the venue.

Price said in a statement: “There have been recent allegations that I am not welcome in certain parts of our country unless I seek permission from Indigenous elders in advance.“

“Further, these individuals have alleged that the advertising of my visit has caused angst and distress to certain members of the community.

“The suggestion that I, or any other Australian citizen is required to seek permission to visit a public place in our country is extremely disappointing. This is particularly so when we are in the midst of an election campaign, and the allegations are being made by those with differing political views to me.”

Albanese has defended his government’s track record on protecting sacred Indigenous sites, saying it’s possible to have a sustainable mining industry while protecting Indigenous land.

The prime minister spoke to media from the Burrup Peninsula, which is home to a high concentration of ancient Indigenous rock art.

Albanese said his government, alongside the resources industry, was working with First Nation leaders to protect local sites.

“You can have sustainable industry together with protecting the environment. And one of the things that industry does here is work with First Nations leaders as well as the traditional owners to make sure that occurs,” he said.

A sacred site in Western Australia was destroyed in the expansion of an iron ore mine in May 2020, after mining company Rio Tinto were given approval under WA law.

Anthony Albanese has been questioned about the “serious incident” which he revealed earlier today before the courts.

Albanese confirmed there had been multiple threats made and one “particularly serious incident” but did not provide further detail.

The prime minister said it was in the national interest to keep details of any investigation or ongoing legal proceedings quiet.

“It is not in the interest of security to give a whole range of details, which then can lead to people copying these issues,” he said.

Albanese said he takes advice from authorities on how to deal with such threats, which includes keeping details private.

“These matters are dealt with by the police and the courts when appropriate,” he said.

Anthony Albanese held a press conference from Western Australia’s Pilbara region, where he is showing his solidarity for the resources sector.

Watch it here.