Election live 2022: Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese face-off in first leaders debate on Sky News

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese went head-to-head on Australia's rift with China, boat turnbacks, aged care, a federal ICAC and more issues as the debate got personal.

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Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese went toe-to-toe tonight in a high-stakes, town-hall style debate as both leaders try to win over a sceptical nation.

The prime minister and opposition leader tried to use the crucial event for all-important campaign momentum, after the latest Newspoll nearly showed nearly 30 per cent of voters intend to support a minor party or an independent candidate rather than either major party.

Mr Albanese attacked the government for not sending Foreign Minister Marise Payne to the Solomon Islands in a bid to stop the pacific nation signing a security deal with China, and referred to Assistant Minister Zed Seselja as a “junior burger”.

Mr Morrison dismissed criticism that his government had bungled its security relationship, stating it highlighted China's ramped up aggression levels over recent years. 

Mr Morrison was up first, and said it had been hard to buy a house with his wife Jenny 30 years ago, but "it's getting harder" as he talked about housing affordability. 

Both leaders have been grilled on the issue of the aged care workforce, with Mr Albanese pressed on how he intended to support his plans of 24/7 nursing in aged care centres while Mr Morrison was questioned on why his government hadn't made it happen yet.

Mr Morrison said his proposal for a Commonwealth integrity commission would differ to the state-based anti-corruption commission's in the sense it would deal with criminal issues.

Mr Morrison said he had been disappointed with the operations of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption. 

The two leaders later clashed on asylum seekers and boat turnbacks. Mr Albanese, during a fiery exchange on Australia’s asylum seeker policy, slammed the Prime Minister for “always seeking division”. Mr Morrison said he was simply looking for “accuracy and the truth”.

Originally published as Election live 2022: Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese face-off in first leaders debate on Sky News

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