Nine key moments from Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton’s final leaders’ debate

Peter Dutton attacks, China doesn’t play rugby league and Anthony Albanese admits he broke his word. These are the key moments from the final leaders’ debate.

The fourth and final leader’s debate of the federal election pushed both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton to go to places they had not gone before – including on Welcome to Country ceremonies, and the price of eggs.

Here are the key moments of the debate:

Dutton goes on the attack

Peter Dutton lined up his most visceral attack against Anthony Albanese, saying it had been “hard to believe anything you say” before rattling off a list of broken promises from power prices not going down by $275, high migration, housing targets and the economy. “Peter can attack me,” Mr Albanese retorted.

Peter Dutton during the final leaders’ debate. Picture: Lukas Coch

Welcome to Country “overdone”

A Coalition government would only have Welcome to Country ceremonies at major events, with Peter Dutton saying they were “overdone” and “cheapens the significance of what it was meant to do”. Anthony Albanese said it was “up to people to determine whether they have a Welcome to Country or not” but that it was a sign of respect.

Australia Day

Australia Day should not be moved from January 26, both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton said, in the first thing they could agree on for the night.

Rugby league diplomacy

Anthony Albanese says the bipartisan support to set up a PNG rugby league team was the “best example” of soft diplomacy in the Pacific in the fight against Chinese influence. A quip from host Mark Riley that “I don’t think China plays rugby league” prompts Mr Albanese to say “that’s the point”.

Anthony Albanese conceded he broke his word on stage 3 tax cuts. Picture: Lukas Coch

How do taps work

In a heated energy back and forth Peter Dutton hits at Anthony Albanese’s renewables energy push, claiming the batteries used to store power “only last for four hours”. “I don’t know how Peter thinks water works when it is not raining, people turn on the tap and the water is there, and that is the same way you can store energy and that is what is happening,” Mr Albanese retorted.

Copacabana

In a rapid fire series of word association, Anthony Albanese said the beachside home in Copacabana he bought with fiance Jodie Haydon to him meant “marriage”. Peter Dutton said the home signified “retirement”.

Eggs

Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese both misjudged the current cost of a dozen eggs — though one man more than the other. In a series of rapid fire questions Mr Dutton said a dozen eggs cost $4.20, while Mr Albanese said it would be about $7 if you could find them. The price flashed on screen noted a dozen free range eggs cost just over $8 at the two major supermarkets.

Elon Musk

Peter Dutton referred to Elon Musk as an “evil genius” before again distancing himself from Donald Trump, saying he had “not sought to be anybody other than myself”.

My word is my bond, and I broke it

Anthony Albanese, who has previously said “my word is my bond”, conceded he did break his word on stage 3 tax cuts. “I changed my mind because I could not resile from the need to do something to help people because of cost-of-living pressures”.

Originally published as Nine key moments from Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton’s final leaders’ debate