Labor v the Coalition: head to head on the big issues
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are offering voters two of the most starkly different agendas in recent Australian political history.
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are offering voters two of the most starkly different election agendas in recent Australian political history at this year’s federal poll.
From the chasm between them over the Middle East to their polar opposite visions on energy, the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader will give Australians a lot to think about when they cast their vote.
Do voters want Labor’s “Building Australia’s Future” vision of an economically interventionist government with a large public service, a big-spending agenda on cost-of-living sweeteners for voters, and addressing climate change by focusing on renewable energy?
Or do Australians want the Coalition’s “Get Australia Back on Track” policies that emphasise smaller government, a cut in taxpayer-funded spending, nuclear power, and a return to traditional values?
Here are some of the big issues – and where the two leaders stand on them – for this election.
Top issues shaping the 2025 federal election
Cost of living
Labor - Anthony Albanese has staked his political future on delivering Australians cost-of-living relief, describing it as the government’s top priority. The government has spruiked its $5-a-week tax cuts in July 2026, increased childcare subsidies, and electricity bill rebates for households and small businesses, as its key measures. Paid parental leave will increase to 26 weeks by 2026.
Coalition - Peter Dutton says a Coalition government would reduce “wasteful” government spending to drive down inflation and take the pressure off the Reserve Bank. A key plank of the Coalition’s cost-of-living platform is a slashing of the fuel excise. He also wants to shake up competition policy for the big supermarkets and hardware retailers, which could break up the major players with turnover of more than $5bn a year as a deterrent against anti-competitive behaviour. Mr Dutton has flagged breaking up major insurers to stop customers being “ripped off”.
Energy
Labor - The Albanese government in September 2022 legislated Australia’s emissions reduction target of 43 per cent by 2030 and net zero by 2050, and also has a renewable energy target of 82 per cent by 2030. The renewables target requires the phasing out of coal-fired power stations and replacing them with renewable energy generators, with a continuing focus on gas. Anthony Albanese has pledged $2bn for a “green iron fund” to help decarbonise the steel industry.
Coalition - Peter Dutton has promised to establish a “civil nuclear program” in Australia by turning coal-fired power stations into government-owned nuclear power plants in seven locations around the country. The Coalition argues its nuclear policy would cost $331bn and would be 44 per cent cheaper than Labor’s renewables-focused agenda. He says the Coalition’s energy policy will deliver lower energy bills by unlocking more Australian gas, reserving it for domestic use and encouraging more exploration and development in places such as the Beetaloo Basin.
Health
Labor - Before pulling the trigger on the election campaign, Anthony Albanese said a re-elected Labor government would spend an extra $8.5bn on Medicare, including a significant expansion in bulk-billing services. Mr Albanese said the plan would mean 90 per cent of GP visits would be fully covered by the taxpayer by 2030.
Coalition - Peter Dutton immediately matched Labor’s Medicare spend and outbid the Prime Minister, declaring the Coalition would put $9bn into Medicare. The extra $500m would cover the Coalition’s plan to spend an extra $500m on taxpayer-funded mental health spending.
Public spending
Labor - Before the last election, Labor promised to grow the public service in order to reduce the reliance on private consultancy fees.
Coalition - Peter Dutton has flagged cutting $6bn a year out of the public service, hinting he will cut at least some of the 36,000 extra public servants hired by the Albanese government. The Coalition has also opposed about $100bn of spending measures in this term of government, including the federal contribution to the Victorian government’s Suburban Rail Loop, Labor’s $10bn housing fund, and tax breaks for electric cars.
Immigration
Labor - Labor has vowed to cap international student numbers at 270,000 this year to reduce net immigration.
Coalition - The Coalition has promised to reduce the permanent immigration intake by 25 per cent and reduce the number of international students studying at metropolitan universities.
Foreign policy
Labor - Anthony Albanese has secured a commitment from US President Donald Trump to consider exempting Australia from the president’s proposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports into America. The new levies kicked in on March 12.
Coalition - If he wins the election, Peter Dutton has said he will call the Israeli Prime Minister within days to repair the relationship with Australia and Israel, and says he will reassess Kevin Rudd’s position as Australia’s ambassador to the United States. Mr Dutton claims a Coalition government has a better chance of convincing US President Donald Trump to carve out Australia from his tariff blitz.
Housing
Labor - The Albanese government’s $10bn Housing Australia Future Fund was set up to disburse at least $500m annually to deliver “20,000 new social homes and 10,000 new affordable homes” over its first five years. The HAFF has not yet delivered a home, but Mr Albanese has blamed the Coalition and the Greens for delaying the fund through the Senate. It finally passed in September. Labor also has a target to build 1.2 million well-located new homes between mid-2024 and mid-2029. Labor’s $32bn Homes for Australia election plan includes a recent intervention by Treasurer Jim Chalmers to instruct financial regulators to soften home-lending rules for Australians with university debts. Foreign investors will be banned from buying established Australian homes between April 1 and March 31, 2027.
Coalition - Peter Dutton has vowed to scrap the Albanese government’s Housing Australia Future Fund and put a two-year ban on foreign investors buying existing Australian homes. A Coalition government would allow first-home buyers and older women to use their superannuation savings towards a home deposit, and has promised to free up more than 100,000 homes in the next five years and “unlock up to 500,000 new homes through new infrastructure funding”.
Industrial relations
Labor - The Albanese government has made intentional wage theft a criminal offence, legislated the right to disconnect, and forced the militant CFMEU’s construction division into administration in several states.
Coalition - The Coalition has promised to bring back a “tougher” Australian Building and Construction Commission and introduce a simpler definition of a casual worker.
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