Anthony Albanese locks in ABC debate, leaves Coalition offer hanging

Anthony Albanese has committed to going head-to-head with Peter Dutton on the ABC during the election campaign. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Sydney on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

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Anthony Albanese has committed to going head-to-head with Peter Dutton on the ABC during the election campaign, leaving the ­Coalition’s offer of a further three debates on commercial networks unanswered. 

Amid speculation the Prime Minister will this weekend call an April 12 election, Mr Albanese said he “looks forward” to debating the Opposition Leader on the national broadcaster but the other dates would be “negotiated by national secretaries”.

After Liberal federal director Andrew Hirst wrote to Labor to propose four debates – on Sky News, Channel 9, Channel 7 and the ABC – Mr Albanese defended his history of “accountability” and attacked Mr Dutton’s record on fronting the media.

The Liberal Party told The Australian on Tuesday it had not received a response from Labor national secretary Paul Erickson after the opposition proposed the ambitious live debating schedule the day before.

“I make this point. The ABC ­exists, and the ABC haven’t had a debate for a long period of time,” Mr Albanese said on Tuesday.

“I look forward to Peter Dutton agreeing to a debate on the ABC. As for others, that’s all negotiated by national secretaries.

“Frankly, that’s why they give us a party organisation to deal with those matters.”

As Cyclone Alfred bears down on southeast Queensland, Mr ­Albanese refused to weigh in on whether the storm would impact the election timing. The cyclone is forecast to make landfall late on Thursday or Friday morning.

“We’re governing and that’s what we’re doing today,” Mr Albanese said. “I know there’s others (who) are interested in election timing. What I’m interested in is getting things done on behalf of the country.”

As Queenslanders brace for the cyclone to hit, Mr Dutton urged Mr Albanese to return to parliament and hand down a budget as scheduled rather than calling an early election.

“The Prime Minister should stick to the timetable of the parliament returning so the budget can be delivered,” Mr Dutton said.

“If the Prime Minister doesn’t have good news in the budget, which would seem to be the case, then he is likely to run to an election early, perhaps for April 12.”

As Labor MPs seek to shore up their electorates and ramp up their campaign efforts, one backbencher told The Australian they wouldn’t be surprised if the ­cyclone put the election on hold.

The MP said it was a “tough call” for Mr Albanese on whether to call an election this weekend or wait.

Labor MP Shayne Neumann, whose Brisbane electorate of Blair is preparing for Cyclone Alfred to hit, said he had been focused on emergency meetings with local councils and issuing warnings to residents in flood-prone areas.

“They breed them tough in southeast Queensland, there is a great community spirit,” he said.

Macarthur MP Mike Freelander said he had been doorknocking constituents on Tuesday, with cost-of-living pressures emerging as a dominant theme.

“I’m quite excited about it,” he said. “Election contests are ­always interesting and this will be more interesting than others. We have some good policies heading into the election, especially around health.”

Mr Albanese said he had previously stated he would be happy to speak at the National Press Club, but did not commit to a debate at the Canberra venue. “Peter Dutton can’t find the National Press Club. I’ve been there 10 times,” Mr Albanese said.

“I hold press conferences almost every day. I’m here, holding a full-scale press conference as I did on Sunday. As I did on Saturday. As I do every day – I’m accountable. I don’t do Ray Hadley or 2GB every Thursday morning and call that accountability. You know I’m up for engaging. I’ve been asked about the National Press Club when I was there and said that I’m happy to do so.”

He also criticised Scott Morrison for determining all the debates in the lead up to the 2022 election, criticising the Coalition for running a “chaotic, shambolic government”.