Both leaders heckled as first day of campaigning begins in Brisbane - As it happened

29 Mar 2025 11:29am

Greens focus on 'keeping Peter Dutton out'

The Greens just kicked off its campaign in Brisbane, pledging to focus "on keeping Peter Dutton out".

"Voters across Brisbane are incredibly powerful ... this election, voters in Brisbane really are in the box seat," Greens Leader Adam Bandt told reporters.

"They can keep Petter Dutton out and get Labor to act by getting dental into Medicare, by capping rent increases and making it free to see the GP, all while taking real action on climate and the environment.

"People in Brisbane certainly don't want to see Australia go nuclear when we have so much sun and wind.

"When the Australian people deliver that minority parliament we get some real action."

— Niv Sadrolodabaee

29 Mar 2025 11:24am

Anti-nuclear protester tries to gate-crash Dutton's brewery visit

SBS chief political correspondent Anna Henderson is travelling with Peter Dutton today. She had this to report from his brewery visit:

A anti-nuclear protester has managed to get into the XXXX brewery in Brisbane to gatecrash the Opposition Leader's campaign stop.

The woman was dressed in a hi-vis vest and appeared to be an approved guest at first but during the visit to the factory she came forward with a banner.

"Why are you lying to the Australian people about the cost of nuclear and gas?" she said unfurling a banner.

"It's going to cook our country."

A woman waving a flag is moved on by a man in high-vis

The protester is moved away by security. Source: AAP / MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE

As security moved in to forcibly remove her, the security detail and the protester fell down some steep steel stairs.

The protester later emerged as a member of the group Rising Tide.

29 Mar 2025 11:10am

Albanese heckler was far-right vlogger

Earlier, we reported that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was interrupted mid-presser by a young male heckler in Brisbane who tried to link Australia’s housing crisis to immigration.

It has now been confirmed that the man in question is a far-right anti-immigration vlogger.

"Just ripped into Chalmers and Albo himself IRL. They couldn't utter a word, let alone a response," he said in a post on social media about the interruption.

The individual, who has a small following on X and YouTube, said he also encountered the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on the campaign trail, but that he was unable to ask any questions.

A man holds a pole as he is pushed back by another man.

A heckler interrupts Anthony Albanese as he spoke to the media today. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

When interrupting the PM, the man claimed that “over 1.8 million migrants” had entered Australia in the last five years – repeating a Coalition talking point, which omits key context.

Experts have pointed out that migration figures in Australia surged post-COVID due to a combination of factors created by both Coalition and Labor policies, such as the reopening of borders, and the impact of reduced departures due to pandemic-era visa extensions.

Further, tying housing solely to increased migration isn’t entirely accurate according to the data, because although immigration does increase demand, it doesn’t explain the underlying root causes that contribute to the problem.

— Naveen Razik & Hannah Ritchie

29 Mar 2025 10:49am

Dutton's first campaign stop will be the XXXX Brewery

Peter Dutton will kick off his campaign at the XXXX Brewery, located in his home electorate of Brisbane, which is also close to the seat of Ryan.

The Liberal party lost both of these seats to the Greens in the last election.

Dutton will hold a press conference there alongside local candidate Trevor Evans.

29 Mar 2025 10:25am

PM wraps up his presser

Albanese was asked about his message to the White House on possible US tariffs targeted at Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The PM said: "We've put a very clear message to anyone in the world: our PBS is not for negotiation".

He concluded the press conference by adding: "I look forward — not just [to] my debates versus Peter Dutton — I look forward to the debates that take place between [my ministers] and the shadow ministers."

"My government is made up of fantastic people who are committed to making a positive difference and building Australia's future, not going back. We can't afford to go back. We need to go forward with a positive."

— Niv Sadrolodabaee

29 Mar 2025 10:08am

Albanese defends Labor's slow efforts to build more housing

Sara Tomevska, SBS Political Correspondent, asked Albanese about the heckler's criticism on housing, pointing out Labor has not constructed a single new home.

"It's not completely accurate," Albanese said, pointing out "if legislation is passed in December 2024 then yeah magically there’s not a huge housing build".

He noted legislation to build new housing was held up by the Greens and the Coalition.

Albanese said tens of thousands of homes were under construction as part of its social housing policy.

"The previous government didn't even bother to have a housing minister, let alone to build any public housing."

29 Mar 2025 9:59am

Albanese reacts to Peter Dutton's 'sledge-fest' comment

The PM has responded to criticism from Peter Dutton, who accused Albanese of "a sledge-fest".

Albanese said: "I reckon people will have a look at Peter Dutton's speech on Thursday night and now have a look at what we're doing — building urgent care clinics, strengthening Medicare, providing support for every school student to get the resources that they need, producing policy across the board whether it be on climate, health, education - a positive plan going forward.

"And they will look at Peter Dutton, who has made a whole career out of appealing to the darker side of human emotions. His whole career has been built on that. I haven't seen a budget speech or a budget reply that was characterised by that so much as I did on Thursday night."

Just for context, Dutton was asked yesterday about Albanese appearing to compare him to Trump, and whether this was a "compliment or a sledge".

"The ads are out there ... and the sledge-a-thon is on by the prime minister because he doesn't have a good story to tell about his three years in government," Dutton said.

— Niv Sadrolodabaee

29 Mar 2025 9:47am

'We have no future': PM heckled during press conference

The Prime Minister was just heckled at his opening press conference in Dickson.

The young male heckler interrupted the presser as Treasurer Jim Chalmers was about to speak.

"Mr Albanese, 1.8 million immigrants in five years, don’t you think that’s going to increase demand on the medical system?

"What about the fact that people like us can't get any housing? We can't get rentals anymore."

The man was quickly escorted out, but his criticisms highlight how immigration and issues like the housing crisis are likely to collide in this election, despite data suggesting that the relationship between the two is complex.

— Sara Tomevska

29 Mar 2025 9:40am

Albanese spruiks success of Labor's urgent care clinics

Speaking at a press conference at the Murrumba Downs Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, Anthony Albanese is spruiking the success of Labor's urgent care clinics to voters.

He is flanked by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Health Minister Mark Butler, and Labor's local candidate Ali France.

"More than one million Australians have benefited from these 87 urgent care clinics that we have delivered," Albanese said.

"We promised 50, we have over-delivered. We're going to deliver at least another 50."

The Prime Minister also noted that the clinic is located in Peter Dutton's electorate, which he described as "Queensland's most marginal seat".

— Charis Chang

29 Mar 2025 9:29am

Immigration Minister Tony Burke reacts to flyer calling him 'racist'

A flyer that appears to be in English and Arabic has labelled the immigration minister “racist”, calling voters in Western Sydney to “vote no to Tony Burke”.

The flyer, first reported by The Australian Financial Review, appears to be unauthorised and not from any of the official campaigns.

In response, the minister has said: "I’ve fought racism and bigotry my entire career. It was in the heart of my electorate, in Lakemba, where I led the Walk for Respect, where thousands of people marched together to stop the former government who wanted to lower protections against racism and bigotry.”

The campaign for his seat of Watson is focused on Lakemba and Bankstown, key suburbs in the electorate.

— Niv Sadrolodabaee

29 Mar 2025 9:20am

Dutton looking 'chipper' as rivals invade his home electorate

Our reporters are following the leaders on the ground today, here is a report from Sara Tomevska, who is travelling with Anthony Albanese's press pack:

The second day of campaigning has begun, and the place to be is Brisbane where several marginal seats are in play!

The Greens — which currently holds those seats — is campaigning on a message of "let’s keep Peter Dutton out" while the major parties are clearly coming after Greens electorates.

Incidentally, Peter Dutton’s seat of Dickson is Queensland’s most marginal (at 1.7 per cent) but few experts expect him to lose it.

Some of our travelling media comrades ran into the Opposition leader on the street. Word is he’s "looking chipper and energised".

It’s bucketing down here as I write to you from the Labor campaign bus. The first media event of the day will be health-related, with Health Minister Mark Butler and Treasurer Jim Chalmers to join the Prime Minister.

We’re in an Urgent Care Clinic in Peter Dutton’s own electorate and you can hear the campaign lines already ... something about "you can’t trust the Coalition on Medicare".

Stay tuned.

29 Mar 2025 9:04am

Day two of campaigning gets underway

Welcome to our live coverage of day two of the 2025 federal election campaign!

Labor, the Coalition and the Greens are all kicking off their campaigns in Brisbane, where several marginal seats currently held by the Greens, such as Griffith, Ryan and Brisbane, are in play.

This is Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s second campaign as leader of the Labor Party.

The challenge this time round is to convince everyday Australians that he should keep the top job amid a cost-of-living crisis that has left many households across the country feeling squeezed.

We can expect the major parties to continue to put forward two very different visions for Australia on issues such as housing, migration, energy and more.

Overnight, Peter Dutton said the upcoming election was "as much about leadership as it’s about policy" – signifying that his messaging could go after Albanese personally.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates!

Both leaders heckled as first day of campaigning begins in Brisbane - As it happened

Both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton were heckled today during key campaign stops in Queensland.

Greens focus on 'keeping Peter Dutton out'

Anti-nuclear protester tries to gate-crash Dutton's brewery visit

Albanese heckler was far-right vlogger

Dutton's first campaign stop will be the XXXX Brewery

PM wraps up his presser

Albanese defends Labor's slow efforts to build more housing

Albanese reacts to Peter Dutton's 'sledge-fest' comment

'We have no future': PM heckled during press conference

Albanese spruiks success of Labor's urgent care clinics

Immigration Minister Tony Burke reacts to flyer calling him 'racist'

Dutton looking 'chipper' as rivals invade his home electorate

Day two of campaigning gets underway

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Both leaders heckled as first day of campaigning begins in Brisbane - As it happened

Both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton were heckled today during key campaign stops in Queensland.

Greens focus on 'keeping Peter Dutton out'

Anti-nuclear protester tries to gate-crash Dutton's brewery visit

Albanese heckler was far-right vlogger

Dutton's first campaign stop will be the XXXX Brewery

PM wraps up his presser

Albanese defends Labor's slow efforts to build more housing

Albanese reacts to Peter Dutton's 'sledge-fest' comment

'We have no future': PM heckled during press conference

Albanese spruiks success of Labor's urgent care clinics

Immigration Minister Tony Burke reacts to flyer calling him 'racist'

Dutton looking 'chipper' as rivals invade his home electorate

Day two of campaigning gets underway

previous

2of2

next

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