Thanks for being with us. Here's a recap of what's unfolded today
We are concluding our coverage of the final full day of the election campaign. Here is everything you need to know:
- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has broken his silence to endorse Albanese for a second term, thanking him for advocating for his June 2024 release and declaring that no public figure did more for his plight.
- Dutton said he's anticipating "some big surprises on election night" — something akin to former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison's shock election victory over Labor's Bill Shorten in 2019.
- A survey of more than 300 Aboriginal community members in battleground Western Sydney indicates that health and housing are the policy areas that will most inform their voting choices.
- More than five million people have already cast votes at pre-poll centres, in addition to 1.5 million postal votes already returned to the AEC. That means more than seven million people have already cast their ballots.
- Albanese's appearance in Devonport was gatecrashed by dozens of Liberal volunteeers — with some heckling the prime minister about the cost of the Voice to Parliament referendum.
- Later, the PM's visit to Melbourne's south-east was disrupted by a woman angry about the number of government-subsidised psychology appointments.
— Gabrielle Katanasho
Dutton signs off on final day of election campaign
Our reporter Sara Tomevska is with Dutton and sent this update:
Dutton has wrapped up his final day of campaigning in Perth, in the suburb of Yanchep in the seat of Pearce — formerly held by the Coalition but currently held by Labor on a 8.8 per cent margin.
His campaign stops have included: the South Australian Produce Market, in the seat of Makin, before heading to Western Australia — stopping at an outdoor camping store in the seat of Tangney, a petrol station in Moore and a cafe in Pearce.
One curious Yanchep woman, Sharon, asked what all the commotion was about. Upon learning the Opposition leader was about to arrive, she said: "Oh, that's nice."
"Are you a fan of his policies?" I asked.
"Oh… well, they're a bit vague aren't they?" she said.
Half of eligible voters have already cast their ballots in this election — with the major parties running out of time to turn the undecided.
'People are suffering': PM confronted in Dunkley over psychology rebates
The prime minister has endured a foul-mouthed confrontation during his last campaign stop of the day in Melbourne's south-east.
Albanese arrived at the packed polling booth with Dunkley candidate Jodie Beleya, receiving cheers from Labor volunteers and jeers from Liberal campaigners.
Both were confronted by a woman who cut through the media pack to try and shake his hand, claiming she was there to ask a "question", her manner becoming aggressive.
Belyea was seen pushing the woman out of their way, before Australian Federal Police officers pulled her away from Albanese, leading her to loudly demand the prime minister answer her.
"Answer me you f***ing moron," she said.
"People are suffering."
The woman said her anger was fuelled by Labor's move not to extend the Morrison government's COVID-19-era mental health measures when the number of government-subsidised psychology appointments was lifted from 10 to 20.
She also expressed scorn for former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews.
The fracas continued as the prime minister spoke to local Labor volunteers and some early voters, before leaving the event with the woman and pre-poll volunteers in tow.
The woman, who said her name was Dani, would not confirm her last name, nor whether she was a volunteer with any political party.
— Naveen Razik
Health and housing: Key concerns for First Nations voters in Western Sydney
A community survey of Indigenous people in Western Sydney has revealed health and housing are key concerns for local First Nations people, as Australians gear up for the federal election.
The political battleground of Greater Western Sydney is home to one of the largest urban First Nations populations in Australia, with 54,000 people identifying as Indigenous.
GWS Ngaliya, a place-based partnership established under federal and state Closing the Gap initiatives, surveyed over 300 Aboriginal community members.
While the survey was not directly tied to the election, those behind it suggest it may provide some insight into what will influence the votes of Indigenous people.
Krystle Carroll, project coordinator at GWS Ngaliya, said: "I think that mob's thinking about all of those things that are important to all of us — health, looking after our old people, keeping our kids healthy."
— Cameron Gooley, Ricky Kirby
WikiLeaks founder endorses Anthony Albanese for a second term
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has thrown his support behind Albanese in the final hours of the election campaign, saying no public figure has done more to secure his release.
Assange was detained for more than five years in London's high-security Belmarsh Prison, charged with espionage and computer hacking offences, for publishing classified US military documents on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He was returned to Australia in June last year after agreeing to a plea deal.
In a statement, he said Albanese "against all expectations … kept his word".
"He [Albanese] personally and repeatedly raised my case with president [Joe] Biden, and empowered Kevin Rudd in Washington and Stephen Smith in London to walk into meetings and say, 'The Australian prime minister and the Australian people want him free'."
Albanese had advocated for Assange for years, initially as the Opposition leader.
— Gabrielle Katanasho
Dutton: 'We can be successful'
Dutton is asked whether he has done enough to avoid a Labor-Greens government, which he has been warning about.
He said: "We worked hard every day and night. I have been excited to go around the country and meet Australians from every corner of this amazing country. I'm very humbled by the support we have received when we have been out."
He mentioned the promised fuel excise cut, plans to bring inflation down, and said: "On that basis, there's no doubt in my mind we can be successful in the election."
— Alex Britton
Dutton: Australia can't afford three more years of Albanese
Dutton has pulled out a copy of The Australian in which Labor promised life would be cheaper under their government.
He told reporters in Perth: "We're going to restore the dream of home ownership and we're going to invest into defence so we can be a safe country into the future as well.
"That's the alternative and that's the choice that people have to make at this election.
"It's a significant decision for people to make because this is a sliding doors moment.
"A Greens-Labor government is going to be a disaster for our country and Australians just can't afford three more years of Mr Albanese."
— Alex Britton
Charted: how millions have already cast their ballots
Dutton checks out tents and caravans in Perth
Our reporter Sara Tomevska is with Dutton and sent this update:
Peter Dutton has arrived in Perth and has hit the electorate of Tangney, held by Labor on a 2.8 per cent margin.
He’s at Off-road Equipment in the suburb of Myaree in Perth’s south, and has examined some caravans and tents as he contemplates new lodgings himself.
PM's appearance in Devonport gatecrashed by Liberal volunteers
The final week of the election is all about winning the pictures, and the contest played out in full force during the prime minister's appearance in the seat of Braddon in Tasmania.
A group of around 40 Liberal campaigners gatecrashed Albanese's street walk and walk at the Rooke Street Mall in Devonport.
Most were silent and respectful, holding placards that trumpeted the Liberals' key pledge of a temporary cut to the fuel excise, but a few hecklers called out Albanese over spending on the Voice to Parliament referendum.
Albanese carried on, taking selfies with Labor faithful and locals, but quickly walked out.
— Naveen Razik
Millions more cast their ballots
Earlier, we reported nearly five million people had already cast their vote at pre-poll centres.
The AEC has just updated the number of pre-poll votes cast, and it's now 5.67 million. This number includes nearly 1.8 million in NSW, nearly 1.5 million in Victoria and more than a million in Queensland too.
In addition, 1.5 million postal votes have already been returned to the AEC, meaning more than seven million people have already cast their ballots.
In Lyons, Tasmania, nearly three-quarters of those who applied for a postal vote have cast their votes, followed by Bass in Tasmania and Flinders in Victoria.
— Alex Britton
A Medicare card, a toothbrush and a petrol pump: The 2025 election mainstays
In this year's election campaign, each party leader has selected a mascot to promote their key election pledges.
Albanese has traded a dollar coin — the symbol of his 2022 minimum wage increase promise — for a Medicare card.
That's because he is promising the biggest investment in Medicare in its 40-year history.
In direct competition to that pledge, Greens leader Adam Bandt has been wielding a giant toothbrush.
He says getting basic dental services into Medicare is a priority issue for the party. That includes fillings, tooth extractions, cleaning and X-rays.
Parliamentary Budget Office analysis suggests the average adult who accesses the scheme would receive about six or seven dental services in the first year — each valued at about $141.
Dutton's weapon of choice — a petrol pump.
He's made more than a dozen visits to petrol stations during the campaign to promote his plan to shave the fuel excise by 25 cents a litre.
According to the Coalition's number crunch, the change will save someone filling up a 55-litre car about $14 a week — or more than $700 across the year.
— Gabrielle Katanasho
Do you live in a marginal electorate? Or want to know where they are?
Pollster Redbridge Group has listed 20 seats to watch on election night across six states which will be interesting contests between Labor and the Coalition, including Bennelong with a 0.04 per cent margin between the two parties.
To find out how your electorate stacks up, click here:
Back to the future?
As AAP reports, the prime minister has gone back to where it all began.
"Albanese threw down the gauntlet on March 28 when he called the election and went straight to the Opposition leader's home turf.
"And on Friday, a day before voters take to the polls, Albanese has returned to Peter Dutton's Brisbane-based electorate of Dickson in Queensland.
"Asked if he was trying to "play mind games", the prime minister said he was "trying to win a seat" before expanding on the differences between himself and his opponent."
Dickson is the most marginal federal electorate in Queensland and Dutton holds it by a slim 1.7 per cent margin.
— Alex Britton
Australia's preferential voting system explained
If you're confused about how Australia's electoral system works, our team have covered this off.
Here's how to have your say in the election of 150 members of parliament in the House of Representatives — also known as the lower house — and 40 out of 76 senators in the upper house.
How do polls work and can they be trusted?
At election time, you may hear quite a lot of talk about what the polls are saying.
But just how accurate is this data and should you be paying attention to the polls?
Video producer Pranjali Sehgal breaks it down:
Dutton: 'Big surprises' could happen on Saturday
Dutton has said he is sensing a potential repeat of 2019 — where Scott Morrison became prime minister despite polls suggesting Labor's Bill Shorten would win.
He told Channel Nine's Today: "I think this has really got echoes of 2019 where the published polling was very different than what we've seen in the marginal seats.
"The response that we've had at pre-poll has been pretty remarkable. And that, frankly, is across the board with our marginal seat members.
"I think there are some really big surprises that you'll see on Saturday night and seats that probably haven't been in play for a while, that I think we have a real chance of picking up."
— Alex Britton
Albanese: 'I'm working my guts out'
Albanese has started his day in Queensland, and would not be drawn on what would happen if Labor did not achieve a majority at the polls or if he would work with independents.
"We're striving for a majority government. I'm not a commentator, other people have that job. My job is to maximise Labor's vote in the next 48 hours," he said.
"I don't take the Australian people for granted. I'm working my guts out to ensure there's a majority government tomorrow."
— Alex Britton
Millions have already had their say
Saturday is not the only day people can make their vote count.
Figures from the Australian Electoral Commission show 4.8 million people have already cast ballots at pre-poll centres, while 1.3 million postal votes have been returned.
— Alex Britton
Welcome to our live coverage
Australians will have the chance to have their say on the country's future tomorrow, with millions set to cast their ballots in the 2025 federal election.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is attempting to win a second term, while Opposition leader Peter Dutton aims to become the country's 32nd prime minister.
Both leaders will embark on a last-minute blitz of marginal seats across Australia today, the final full day of campaigning before polls open.
— Alex Britton
