What time is the leaders’ debate tonight? How and when to watch Anthony Albanese v Peter Dutton in first election debate on Sky News
The race to the 2025 Australian federal election is under way, with two leaders’ debates between the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, in the coming weeks.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, and his Coalition counterpart, Angus Taylor, will spruik their policies in a debate on Wednesday evening.
Here is how you can watch the televised debates, before Australia heads to the final polls on 3 May.
‘People’s Forum’ on Sky News – Tuesday 8 April at 7.30pm AEST
At 7.30pm on Tuesday, Albanese and Dutton will face off in a “People’s Forum” event, hosted by Sky News and the Daily Telegraph.
Similar to the 2022 campaign, the prime minister and opposition leader will respond to questions from 100 undecided voters in western Sydney – where Albanese previously won against the former prime minister Scott Morrison.
The debate will be moderated by Sky News’ chief anchor Kieran Gilbert and broadcast live on the Sky News channel and website, as well as the Daily Telegraph website – all of which require a subscription.
Sky News reported that the first leaders’ debate will also air live “across multiple free distribution points, including the free-to-air channel Sky News Regional”. The live audio stream will also be available to digital listeners on DAB+ radio in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and regionally.
Winners will be determined by attendees on the night.
Guardian Australia will be following the updates live on the politics blog.
Treasurers’ debate on Sky News – Wednesday 9 April at 7.30pm AEST
At 7.30pm the following night, on Wednesday, Sky News will host a debate between Chalmers and Taylor.
They will go head-to-head in an event hosted by the Sky News business editor Ross Greenwood, and discuss a variety of topics including the cost-of-living crisis, tariffs and debt.
Energy debate at the National Press Club – Thursday 10 April at 11.30am AEST
Chris Bowen, the minister for climate change and energy, will debate shadow minister Ted O’Brien at the National Press Club on Thursday.
The Sky News chief election analyst, Tom Connell, will host the event, which will cover topics including the cost of power, nuclear and renewable energy policies.
Leaders’ debate on ABC – Wednesday 16 April at 8pm AEST
The next Wednesday, the ABC will host a leaders’ debate from its new Parramatta site – the first to be held in an ABC studio since 1993.
The ABC will choose the topics and questions, with the event moderated by the Insiders host, David Speers.
Following a more traditional debate style, Albanese and Dutton will each present opening and closing remarks, and be granted equal time to respond to questions.
The debate will be broadcast free on ABC TV, iView, ABC Radio and the ABC Listen App.
What else is coming up?
The campaigns are in talks to arrange additional debates between Albanese and Dutton before 3 May.
In March the Liberal party’s federal director, Andrew Hirst, proposed four debates to Labor’s national secretary, Paul Erickson.
Erickson replied by proposing three events – including the now-confirmed ABC debate, and one at the National Press Club.
Asked early in March if he would engage in four debates against Dutton, Albanese said the schedule would be “negotiated by national secretaries” but confirmed he “would be happy to” participate in a third debate at the press club.
During the 2022 federal election, there were three leaders’ debates.
