Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in English
By HARRISON CHRISTIAN and MAX AITCHISON, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 23:23 BST, 8 April 2025 | Updated: 05:57 BST, 9 April 2025 Advertisement
Peter Dutton has revealed he considered pulling out of Tuesday’s leaders debate when his father suffered a heart attack just hours beforehand.Mr Dutton and Anthony Albanese are back on the campaign trail after the close contest last night.Follow Daily Mail Australia’s live campaign coverage. Dutton shows rare flash of emotion when asked about his dadPeter Dutton was asked about his father, who suffered a heart attack just hours before Tuesday night’s debate, and whether he was thinking of him during it.‘He’s doing well, he’s stoic, he’s a tough bugger,’ the Coalition Leader responded.But then, in a rare moment of emotion, Mr Dutton appeared to choke back tears.‘He’s worked hard all of his life and he’s been an amazing dad so… yeah, of course you think about him,’ he added.Watch the interaction below:Mr Dutton was later asked whether the pressure and worry of the campaign may have actually triggered his father’s heart attack.‘I’m sure he’s been worried about me for 50 years,’ Mr Dutton responded, jokingly.In a more serious tone, he added: ‘ Our families take a big toll in this business, there’s no doubt about that. ‘Our spouses, our kids, our parents, they all watch and they look on. Dad’s had pre-existing health conditions for a long time and, as I say, he’s in the best of care.‘I love him very much. He’s a great dad to me and my four siblings. An amazing grandfather, lives for his grandkids and that’s what I think gives him a great spirit every day.’Mr Dutton said he was thankful for the ‘thousands’ of well wishes he had received from people across the country overnight.Greens leader issues ominous threat to AlboAdam Bandt has insisted the Prime Minister is going to have to ‘learn to play well with others’ after Mr Albanese ruled out a deal with the Greens.The Greens leader was responding to The Australian’s Sarah Ison who reeled off a list of disparaging remarks the Prime Minister and senior Labor ministers have made about him.‘We’ll keep Dutton out and get Labor to act,’ Mr Bandt insisted.‘And despite the bluff and bluster, during the course of this parliament, we have successfully negotiated and passed a huge amount of legislation.’He claimed that Peter Dutton was a ‘threat to many of the things we hold dear’ and Labor was not able to convince a third of the country to vote for them.‘I would be astounded, as your question about being able to work together, if the Prime Minister or anyone else refused to respect the parliament that the Australian people choose,’ he added.‘If he can convince 51 per cent of the population to vote for him, then OK. But that’s not what’s happened.‘That’s not what he did last time. And with more people saying they want more voices at the table as part of a strong crossbench, he’s going to have to learn to play well with others.’Greens leader slams Trump’s ‘big loser energy’Asked about the AUKUS submarine deal, Adam Bandt said now was a time to reassess Australia’s relationship with the United States.He acknowledged that a ‘lot of people are really worried about what is coming out of the White House’.‘There is a great deal of fear and apprehension… we’re watching the world being burned down by powerful men – we just didn’t know they would be such losers,’ he said to laughter from the audience.He issued a rallying cry to Australians to ‘detach ourselves from Donald Trump’.‘There are millions of us in this country at the moment – who do not believe in what Donald Trump is doing and do not believe in what Peter Dutton is doing,’ he added.‘And this election is an incredible chance to say no to that big-loser energy that can is coming out of the White House.’Where is Albo’s nemesis?The first question asked of Greens Leader Adam Bandt, who is addressing the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday afternoon, was the whereabouts of his housing spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather.Mr Mather is arguably the most high-profile Greens member in the country, has become a consistent thorn in the PM’s side.Infamously, the Prime Minister lashed out at the 33-year-old in the House of Representatives in 2023, telling him: ‘You’re a joke, mate’.But Mr Chandler-Mather has barely been on the airwaves in recent weeks.‘A year ago, he was possibly one of the most high-profile politicians, non-mainstream politicians, or even more generally, in the media that had a very loud voice and was being listened to,’ host Julie Clare said.‘Where is Max Chandler-Mather today, and has he been gagged?’Greens’ leader Mr Bandt laughed, as someone from the audience shouted ‘impossible!’.‘Max Chandler-Mather has helped us craft this (housing) policy and is the reason that we are having a national discussion about how to make sure that renters and first-home buyers have a chance,’ Mr Bandt responded.‘Finally, thanks to the advocacy of Max Chandler-Mather – backed by all of us, the third of the country who rents now has a voice at the table.’Read more about the PM’s beef with the outspoken Greens MP below:Dutton commits to cutting immigration by 100,000 a yearThe Opposition Leader was asked about his target to cut 100,000 migrants each year.He defended the commitment while insisting he was not concerned about a [possible backlash from big business.‘I’m not worried about that,’ he said.‘I’ve got the first and foremost interest in mind, and that is to get young Australians into housing.’Albo hits back at the Greens amid power sharing demandsAnthony Albanese has responded to an ultimatum from the Greens in the event of a hung parliament.Greens leader Adam Bandt said a Labor minority government could only count on his party’s support if it axed capital gains and negative gearing tax breaks.But Mr Albanese dismissed his demands when asked about them on Wednesday morning. ‘Adam Bandt’s trying to make himself relevant, and I don’t blame him for that, that’s up to him,’ the prime minister said. ‘There’s nothing new about the Greens talking themselves up, but the truth is that our objective is to hold onto the 78 seats that we currently hold and build on it.’Mr Albanese’s goal will be a tall order as Aussie voters turn increasingly away from the two main parties in favour of independents and minor parties. It’s possible neither Labor not the Coalition will be able to win the 76 seats required to form a majority government.Greens issue housing demands to Labor ahead of potential power sharingGreens leader Adam Bandt will urge Anthony Albanese to axe capital gains and negative gearing tax breaks in return for his party’s support in a hung parliament. Mr Bandt will make the demands in an address to the National Press Club on Wednesday.While the Greens have put up the policies in previous elections, Mr Bandt said that this time, they would be a bargaining chip for Labor if it wants his support to form government after May 3.But when asked if Labor would consider this, election campaign spokesman Jason Clare ruled it out.’No, flat-out no,’ he told Sky News on Wednesday. ‘What we want to do is build more homes.’Negative gearing allows investors to claim deductions on losses and the capital gains tax discount halves the amount of tax paid by Australians who sell assets that have been owned for 12 months or more.Polls are pointing to a tight contest between the major parties, leaving the door open to Labor not gaining the necessary 76 seats to form a majority government and turning to the Greens for support. Coalition promises 3 per cent cut to electricity billsThe Opposition released their promised modelling into the plan on Tuesday night.It would make companies keep gas in the Australian market, forcing a reduction in gas and energy bills. Industrial customers are being promised a 15 per cent reduction in retail gas bills, with a forecast eight per cent decrease in wholesale electricity prices.Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has repeatedly attacked Anthony Albanese for failing to achieve the promise that Labor would cut power bills for $275.Mixed reaction from pundits to first leaders debateThe audience voted Anthony Albanese the leader of last night’s leaders debate, but reaction from pundits has been more mixed. Two experts at the Sydney Morning Herald called it a draw. The Australian opined that Mr Dutton had won by a narrow margin. One thing was clear — neither Mr Dutton nor Mr Albanese had managed to land a knockout blow, with each leader giving a competent but unexceptional performance. The debate’s audience of undecided voters left the venue having given a slight edge to Mr Albanese, with 44 per cent naming him the winner, compared to 35 per cent for Mr Dutton and 21 per cent undecided.Dutton says his dad will be ‘fine’ after heart attackPeter Dutton has revealed he considered pulling out of last night’s leaders debate when he learned his father had been rushed to hospital.The Opposition Leader’s 80-year-old father is understood to be in a stable condition in a Queensland hospital after suffering a heart attack.’He’s stoic and he’s a tough old bugger so he’ll be fine,’ Mr Dutton told Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie show on Wednesday morning.’Look, I thought, do I pull out of the debate, do I? But anyway, my sisters were up there with him and giving me regular reports.’He’s a great man. I love him very much.’Mr Dutton heard about his father’s medical emergency just minutes before the debate started. There was no mention of it by him, host Kieran Gillbert or Mr Albanese.The audience voted Mr Albanese the winner of the close contest in western Sydney.Key UpdatesAlbo hits back at the Greens amid power sharing demandsView postGreens issue housing demands to Labor ahead of potential power sharingView postCoalition promises 3 per cent cut to electricity billsView post
Advertisement
Share or comment on this article:
LIVE: Election 2025 – Peter Dutton chokes up and fights back tears during press conference
