LIVE: Election 2025 – Peter Dutton chokes up and fights back tears during press conference

Peter 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 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.

Anthony 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.

The 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.

The 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.

Peter 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.