Lesley Yeomans: Australian Correspondent on the outcome of the first debate of the Australian election

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appears to have got the better of opposition leader Peter Dutton in their first election debate.  

Sky News declared the incumbent Albanese as the winner after asking 100 undecided voters their thoughts.  

Australian Correspondent Lesley Yeomans told Andrew Dickens two key issues emerged last night.  

She says the cost of living and energy policy were two of the biggest topics. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Being Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanezi and his election rival

(00:04):
Peter Dutton faced off last night in their first debate
before the federal election, which is to happen on the
third of May.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
The world has shown a lot of challenges at Australia
in the last few years, and we've responded the Australian way.
What this selection is about, though, is what happens next.

Speaker 3 (00:20):
People have seen the government make mistakes priorities, but just
having accorded with your own priorities.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
Okay. So the cost of living issues dominated the debate,
but there were some good one liners on energy.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
The only gas policy that the coalition have is the
gas sliding of the Australian public.

Speaker 1 (00:36):
Ah. And they were asked about US President Donald Trump's tariffs.

Speaker 2 (00:40):
When you impost tariffs, it's a tax on the country
that is imposing it.

Speaker 3 (00:44):
Whatever is thrown at us. The Prime Minister of the
day should have the ability and the strength of character
to be able to stand up against bullies, against those
that would seek to do us harm, to keep our
country safe and to make sure that we can make
the right economic decisions for our country.

Speaker 1 (00:58):
So Australian corresponded Leslie. The Yeomans has been getting the
reaction for us and we've got her up very early
indeed in Australia. Thank you so much. Easy good morning
to you. Good morning Andrew Skycoarder for ALBERNIZI was he
the obvious winner?

Speaker 4 (01:12):
It appears so. Yes. One hundred undecided voters were invited
to this first debate and they were the ones who
were asking the questions and then would eventually at the
end of the debate give their assessment of who won
and possibly who they would vote for. Mentioning those tariffs

(01:33):
from the US Donald Trump was the first in the
first question that was put to Alberanisi. It was the
only time he was ever mentioned, So he got one
mention and that was it, and then they moved on
to other things. The debate basically was sort of policy driven.
I guess all the questions that were asked were about
the main policy issues from both parties, immigration, health, education,

(01:58):
and yes, cost of living.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
Is cost of living the number one issue?

Speaker 4 (02:02):
Yes? It is, Yeah, because that's what's hurting people the most.
And there's so much going on with what is going
on overseas that I think also a lot of people
just don't get that. Sometimes it doesn't matter what anyone does,
things are going to sort of be going downhill because

(02:23):
of overseas influences. A lot of stuff that can be
done over here as well in your home country, but
there are a lot of outside influences that are going
to cause some issues. Just like watching the stock market
go down. People's over here, their superannuation, which is invested
in goodness knows what is sort of being affected. Yes,

(02:46):
so there was a lot of cost of living issues
mentioned last night, and concerns regarding energy policy as well,
and how the government is going to try and help
people cope with those those growing energy bills.

Speaker 1 (03:01):
Is it going to be a close one.

Speaker 4 (03:04):
Most elections are these days, particularly saying that there are
other With the two major parties, one of their main
concerns now is what's going to happen with some of
the independence what we call over here the teal independence,
and they're sort of growing in number, and it's going

(03:25):
to be interesting to see if some more of those
teal independence can middle away at the major parties in
some of some of those seats and more of them
are coming forward.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
Years and are you going to be able to get
back to seat this morning. Yes good and I thank
you for your time today. These are yeomens as our
Australian correspondent. I mean just look at the time. I
can't believe she got up for us. Thank you so much.

Speaker 3 (03:48):
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