LIVE: Election 2025 – Peter Dutton opens up about his family’s reaction to alleged teen bomber: ‘Pussycat’

The Prime Minister has addressed questions about a Melbourne Labor MP running an ‘open ticket’, a method discouraging preferential voting.

ALP candidate for Macnamara Josh Burns was revealed by Sky News on Friday to be running for election on an open-preference ticket.

Usually Labor candidates have been seen to suggest voters put the Greens second.

Anthony Albanese was asked about the decision on Saturday while speaking to reporters.

‘You know what the Labor Party wants? We want a number one next to the name of all these people. That’s my concern,’ he said.

‘If people put a number one next to Labor and we finish first or second, all the rest doesn’t matter.’

It is understood Mr Burns has chosen to run on an ‘open ticket’ due to a moral objection to the Greens’ policy on the war in Gaza.

The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader have both travelled to Perth on Saturday in the hopes of shoring up support.

Anthony Albanese was spotted with partner Jodie Haydon, Western Australia Premier Roger Cook and state frontbencher Rita Saffioti on a ferry named Trish, sailing across the Swan River.

The trip was to highlight the federal government’s election promise of $60million to build two more ferry stops and plan for a future expansion.

Speaking to the press from Elizabeth Quay, Mr Albanese said those ‘[going] around Perth at the moment, chances are you’ll be in a Labor held electorate’.

‘We understand that Australia isn’t just Kirribilli House, it isn’t just the east coast, isn’t just engaging in Canberra.’ he says.

Mr Cook also commented on the strong relationship the state government and the Albanese government.

‘We hope to continue to build on that relationship as we diversify Western Australia’s economy and we continue to drive our made in WA plan.’

During the press conference, the Prime Minister also admitted that nature positive laws will need a total rewrite.

Meanwhile, Peter Dutton met with Australian world boxing champion Danny Green in Swan, Perth, to pledge $1.5million to support the Stop the Coward Punch campaign.

Mr Green launched founded the campaign in 2012 to raise awareness about the devastating effects the coward punch has on victims and their families.

‘All too often we see the tragic consequences of cowardly and needless violence on our streets,’ Mr Dutton said.

‘Danny and his team are saving lives through this campaign, and I am proud to support the incredible work they are doing through this funding contribution.’

Formerly known as a ‘king-hit’ or ‘one-punch,’ a coward punch is an unprovoked strike delivered without warning.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has criticised the uncertainty brought on by Donald Trump’s global tariffs.

The trade war between China and the US has seen China introduce a 125 per cent tariff on American imports from Saturday.

As of this week, a tariff of 145 per cent is fixed for Chinese imports into the US.

‘No-one likes to look on as the two biggest economies in the world play chicken,’ she told ABC News.

‘A lot of Americans, when they start to see prices rise domestically in the US will begin to wonder why this is happening in the American economy.

‘I don’t think Americans want a Big Mac tax.’

The Enviroment minister was also asked whether she would be Opposition Leader if the Coalition win the Federal Election.

‘I won’t speculate about that. I won’t speculate about that for a moment.’

She said the thought of the Coalition winning left her ‘feeling very anxious’, adding that she is working hard for the re-election of an Albanese Labor government.

A slow start to the federal election campaign has caused the Coalition to sink in the polls while Labor pulls ahead.

‘Since our initial tracking wave, the Coalition’s primary vote has fallen by 7 per cent, with most losses shifting to minor parties,’ director at RedBridge Group Australia Kos Samaras said on X.

‘At the same time, Labor has managed to regain votes that were previously lost to both minor parties and independents.

‘It’s abundantly clear that only one side had completed the required research to build a strategy that works.

‘Labor is even addressing its problems in Victoria.’

The RedBridge-Accent tracking poll covers 20 marginal seats in New Sout Wales, Queensland and Victoria, and this is the third release since February.

The most recent survey revealed a drop in Peter Dutton’s net favourability rating among voters, sinking five points from -11 to -16, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Meanwhile, Anthony Albanese’s net negative rating increased slightly from -11 to -8.

This is a stark improvement to the -16 he had in the first tracking poll in February.

Across the marginal seats RedBridge said on Saturday that Labor leads the Coalition 52.5 per cent to 47.5 per cent.

The race seems to have seen the parties switch positions as the group reported that the Coalition led 50.5 per cent to 49.5 per cent in March.

The Coalition had also led in February, 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has spoken out over an alleged terror threat targeting him.

‘It’s just a reality of being a public figure in this role,’ he told 9News.

‘There are people who become obsessed over the internet, and they can watch all sorts of videos and for me, it’s about making sure that my family is safe and I feel safe with the federal police.

‘The keyboard Warriors are brave until they get a knock on the door from the AFP and that’s just life.’

Sources claim the teen was allegedly planning to attack the Coalition leader at his property north of Brisbane.

Mr Dutton said on Saturday he did think there is a greater prevalence of this alleged political violence happening in the run up to the federal election.

Asked how his family are doing, he called them ‘tough and stoic’ and make him look like a ‘pussycat’.

Mr Dutton said they have never complained about the protection they are provided.

‘I’ve had protection for a long time because I cancelled the visas of outlaw motorcycle gang members and rapists and organised crime figures,’ he said, seeming to allude to his time as home affairs minister.

‘But our country is a safer place because of that so I don’t have any regrets.’