Australian election 2025: Albanese, Dutton campaign on day 33 of May 3 election

Meanwhile, the Australian Bureau of Statistics will shortly before the Prime Minister’s address release the March quarter CPI figures – which will indicate if the inflation fight is being won.

The Opposition Leader will start the day campaigning in Melbourne,

The Prime Minister will make his 11th address to the National Press Club on Wednesday afternoon, with Labor almost definitely set to criticise Mr Dutton for not fronting up to the Canberra institution since succeeding Scott Morrison after the 2022 election defeat.

Mr Albanese is not expected to reveal any new announcements in his speech, which will instead focus on emphasising Labor’s key campaign messages.

Mr Dutton has not addressed the National Press Club in Canberra in his three years as Opposition Leader.

He has decided against making a leader’s address before Saturday’s election, while Coalition partner Nationals leader David Littleproud and Greens leader Adam Bandt have both appeared at the Press Club during the election campaign in the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, Mr Dutton will be in Melbourne as he continues his vow to hit up to 28 key marginal seats in the lead up to May 3, as opinion polls shows Labor will likely be returned for a second term.

Already Mr Dutton has been in the seats of Paterson, Robertson, Bennelong, Gilmore and Whitlam in NSW over the first two days.

Mr Albanese likewise has been hitting marginal seats, which have included two street walks in an usual tactic this election.

His targets have included Robertson, Bennelong, Banks and Fowler in Sydney and Griffith, Bonner and Moreton in Brisbane.

The latest Newspoll published by The Australian on Sunday showed Albanese government holding a lead of 52 per cent to 48 per cent after preferences, putting Labor in a strong position to retain power, possibly with a majority.

The Coalition needs to pick up 21 seats to win a majority in the 150-seat parliament on Saturday.

Meanwhile, applications for postal votes will close at 6pm on Wednesday as early voting continues, with more than three million Australians already casting their votes.

Trump ‘will be talking to’ Albo

US President Donald Trump has hinted he will speak with the Australian government in the wake of his ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs.

“They are calling, and I will be talking to him, yes,” Mr Trump told Nine News and the Sydney Morning Herald when asked whether he would speak with Anthony Albanese.

Employment Minister Murray Watt said on Wednesday morning that the comments were “obviously a positive development” in negotiating the “totally unjustified” tariffs.

When asked on Today whether Australians should hold their breath for the possibility of talks with the Trump administration, Mr Watt answered: “We have to take him at his word.”

Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash lashed the Labor government’s response to the tariffs, saying the inability to secure a phone call with Mr Trump showed there was “no relationship” between Canberra and its “greatest ally”.

“We look forward – if we are elected – to speaking with our greatest ally, the United States of America,” she said.

“Unlike the Albanese government – he won’t take their call.”

The Australian government has been attempting to negotiate with the Trump administration following his ‘Liberation Day’ announcement – a plan Mr Trump proposes will free the US from relying on foreign goods.

The plan includes a minimum 10 per cent tariff on almost all imports, from which Australia is not exempt.

Up until the April 2 changes, trade between the US and Australia was largely tariff-free.

At the time, the Prime Minister called the tariffs “totally unwarranted” and “not the act of a friend”.

Since, the tariffs have become a key election issue in Australia, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton regularly criticising Mr Albanese for not securing an exemption for the tariffs, or a phone call with Mr Trump to negotiate.

More to come