The question during the final election leaders’ debate on Sunday night might not have been about policy, but it was the question that went to the heart of the cost-of-living crisis faced by struggling families.

During a quickfire round on the Seven Network’s Final Showdown, both Anthony Albanese and Mr Dutton were asked about the cost of a dozen eggs.

The Opposition Leader left audience members stunned by his answer of “about $4.20,” with some audibly laughing at his guess.

“It was shocking to see how somebody can be so out of touch with a carton of a dozen eggs,” one of the members of Seven’s “jury” said.

“Everybody pretty much burst into laughter when he said that. It was surprising.”

The Prime Minister’s answer was closer to the mark, with moderator Mark Riley declaring a dozen eggs would set a shopper back $8.80 from Coles and $8.50 from Woolworths.

“It’s $7 if you can find them because it’s hard to find them at the moment,” he said.

Mr Dutton’s slip was reflected in the result of the Final Showdown, with 50 per cent of the 60 undecided voters giving the debate win to Mr Albanese.

Only 25 per cent of the audience of undecided voters, selected by Roy Morgan and tasked with choosing the winner, chose Mr Dutton as the winner, while the remaining 25 per cent were still undecided.

The audience split on the question on the cost-of-living was more striking, with 65 per cent siding with Mr Albanese, and just 16 per cent siding with Mr Dutton, while 19 per cent remained undecided.

According to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the price of eggs increased by 11.9 per cent between February 2024 and 2025. This was due to the 2024 bird flu outbreak in Victoria which forced Australia chicken flock to be culled by 10 per cent.

The Coalition’s campaign spokesman James Paterson defended the response, and said it was an “objective fact” that “cost of living has gone backwards on Labor’s watch”.

“I want to be respectful of the audience views and their opinions,” he told Seven following the debate.

“Grocery prices up 30 per cent, electricity prices up 32 per cent, gas prices up 30 per cent.

“We have had the worst fall in living standards in Australian history and the worst in the developed world in the last couple of years.”

Asked why Mr Dutton appeared to be unable to get that message “across to people,” Senator Paterson said he believed Australians were aware that “this Prime Minister has failed”.

“I think Australians know when they go to the supermarket checkout and it’s worse than was just the week before, every week it gets worse,” he said.

“There is no reason to expect a second term Albanese government would be better than a first term Albanese government in reducing the cost-of-living.”

Grim news for Dutton in latest Newspoll

More than half of all voters believe Peter Dutton and the Coalition are not ready to govern the nation, according to the latest Newspoll.

The poll, published by The Australian six days before the May 3 election, revealed 62 per cent of the 1254 voters surveyed between April 21 and 24 did not believe Mr Dutton and his team had what it takes to assume power.

This marks a seven point increase from polling done in February this year.

The feeling was strongest among women, with 66 per cent holding little or no confidence in the Coalition, compared to 58 per cent of men.

Things were not much better for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Labor, with only 39 per cent of voters believing the party should be re-elected for a second term.

Both leaders will be stepping up the pace on Monday, with just five days of campaigning left before Saturday’s election.

Early polling will also resume on Monday, with 2.4 million Australians having already cast their votes in the four days of pre-polling so far.

More to come