The Latest Breaking News from Michelle Grattan

Michelle Grattan and Amanda Dunn discuss the fourth week of the 2025 election campaign.

This election has been lacklustre, without the touch of excitement of some past campaigns. Through the decades, campaigning has changed dramatically, adopting new techniques and technologies. This time, we’ve seen politicians try to jump onto viral podcasts.

The demography that makes up the Australian electorate is changing and as voters desert the major parties polls are becoming harder to read.

Peter Dutton came perilously close to a DOGE moment on Monday night, when he was asked about getting the “woke” agendas out of the education system. Noting the Commonwealth government “doesn’t own or run a school”, Dutton told a Sky audience in Brisbane that people wondered why there was “a…

After months of speculation, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dissolved parliament and called a federal election for May 3. Michelle Grattan speaks with political editor Amanda Dunn about the close polls (and the possibility of a hung parliament), the key policies announced so far and why the “small target” strategy…

As the election starter’s gun is about to be fired, Tuesday’s budget announced modest income tax cuts as the government’s latest cost-of-living measure. The Coalition has opposed the tax relief, with Peter Dutton’s Thursday budget reply to put forward his policy counters on the cost of living.

The Greens have heaped a lot of pressure on the government during this term, from issues of the environment, housing, and Medicare, to the war in the Middle East.

Cyclone Alfred will cost the March 25 budget at least A$1.2 billion, hit growth and put pressure on inflation, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says.

On current opinion polls, we are looking at a very close race at the May election. As voting day draws near, Peter Dutton will face more forensic questioning about his policies and how he would run government.