With less than a week to go before polling day in the federal election, the PM and opposition leader square off for the fourth time. Follow updates live

• Anywhere but Canberra: Australian voters on what matters to them
• Interactive guide to electorates in the Australian election
• Listen to the latest episode of our new narrative podcast series: Gina
• See all our Australian election 2025 coverage
• Get our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcast

Anthony Albanese makes opening remarks

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, was second to make his opening statement. He said that Australian’s had a “real choice this Saturday” to “continue building Australia’s future, or go back to the past.”

Labor has a real plan for cost-of-living support today, whilst building with investment for tomorrow. Tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer, strengthening Medicare … Making more things here in Australia, 20% cut in student debt, and a 5% deposit for first home owners.

We know that we live in very uncertain times and that’s why we need certainty, and during this campaign, we have put forward clear, decisive policies.

Australians deserve certainty. What we will deliver is just that.

If we can manage the economy well, it means we can bring inflation down, we can help families with the cost-of-living crisis that this government’s created … There are very few, if any, Australians I have met over the course of the last three years who can say they are better off under this prime minister’s watch.

There is a better way to manage our economy and to manage our national security, and that’s exactly what I have on offer at this election.