Albanese Wins First Debate Amid Economic Concerns

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton participated in their first leaders' debate ahead of the federal election, focusing primarily on economic issues such as inflation, tariffs, and healthcare costs. The debate, hosted by Sky News and The Daily Telegraph, saw Albanese declared the winner by a panel of undecided voters, although both leaders accused each other of dishonesty regarding government spending and economic policies. Dutton emphasized the threat of a recession due to international trade tensions, while Albanese argued that Australia is well-prepared to handle global economic challenges. Both leaders also addressed tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, with Dutton suggesting these could lead to further economic instability. Treasury modeling suggests a minor impact on Australia's GDP from these tariffs, and the Reserve Bank has indicated that the country is in a strong position to weather potential economic turbulence.