Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been declared the winner of Sunday night’s election debate, the final one before Australians take to the polls this weekend.
Hosted by Channel 7 and moderated by political editor Mark Riley, the audience panel of voters gave the result to Albanese, with a clear 50% backing him.
The results came from post-debate data compiled by Roy Morgan, and saw Opposition Leader Peter Dutton backed by 25%, with the remaining 25% undecided.
Results data was further broken down on an issue-by-issue basis, showing cost of living results as the most stark.
For this topic, 65% backed Albanese, and only 16% for Peter Dutton, with 19% undecided.
On housing, 35% supported Albanese, 30% for Dutton and the undecided came in at a huge 35%.
The Prime Minister came out well ahead on tax, with 49% of voters favouring him and 21% voted for Dutton.
The tides turned in the Opposition Leader's favour on Indigenous affairs, which showed 46% support for him and 27% for the Prime Minister, and on Defence with 43% for Dutton and 37% for Albanese.
These results come just days after far-right extremists heckled the Indigenous welcome to country at the Shrine of Remembrance dawn service in Melbourne, with both leaders criticising the behaviour.
Commenting further during the debate, the Prime Minister said from his perspective it was a “great privilege” to share the country with “the oldest continuous culture on earth" but that the decision to host a welcome to country was “up to the organisations”.
Dutton condemned the heckling, but said welcome to country ceremonies were "overdone", and should only be held on significant occasions.
