
Federal Election: ABC to host 2025 leaders' debate

The ABC is set to host the free-to-air leaders’ debate when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton go head-to-head on 16 April. According to ABC news director Justin Stevens, the debate will give Australians a chance to hear from both leaders. “The ABC serves metro, rural and remote areas with Australia’s largest audience footprint for radio and terrestrial coverage and the leading digital news service,” he said. “It’s terrific that the leaders will be appearing on the national public broadcaster and talking directly to as many Australians as possible.” The debate will be moderated by ABC national political lead and Insiders host David Speers, who first moderated a leaders’ debate in 2007. The topics and questions in the debate will not be shared to the candidates or the public prior to the event, and each leader will make an opening and closing statement and have equal time to answer questions. Speers said his goal is to give both leaders equal treatment. “This will be a gimmick-free debate, focused on the major challenges facing Australia at a critical time, and where the two leaders stand,” Speers said. “The aim is to give voters an opportunity to hear the Prime Minister and O