Australian news and politics live: Dutton, Albanese face off for third leaders debate

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are minutes away from taking to the stage for their third televised debate.

It comes after a highly unusual day in which both leaders paused campaigning to mark the passing of Pope Francis.

Their encounter is expected to be a more sombre affair than their previous debate, given the circumstances.

The debate will air on Channel Nine from 5.30pm AEST.

Stay with us for live updates.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has posted a selfie with his children ahead of the third leaders debate this evening on Nine.

Ms Chaney says she’s not surprised by the latest Newspoll data which shows female voters are abandoning Peter Dutton.

The independent MP - vying to hold onto the former blue-ribbon Perth seat of Curtin - accused the Opposition Leader of adopting a more conservative, Trumpian approach to politics.

“I don’t think a Peter Dutton led Liberal government is doing any more for women than a Scott Morrison led Liberal government did,” she said,

“There are a lot of people, women in my electorate, who don’t feel that the level of compassion or kindness that they would like to see in politics is reflected in what they see coming out of the Liberal Party, so that polling would not surprise me.

“It is not just women who think that, but I think there is a broader sense of dissatisfaction as we see Peter Dutton take the party further to the right and further to a Trump approach to politics.

“I think he is really losing women in modern electorates like mine.”

Independent Curtin MP Kate Chaney has defended her fellow crossbencher Monique Ryan’s decision not to speak to Sky News from a polling booth earlier tiday.

Asked on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing whether she thinks the brush-off was damaging to the teal’s brand as being transparent and welcoming scrutiny, Ms Chaney said “I think everyone will make their own decisions about which media they speak to”.

“There has been a pretty concerted attack from parts of the media against the independents and I think that it’s perfectly reasonable decision to decide on what circumstances you are going to talk to media,” she said.

“There has been huge media pressure and attention on the crossbenches and I’m not surprised that people are making decisions on a day-to-day basis about the circumstances in which they are ready to have a conversation.”

Katy Gallagher has unveiled Labor’s policy for women with just 11 days to go until polling day on May 3.

With a focus on cheaper childcare, closing the gender pay gap, ending financial abuse and providing a pay rise to early childhood educators and aged care workers - the party is promising to improve the lives of Australian women.

Ms Gallagher, the Minister for Women, said a re-elected Labor Government would deliver a suite of measures, including a $790 million women’s health package and $8.6 million commitment to improve perpetrator responses.

“Only Labor has a clear plan to deliver more positive outcomes for women in Australia – with their health, with financial independence, in their families and in the workplace,” she said.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has backed the decision to go ahead with the leaders debate tonight, despite the passing of Pope Francis.

Earlier today, both major political parties announced they would cancel planned events in favour of paying their respects to the Pontiff and joining with those who mourn his loss.

Mr Burke, a Catholic, said he was glad party politicking ahead of the election had been paused for most of the day but it was appropriate for the debate to go ahead as planned tonight.

“I was really glad when it was decided that you wouldn’t have the same sort of partisan conversations during the day today and while the debate still going ahead, the tone of it is certainly, we can expected to be a bit more subdued,” he said on ABC TV.

When pressed on why the debate wasn’t called off, Mr Burke said he wasn’t part of the conversations that led to the decision.

“I don’t think you need to say there will be no political conversation, I don’t think you need to say that there are no issues at stake in the election.

“The conversation will occur and obviously any of the aggression of that is not happening at all during the day today but tonight it will sort of be a bit of a reset once the debate takes place.”

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are scheduled to face off on Channel Nine at 5.30pm AEST.

Some of Hollywood’s most famous faces have paid tribute to Pope Francis following his death with many reflecting on the touching moments they met the leader and his “love of humanity and laughter”.

Whoopi Goldberg shared a photo of herself with the Pope as she praised his “love of humanity and laughter”.

She wrote on Instagram: “He was the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christ’s love enveloped believer and non believer.

He felt more like Pope John the 23rd who made belief real. Sail on Pope Frances with your love of humanity + Laughter.“

Leonardo DiCaprio thanked him for been a “transformational leader”, not only for the Catholic Church, but also for environmental activism.

During the filming of DiCaprio’s documentary Before the Flood in 2016, he sat down with the Pope to talk about the need to address climate change.

“That experience was enlightening, deeply moving and thought provoking,” he said.

“Pope Francis was one of the most extraordinary spiritual leaders of our time. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of environmentalists around the world. May he rest in peace.”

Read what other celebrities had to say, here.

Independent Kooyong MP Monique Ryan has been involved in an awkward on-camera incident as prepolling opened today.

The Teal MP refused to answer further questions when asked by a journalist “how your campaign’s going this morning?”

Ms Ryan had been standing on public land outside a polling booth in Malvern in Melbourne’s south-east when she was approached by Sky News reporter Laura Jayes during a live cross.

Jayes had disclosed that she was broadcasting live before asking Ms Ryan questions.

“We don’t want to interrupt… In the interest of a bit of transparency, we just thought maybe … we just want to know how your campaign’s going this morning?” Jayes said.

Ms Ryan replied: “It’s going well, thanks Laura. But I am here to engage with voters - we’re at pre-poll, it’s in the middle of an election campaign, so I’m not really sure that it’s ideal for you to be interrupting the process.”

Jayes then asked: “Have you had any other thoughts about whether it’s ok to pay influencers?”

To which Ms Ryan responded: “Thanks”.

She then turned her back on Jayes before one of Ms Ryan’s supporters stepped in and said: “She’s already declined the interview. She’s already declined the interview. If you can just go back…”

New polling has shown women are deserting the Coalition, almost a third of 18-34 year olds are voting Greens, while half of pensioners will vote for Peter Dutton.

The analysis in the latest Newspoll, released today as pre-polls open, showed Labor has made gains in every mainland state.

In the demographic breakdown, female voters recorded the largest shift in voter sentiment - shifting five points in two party preferred terms toward Labor since March 26.

Young voters also placed Labor ahead in the two party preferred vote 64-36, which was a contrast to 65+ electors who leaned towards Coalition 61-39.

There was little difference between voting intentions of households with incomes above $50K and $150K.

People who were renters, not religious and not working or in non-traditional employment were all more likely to vote for Labor over Coalition.

In state-by-state data, Labor were recorded to be making gains in Victoria which Mr Dutton was eyeing to claw back seats.

Peter Dutton gave very brief remarks outside St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, where he has just attended a service.

He thanked Anthony Fisher, the Archbishop of Sydney, who led the service.

“(I) really pay respect to the faithful in the Catholic Church who were there today, visitors and others who were in the cathedral to pay respects to the Pope and to all of those Catholics across our country, and indeed people of Christian faith right across the world,” Mr Dutton said.

“This is a moment of mourning, but it’s also a moment of celebration of a life that was one of sacrifice, of mercy and of forbearance, one who drove change within the church, but one who never forgot his roots, his origins, and somebody who was always dedicated to helping those … much less fortunate than himself.”

He said it was appropriate that there was a pause in campaigning from himself and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today.