Final pitch to voters in last leg of election campaign

May 3, 2025 14:00 | News

Final federal election pitches are being made with party leaders reaching the home stretch of their campaigns as voters around the country cast ballots.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived in his Sydney seat of Grayndler to cast his vote.

Long lines have formed at polling centres in Australia’s largest cities after opening at 8am on Saturday.

In the nation’s capital, Canberrans took advantage of the city’s democratic heritage by voting at Old Parliament House.

At Mount Nelson Primary School in Hobart, a twist was added to the treats on offer in addition to the beloved democracy sausage.

Jacqui Lambingtons, eClair Chandlers and Brown’s Brownies have all made cake stall appearances as part of the fun.

Christine Palmer, a school parent managing the cake stall, said the kids had come up with the names.

Creative cake stalls have popped up all around the country, including a sign in Sydney “Make Australia Bake Again” and the “Crumpet of Patriots”.

Cakes for sale at Camdenville public school polling place
Aptly-named cake stall treats have featured at polling booths across thhe country. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

In Western Australia, which was crucial to delivering Mr Albanese his 2022 election win, independent MP Kate Chaney fights to hang onto her marginal seat of Curtin.

Casting her vote at a primary school in Perth’s wealthy suburbs, Ms Chaney said the attack ads had been “thicker, faster and more desperate”.

“The major parties are deeply threatened by the idea of a parliament that actually holds them to account,” she told reporters.

“The hardest part is probably this part, the constant media scrutiny and the personal attacks … this is the reason more people don’t want to go into politics.”

Independent Kate Chaney casts her vote
Independent Kate Chaney says personal attacks put people off as she fights to hold her Perth seat. (Aaron Bunch/AAP PHOTOS)

Mr Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton are making their final pitches for votes as they continue travelling on election day, after crisscrossing the country for the last five weeks to win support in a number of crucial marginal seats.

The pair turned to democracy pooches, and were often snapped cuddling cute dogs. 

Some 10 million people are expected to vote on polling day, after more than seven million voted early at pre-poll centres.

Mr Albanese aims to become the first prime minister since 2004 to win back-to-back elections, while Mr Dutton fights to overcome history to be the first leader since 1931 to unseat a government after one term.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese interviewed for TV at the MCG
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did breakfast TV interviews from the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

Speaking at the MCG in Melbourne, Mr Albanese said Labor aims for the “holy grail” of winning back-to-back elections.

The prime minister did the rounds on morning TV, giving a number of interviews.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers urged Australians to vote for stability in a period of global uncertainty.

“We are so grateful for the opportunity that the people of Australia have given us and we seek another term with humility,” he said.

Graphic showing two-party preferred YouGov polling result
Polling shows Labor still ahead of the coalition in the days leading up to election day on Saturday. (Aap Image/AAP PHOTOS)

The final YouGov poll before election day shows Labor in the box seat to form majority government.

The poll, provided to AAP, has Labor ahead 52.2 per cent to 47.8 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.

Based on the survey of more than 3000 people, Labor would slightly increases its vote from the 2022 election by 0.07 per cent.

The coalition would receive 31.4 per cent of the primary vote, followed by Labor on 31.1 per cent, with the Greens on 14.6 per cent.

People cast their ballots at Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club
Early birds cast their ballots ahead of long queues forming at poll centres in Sydney and elsewhere. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

Mr Albanese also leads Mr Dutton 51 per cent to 34 per cent as preferred prime minister.

The Australian Electoral Commission said on Friday more than 7.3 million people had already cast their ballot, while more than 10 million are expected to vote on Saturday.

Labor goes into election day with 78 seats, while the coalition have 57 in the 150-seat House of Representatives.

A majority of 76 seats is needed for a party to form government.

AAP News

Australian Associated Press is the beating heart of Australian news. AAP is Australia’s only independent national newswire and has been delivering accurate, reliable and fast news content to the media industry, government and corporate sector for 85 years. We keep Australia informed.

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