News Corp queries audience ‘independence’ after Albanese declared debate winner

Among the questions from the audience, one voter from Western Sydney asked both leaders on their approach to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which led Hadley to voice his doubt over her status as an undecided voter, “given the tone of her question”, he told The Daily Telegraph.

Sky’s website on Wednesday morning said the prime minister had failed to win over the majority of voters, despite winning the audience vote.

Five of The Australian’s expert panel of seven handed Dutton the win, with one for Albanese and one for a draw, while two of The Age and Sydney Morning Herald’s panel called a draw, with Jacqueline Maley handing Albanese the win. The Telegraph’s national affairs editor, James Morrow, national weekend political editor James Campbell and political editor for The Australian Simon Benson all handed Dutton the win.

Before the result was delivered on Paul Murray Live on Tuesday evening, the Liberal National Party’s official social media account had declared Dutton the winner.

Dutton and Albanese will go head-to-head in a debate again next week, on April 16, live from the ABC’s new Parramatta studios, hosted by David Speers, but they are yet to agree on a potential two further debates. Channel Nine and Seven have made formal bids to host their own debate ahead of polling day on May 3.

Next week’s debate on the public broadcaster will deliver a significantly larger audience, but the spectacle of the two-person face-off has become more of a campaign set piece, rather than an event that will persuade voters one way or another, says Resolve pollster Jim Reed.

“They’re more or less expected, and if you refuse to take part in a debate, I think you look a bit weak or scared. So it’s something that they’re more or less obliged to do. Is there great value in them? That’s a bit of a question mark,” Reed says.

In an increasingly stage-managed affair, the focus is rather to avoid anything going wrong and hope the opponent slips up, he adds.

“The most likely impact on a campaign is actually when things go wrong, and it’s probably why the leaders’ offices and the campaign offices agree all the details of the debates well in advance.

“It’s really about de-risking the debate for them, and hoping your opponent makes a mistake.”

Sky will host a second debate on Wednesday night between Treasurer Jim Chalmers and his challenger, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor.

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