LIVE: Election 2025 – Anthony Albanese reveals what he really thinks about Donald Trump and Xi Jinping during tense ABC leader’s debate with Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton was evasive when asked by David Speers whether he trusted Donald Trump.

‘I don’t know Donald Trump is my point,’ Mr Dutton added.

‘My point is who I trust is the Australian people.’

But the PM had no such qualms.

‘Yeah. I have no reason not to (trust him),’ Mr Albanese told Speers.

‘I’ve had a couple of discussions with him. And the last discussion we agreed on a series of words that he would give consideration.

‘”Great consideration” was the words he used. And he did that.

‘In the end he made a decision as part of the US administration to put these tariffs on every country. We got the lowest amount.’

Mr Albanese gave the same answer when asked whether he trusted Communist dictator Xi Jinping.

‘I have no reason not to (trust him) either,’ he responded.

‘In terms of the discussions we have had as one on one discussions have been important. China’s our major trading partner.

‘One in four Australian jobs depends upon trade. It’s in Australia’s national interest to have a good economic relationship with China.’

Mr Albanese said that Australia and China had different political systems and different values but could still work together.

Debate host David Speers asked the Prime Minister a simple question four times.

‘You and Chris Bowen keep saying renewables are the cheapest form of power,’ he said.

‘When will we see our power bills come down?’

Mr Albanese claimed that ‘renewables are the cheapest form of power’ but Speers cut him off to ask the simple question again.

The Labor leader tried to criticise Mr Dutton’s nuclear pan but it cut no ice with the Insiders host.

‘Stick with your plan, Mr Albanese,’ he said.

‘When will the bills come down?’

‘What we need do is to roll out renewables, make sure there’s energy security,’ Mr Albanese said.

‘Make sure it’s backed up by batteries. By hydro and by gas.’

Daily Mail Australia’s political editor Peter van Onselen has slammed the ABC in his analysis of the second leaders debate between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton.

Moderated by Insiders host David Speers, the debate was broadcasted from the ABC’s studios in western Sydney on Wednesday night.

The decision meant Speers couldn’t host a special post-debate editon of Insiders immediately afterwards.

So who won the debate? Full analysis in the link below.

The PM was asked about whether he had any contingency plans around AUKUS.

He insisted the $368 billion nuclear submarine deal was in the ‘interest’ of the US.

‘I’ve been on a US sub there in Western Australia that’s been docked, nuclear powered submarine,’ he began.

But Mr Dutton cut over him: ‘Were you scared?’

The PM ploughed on with his answer, ignoring the taunt.

‘The important thing about international relations is that you shouldn’t try to score domestic political points through it,’ he added.

Insiders host David Speers (pictured, below) has quizzed both leaders on their refusal to contemplate changes to negative gearing.

Negative gearing is where investor landlords can claim a rental loss against their taxable income.

Even if they don’t make a loss, they can claim expenses from interest payments to council rates and property maintenance so they can reduce their total taxable income.

‘Neither of you seem willing to touch the negative gearing or Capital Gains Tax breaks at this election,’ Speers said. ‘You’ve both been property investors over the years. Can you understand younger Australians locked out of the market, feeling it is people like you who are to blame for the fact the system is rigged against them?’

Both leaders defended their positions, insisting any changes to the tax policy would put increased pressure on the rental market because there would be fewer investment landlords.

The PM has said he is ‘really optimistic about Australia’s future’.

‘Because of the hard work Australians have done over the last three years, we are turning the corner,’ he said.

‘We have inflation that is down, real wages that are up. We have unemployment that is very low at just 4.1 per cent and interest rates have started to fall.

‘They started to rise before the last election. We know there is much more to do.

‘That’s why we have a plan to cut taxes, not raise them.

‘A plan to make sure that we make things here in Australia through our Future Made in Australia plan. Strengthening Medicare through more urgent care clinics.’

We’re off! Peter Dutton has delivered his 60-second pitch.

He asks: ‘Are you better off today than you were three years ago?’

‘As I have spoken to thousands of Australians, young families, pensioners, people in small businesses, it’s obvious to me that people don’t feel better off,’ he adds. ‘People have faced an existential cost-of living crisis.’

A gaggle of protesters awaited both leaders outside the ABC’s new Parramatta studios (pictured below).

Multiple Palestine flags were seen as wel as a sign that red ‘Albo & Dutton! Stop the genocide!’

There was a heavy police presence around the ABC office, with curtains put up so people can’t look inside the studio.

Journalists travelling with Mr Dutton were reportedly in a four-hour lockdown ahead of the debate.

It comes amid an increasing concern about the security of both leaders after mulitple protesters have crashed press conferences throughout the campaign.

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton were put on the spot by a grandmother’s question about immigration and the housing crisis in the first leaders’ debate last week.

They fielded a number of tough questions from the crowd but it was 74-year-old grandmother Janine who left the pair stunned.

The Opposition Leader is under immense pressure to pull something remarkable out of the bag.

He trails Anthony Albanese in the polls, with an exclusive Ipsos poll commissioned for Daily Mail Australia revealing that Mr Dutton’s personal approval ratings have collapsed during the election campaign to the lowest level recorded by any opposition leader over the past 20 years.

Despite conservative pundits praising the Opposition Leader’s performance in the last debate, the independent audience of 100 undecided voters judged Mr Albanese the winner, with 44 preferring the prime minister’s pitch over 35 for Mr Dutton.

Read more about his concerning poll numbers below: