LIVE: Election 2025 – Russia’s bold move on Australia’s doorstep sparks furious spray from Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese has clapped back at Russia amid reports the country is seeking aircraft bases on Australia’s doorstep.

The Kremlin has lodged an official request with Indonesia to base long-range aircraft at Manuhua Air Force in Papua province, according to Jane’s Defence Weekly.

The move could bring Russian military planes within 1,300km of Darwin.

At a press conference in Melbourne this afternoon, Mr Albanese said his government ‘obviously do not want to see Russian influence in our region’.

‘We stand with Ukraine – we regard Vladimir Putin as an authoritarian leader who has broken international law, who’s attacking the sovereignty of the nation of Ukraine,’ Mr Albanese said.

He said the government was seeking ‘proper clarification’ with Indonesia about what had taken place.

‘That’s the way you deal with international relations, making sure you’re not firing from the hip.’

Ties between Russia and Indonesia have deepened in recent months, with the pair performing drills in the Java Sea.

Russia is reportedly seeking bases for long-range planes within 1,300km of Darwin.

It has lodged an official request with Indonesia to base aircraft at Manuhua Air Force in Papua province, according to Jane’s Defence Weekly.

Sergei Shoigu, one of the country’s top security officials, visited Indonesia in February.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman David Coleman described the reports as ‘deeply concerning’.

‘The basing of Russian aircraft in Indonesia would be highly destabilising to the security of the Indo-Pacific region,’ Mr Coleman said.

‘Foreign Minister Penny Wong must explain what knowledge she has of this matter, and what steps have been taken by the government to ensure that Russian aircraft do not have access to bases in our region.’

It comes as the security of Darwin was already in the spotlight, with both Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese saying they would take back control of the port from the Chinese-owned Landbridge Group.

The Greens have canned a dance party fundraiser on April 25 after both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton condemned the move.

In a statement, WA Greens co-convenor Chilla Bulbeck said the ‘Greens Party Party’ event had been rescheduled.

Perth candidate Sophie Greer would attend an Anzac Day service on that day, as she was ‘always intending to do,’ Bulbeck said.

It comes after Mr Dutton said holding the dance party on Anzac Day was ‘completely inappropriate’ and Mr Albanese said the day was ‘not a day for business as usual’.

Anthony Albanese has weighed in after a cafe owner in Canada was told by authorities to destroy $8,000 worth of Vegemite.

Found Coffee is a chain that sells Vegemite on toast as well as jars of the Aussie staple to its customers.

Its owner Leighton Walters was told by Canadian regulators in January he could no longer sell the condiment as the batch was non-compliant with Health Canada regulations.

Mr Albanese was asked about the matter on Tuesday with the Prime Minister immediately throwing his support behind the cafe owner.

‘I can confirm here today that I am pro-Vegemite. And, indeed, I actually put a lot of Vegemite on my toast when I ate bread,’ he said.

‘So, I love Vegemite. It’s a good thing. I did hear the report on that. It’s rather odd that they’re letting Marmite in – which is rubbish, frankly.

‘Let’s be clear here. Pro-Vegemite, anti-Marmite. That’s my position.’

The Prime Minister has condemned a planned ‘dance party’ fundraiser for the Greens on Anzac Day.

It comes after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton labelled the ‘Greens Party Party’ dance event planned for April 25 in Perth ‘completely inappropriate’.

Mr Albanese said this morning in response to questions: ‘Anzac Day is a day of respect for the men and women who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice.

‘I think it’s not a day for normal business as usual.’

Anthony Albanese is refusing to confirm if leadership rival Tanya Plibersek will retain her portfolio after the election.

Mr Albanese and Ms Plibersek, the Minister for the Environment and Water, had an awkward moment during Labor’s campaign launch on Sunday.

Ms Plibersek appeared ready to give the Prime Minister a hug but he reached for a double handshake instead and she awkwardly kissed the air.

Today Mr Albanese confirmed she would be a ‘senior cabinet minister’ in his government but would not say if she would hold onto her portfolio.

‘I’m not getting ahead of myself and naming all 22 or all, actually, all 42 portfolios, on the frontbench. I’m not getting into that. She’ll be treated exactly as everyone else.’

Peter Dutton says it’s ‘completely inappropriate’ that the Greens are planning to hold a dance party fundraiser in Perth on Anzac Day.

The Greens will host the ‘Greens Party Party’ to raise funds for their election campaign.

Mr Dutton told the ABC that the move showed the Greens had ‘complete contempt’ for the ADF.

‘The ADF is present in most countries that our young Australians visit and they are part of keeping young Australians safe when travelling overseas,’ he said.

Harry Dutton, the Opposition Leader’s 20-year-old son, certainly stole the show yesterday.

The second-year carpentry apprentice joined his dad on the campaign trail in Brisbane where they toured a housing development site and later helped pack boxes at a food bank.

Harry even briefly fronted a press conference where he was asked about what it was like to campaign with his old man.

Proving that he could follow in his father’s footsteps if he ever decided to down tools, Harry pivoted his answer to underline how hard it was to place a foot on the property ladder.

‘I am saving up for a house and so is my sister, Bec, and a lot of my mates, but as you probably heard’ it’s almost impossible to get in, in the current state,’ he told reporters.

‘I mean we’re saving like mad, but it doesn’t look like we’ll get there in the near future.’

Mr Dutton Jr.’s intervention helped soften his dad’s hard-man image.

But it appears to have had another effect, too, as hordes of women have swooned over the young tradie (pictured, below).

‘Very handsome young man,’ commented one Daily Mail reader, before adding three love heart emojis.

Another said: ‘Well done, one very handsome young guy.’

One congratulated the Opposition Leader, adding: ‘He seems like a fine young man.’

The vast majority of comments, however, concerned Mr Dutton’s refusal to answer whether he would be offering help from the bank of mum and dad.

Mr Dutton was asked repeatedly whether he would help his son buy a property – but ignored the question each time.

‘You’re doing pretty well, yourself. Why won’t you support him a bit and give him a bit of help with getting his house?’ a reporter asked.

But Mr Dutton wasn’t having any of it.

‘I haven’t finished the excellent points I was making,’ he said.

‘The next point as to why people should vote Liberal is we can manage the economy well. Labor always trashes the economy, which is why we’ve had almost two years of households going backwards under this government.

‘Australians can’t afford three more years of Labor.’

It has been estimated that Mr Dutton has made $30 million from property transactions over 35 years.