Discussing social awareness and trade taxes: First week of election campaigning

Share and Follow

A “woke” crackdown, Chinese “spy ship”, wage changes, an RBA decision, and US tariffs dominated the headlines during the election campaign this week.

A ‘spy ship’ and a review of the Islamophobia envoy

The week began with about a Chinese “.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would “prefer it wasn’t there” but it was being monitored.

Albanese also confirmed Labor would not govern in coalition with the Greens if there was a minority government.

Meanwhile Opposition leader Dutton said a Coalition government would — but not a similar antisemitism position.

He also revealed he wouldn’t make his home in Canberra if he becomes prime minister, but would instead reside in Sydney’s waterfront Kirribilli House.

Coalition’s plan to boost borrowing power

Tuesday began with the Coalition talking up its plans to reform borrowing rules including the “serviceability buffer” to help people borrow more money.

It came ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s announcement it would .

Dutton also confirmed he would cut $2.2 billion in federal funding from Melbourne’s controversial Suburban Rail Loop project, electing to divert $1.5 billion towards the Airport Rail project instead.

‘What does ‘woke’ mean?’

On Wednesday, the prime minister announced he would ask the Fair Work Commission to , at least in line with inflation. In response, the Opposition leader said the Coalition would also support a wage increase.

Dutton was also asked to , after he suggested the Coalition could impose “conditions” on state school funding to prevent “indoctrination” in classrooms.

Trump’s tariffs overshadow the election

On Thursday, the election campaign focused on US President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing .

There was confusion around why the Australian territory .

The prime minister said the move to apply a was “not the act of a friend”, although he noted that no other country had got a better deal.

Nonetheless, Dutton called Albanese “weak” and criticised his inability to secure a phone call with Trump in recent weeks, calling it a “significant failing”.

The prime minister ended his day with a tumble while on stage at the Mining and Energy Union conference.

A man grabs Anthony Albanese from behind as he slips over on a black stage.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stumbled off the stage while attending a conference in the Hunter Valley on day six of the 2025 federal election campaign. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

Screaming children and selfies

Albanese visited western Sydney on Friday for the first time since the campaign started, and was greeted by screaming kids at a local school. While he was there he acknowledged that it was a mistake for local candidate Tu Le to have been passed over last election in favour of former Labor senator Kristina Keneally.

Nearby, Dutton pumped petrol and took a selfie with a punter to spruik his promise to cut petrol excise (instead of backing Labor’s tax cuts).

The two leaders also crossed paths at a forum at Blacktown Workers Club.

Greens leader Adam Bandt added a bit of late colour to the campaign, posing with a giant toothbrush at Melbourne’s Luna Park to talk about his party’s push for all adults’ dental services to be covered under Medicare.

Adam Bandt holds a giant red toothbrush while standing in front of Luna Park

Greens Leader Adam Bandt with members of his team at Luna Park in Melbourne. Source: AAP / NADIR KINANI/AAPIMAGE

Last port of call

Chinese company Landbridge was awarded a 99-year lease of the port in 2015 from the Northern Territory Country Liberal government.

Albanese made his announcement to get the port “back into Australian hands” on ABC Darwin, pre-empting Dutton’s arrival in Darwin to announce that a Coalition government would make similar move if elected.

For the latest from SBS News, and .