As it happened: Albanese and Dutton face off in final leaders’ debate

The leaders have turned their attention to energy policy, with the PM promoting renewables and Dutton backing nuclear.

“If we have a look around the world at the top 20 economies, Australia is the only one that doesn’t have or hasn’t signed up to nuclear power. It’s a zero-emissions technology,” said Dutton, who added he’d be happy to have a nuclear reactor in his electorate.

Albanese said:“We think the future is renewables, backed by gas, by hydro, backed by batteries.”

Dutton was quizzed as to why he had not visited any sites of his proposed nuclear power plants, but evaded giving a direct answer.

The leaders then clashed on energy. Dutton said solar energy was leaving homes without power at nighttime and the Labor’s transition would “ruin the economy”.

“That’s why families are suffering,” Dutton said.

Albanese equated the efficacy of solar energy, using batteries, to turning on the tap.

“I don’t know how Peter thinks that water works when it’s not raining, people turn on the tap and the water’s there. That’s the same way that you can store energy.”