Australian politics and news live: Albanese, Dutton final face-off in election debate confirmed for Channel 7

In today’s episode of News Worthy, Ben O’Shea asks if this is the most CRINGE election ever?

Albo’s awkward moment with Plibersek vs Liberal rap song - choose your fighter.

Listen to the ​​full episode here. ​​

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed his plans for the day after the Federal election regardless of the result.

Speaking at a press conference in Tasmania, he said on May 4th after the May 3 poll he would be watching Star Wars.

“(On) May the 4th. I look forward to watching Star Wars at night,” he said.

His response was to a question about which ministers would remain in their current portfolios.

May 4 is a fan-created holiday known as “Star Wars Day” because “May the Fourth be with you” sounds like “May the Force be with you”.

The Nightly’s Nicola Smith writes that both parties are making a minute-to-midnight appeal to Gen Z and Millennials.

But the nation’s economists have warned quick fixes risk inflating house prices.

So will it work? And is it even the right thing to do in the first place?

Read the full analysis here.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has offered to jump on the media bus shadowing his campaign to place his best Spotify playlist.

His gracious offer comes after he was asked what he thought of a rap track the Liberal party released on Monday and if Labor would release their own diss track.

“Look up my music choices on Spotify. My DJ sets, some of them are up there - and if not, I’m happy to go on the bus with the media and play it through the sound system,” he joked.

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he “loves picking up a paper” while speaking about Labor’s $24 million investment into a Tasmania paper mill on Monday.

He has laughed at a journalist who questioned why he was pouring money into a “sunset” industry like print journalism.

Journalist: “Prime Minister, isn’t it a risky idea to put $24 million into a business whose… fortunes are so closely intertwined with a sunset industry like newspaper distribution?”

PM: “Wow. Any newspaper reps here? Where do you work?”

Journalist: “The Financial Review.”

PM: “Good luck.. on Monday, explaining that (to your boss),” he responded.

“I love picking up a paper. I love holding it. I love reading it.

“So do many Australians. I think it’s important that it continues to exist.

“I think it’s important that magazines continue to exist.

“I think it’s important that manufacturing in Australia continues to exist and that’s why I back it.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirmed his commitment to a Tasmanian AFL team while speaking in Hobart this afternoon.

“I want to see a Tasmanian AFL team, the Tassie Devils, which has had an amazing number of people sign up for it,” he said.

“Hobart is such a stunning, beautiful city and this is an urban development, redevelopment project. I want to see urban redevelopment occur in Hobart.”

He said the site of the proposed new stadium is “prime waterfront land” just laying waiting as an “eyesore” for development.

“It should be a jewel in the crown,” he said.

“You go around that site and what you see is a whole lot of dirt.

“You see a space that is prime waterfront land that’s primed for residential, commercial, recreational… (it) should lift up this state and lift up the city of Tasmania.

“We provided $50 million in 2012 budget for planning and for work.

“We forward it to the Tasmanian Government. It’s been sitting in the budget there for all of that time for Macquarie Point.

“I have not had discussions with the Premier about the specifics of the proposal. That’s a matter for Tasmania.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a $24 million investment into a paper mill near Hobart in Tasmania.

The Labor leader said the money towards the Boyer mill was part of the party’s “Future Made in Australia” agenda.

The mill, which is more than 80 years old, is Australia’s first, last and only newsprint producer in Australia and provides 310 local jobs.

The funding will help the mill transition into a more sustainable future.

“My government today is announcing up to $24 million to help… prepare for a low emissions future and to secure the future of the mill - $9 million of that over the next two years will be to ensure its financial viability, as this transition occurs up front, so that they can decarbonise and to diversify its production.

“We’ll also provide up to $15 million to match the company’s own investments in electrification.”

The PM travelled to Tasmania after his launch in Perth on Sunday with a stop over in Adelaide overnight.

The Seven Network’s 7NEWS will host the final leaders’ debate showdown between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on Sunday, April 27 live from Seven’s Election Central studios in Sydney from 8pm on Seven.

Political Editor Mark Riley will moderate the debate as both leaders face-off for the final time before Australians head to the polls for the Federal Election on Saturday, May 3.

Sunrise’s Natalie Barr will host the television event, which promises to be the most crucial hour of the gruelling election campaign.

Seven Network Director of News and Current Affairs and Seven West Media Editor-in-Chief, Anthony De Ceglie, said: “This final debate comes at a critical moment — just six days out from polling day — and 7NEWS is proud to bring it live to viewers.

“For many, it will be the defining watch of the campaign and will play a big part in how they decide their vote.”

Read the full story here.

Judo Bank chief economist Warren Hogan has backed in two interest rate cuts in the next few months as the world braces for the fallout of Donald Trump’s trade chaos.

Mr Hogan has been a cautious voice about rate relief, warning the Reserve Bank still needed to focus on keeping inflation under control.

But he now expects the RBA “to take out some insurance” as the global economy cops a battering from the US President’s big tax hikes on trade.

It came as the embattled administration again shook up plans over the weekend. Electronics were exempted from the 145 per cent tax on Chinese goods but a tariff on semiconductors — or ‘chips’ — will apply and will be announced this week.

Financial markets closed on Friday expecting five rate cuts before Christmas.

Read the full story here.