Albanese rules out ‘any arrangement’ with Greens in testy third leaders’ debate

The format restricted candidates to 60-second answers, though did allow them to engage in back-and-forth discussions. That led to some fractious moments, with Dutton accusing Albanese of being unable to “lie straight in bed”.

“You can go to abuse. That's a sign of desperation, frankly,” Albanese said.

“As is lying,” Dutton replied.

Fighting sliding poll numbers, Dutton began as the more assertive of the pair, repeatedly accused the prime minister of being “loose with the truth” and framing the 3 May vote as a “sliding doors moment” for the country.

Albanese targeted Dutton over his failure to explain where his proposed cuts to government spending will come from, consistently stressing that the last Coalition government immediately broke pledges not to cut health or education.

“We are in uncertain times, and this is not the time to cut, which is what the Coalition has to do in order to pay for their nuclear plan,” he said.

Asked about voters viewing him as “hardened”, Dutton spoke about his experiences as a police officer – including telling families a loved one had died, or attending car crashes when a child lost their life.

“I do think that has a big impact on you, and it certainly has on me,” Dutton said.

Albanese flatly rejected a question about the inverse perception – that he is viewed as too weak.

“It's just rhetoric. Kindness isn't weakness. Kindness is something that I was raised with … but I've been capable of making tough decisions,” he said.

Asked to nominate their opponent’s biggest lie, Dutton took aim at Labor’s claim that his nuclear policy would cost $600 billion – an assessment by renewable energy lobby group the Smart Energy Council, rather than modelling conducted by Frontier Economics.

But Dutton again struggled to articulate where his proposed cuts to government spending would come from, arguing that was not “something you can do from Opposition”.

“There will be cuts afterwards, he's just confirmed that – but they won't tell you what they are. Now, that's just not being fair dinkum,” Albanese said.

And after previously struggling against perceptions he is mimicking US President Donald Trump, Dutton stressed he had worked constructively with the former Obama and Biden administrations while a senior cabinet minister.

Dutton, who this week admitted he misquoted the Indonesian president over reported Russian plans to base fighter planes in Indonesia, revived his attacks on ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd.

Albanese stressed he had backed the AUKUS deal announced under Scott Morrison, in a period he said were “Opposition leaders were constructive”.

“It stands in stark contrast with this constant opposition and carping that we have heard,” he said.

Dutton later nominated Albanese backing AUKUS from opposition as a point of admiration.

Rejecting suggestions global uncertainty requires a hardman leader, Albanese argued he managed to improve Australia’s relationship with China “without compromising any of Australia's values”.

What they said: “I believe that we've got a very strong chance at the next election. A first term government hasn't lost since 1931, but there's not been a worse government in Australia's history since 1931,” Dutton said.