The Australian election campaign commenced with a range of prominent topics dominating the political landscape, including national security, economic policy, and social issues.

The week began with the identification of a Chinese vessel described as a ‘spy ship’ in Australian waters.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed concerns about the ship's presence, stating a preference for it not to be there while affirming that the government was monitoring the situation closely.

In addition, Albanese confirmed that the Labor Party would not enter into a coalition with the Greens in the event of a minority government.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton articulated a different approach, indicating that a Coalition government under his leadership would prioritize national security but stated that the policy stance regarding antisemitism would diverge from prior frameworks.

Dutton also mentioned personal housing preferences, indicating he would not relocate to Canberra but instead reside at Kirribilli House in Sydney if elected as prime minister.

On the second day of the campaign, Dutton's Coalition outlined plans to reform borrowing regulations, with a focus on adjusting the ‘serviceability buffer’ to enable increased borrowing capacity for Australians.

This discussion preceded an announcement from the Reserve Bank of Australia regarding interest rates.

Dutton also shared plans to reallocate $2.2 billion in federal funding from Melbourne's Suburban Rail Loop project towards the Airport Rail project instead.

Midweek brought discussions about wage policy to the forefront, as Prime Minister Albanese proposed an increase in wages aligned with inflation through a request to the Fair Work Commission.

Dutton responded with support for a wage increase from the Coalition, positioning it as a key election issue.

Dutton subsequently faced questions regarding his stance on education funding, where he suggested potential conditions to prevent perceived indoctrination in state schools.

Thursday’s discussions became dominated by international relations, particularly following U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order that resulted in tariffs affecting Australian exports.

Albanese criticized the tariff imposition as an unfriendly act but maintained that Australia had secured a favorable deal compared to other nations.

Dutton characterized Albanese’s responses as a sign of weakness, particularly in light of recent difficulties in securing communications with U.S. officials.

Friday featured Albanese's visit to a primary school in western Sydney, where he encountered enthusiastic support from local children.

During this engagement, he acknowledged a past misstep regarding party candidate selections.

Dutton was also active, filling his vehicle with petrol and promoting his pledge to reduce petrol excise as an alternative to Labor's tax strategies.

Both leaders participated in a forum at the Blacktown Workers Club, while Greens leader Adam Bandt made a notable appearance at Melbourne's Luna Park, advocating for expanded dental services under Medicare amidst ongoing discussions of public health funding.

A significant storyline emerging from the week involved the Northern Territory's Landbridge and the management of the port leased to the Chinese firm in 2015. Albanese announced intentions to seek the port's return to Australian oversight, coinciding with Dutton's visit to Darwin where he also voiced a commitment to reclaiming control of the port if elected.