Some of this nation’s best and most respected politics journalists have taken to social media to laud Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s “emphatic win” over Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at their first leaders’ debate of the campaign.

SkyNews host Andrew Bolt wrote of the outcome of the debate run by SkyNews and The Daily Telegraph in Sydney: “We all knew Albanese was a weak and ineffectual leader and Peter Dutton proved that time and time again here. His was an emphatic win. No wonder the 100 undecided votes gave the debate to Dutton by 69 to 26, with only a handful still left undecided.

SkyNews host Paul Murray was equally scathing of Albanese’s performance: “This debate should have had a mercy clause. Just 10 minutes in Peter Dutton had excoriated the current PM with crystal-clear logic, oodles of charisma, charming quips and a total command of each and every policy they debated. An emphatic win for the incoming PM, for mine. No wonder the 100 undecided votes gave the debate to Dutton by 63 to 26, with only 11 left undecided.

SkyNews host Peta Credlin: “Peter Dutton showed throughout this debate that very shortly he’s going to rightly get the chance to show he’ll be every bit the prime minister that Tony Abbott was. Mr Dutton’s win was emphatic, as the audience vote showed, with the 100 undecided voters giving the debate to Dutton by 81 to 26, with only eight left undecided.

Sky News host Rowan Dean: “Britons made a big mistake at their last general election by not electing Nigel Farage as prime minister. Let’s pray to God that after today’s debate result Dutton is rewarded for his emphatic win by getting the keys to The Lodge on May 3. Dutton’s dominance was reflected in how the 100 undecided audience members voted, leaning heavily to Dutton 104 to 12 with no-one left undecided.

Sky News host Danica De Giorgio’s take: “It was so brutal I had to look away; it was Dutton the cat toying without mercy with Albanese the mouse. An emphatic win to Dutton. Is it any wonder the one truly undecided voter selected for the audience swung Dutton’s way, giving him a 100 to 0 clean sweep.

Sky News host Vikki Campion took to X with her own scathing assessment: “Barnaby’s been a boring old fart since he went on the wagon. At least he was a bit of fun when he was on the turps. He’d always give me a call if Parliament sat late.”

STOP PRESS: Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor has just posted his verdict on the debate, giving it to Dutton 84 per cent to 39 per percent for Albanese

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