Opposition Leader Peter Dutton considered pulling out of Tuesday night’s leaders’ debate after his father was rushed to hospital after a heart attack.

Dutton confirmed on Wednesday his father was doing well, adding that he pushed ahead with the previous night’s election campaign showdown as his sisters provided updates from the hospital.

Dutton said he spoke with his father early on Wednesday and he was “good”.

“He’s 80 this year, he’s a great man, he’s stoic and he’s a tough old bugger so he’ll be fine,” he told Nova Sydney radio.

“I love him very much.”

Dutton started his day in Sydney after debating Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on US tariffs, the cost of living and energy costs at a people’s forum hosted by Sky News the previous night.

Though the audience deemed Albanese a narrow winner, one in five remained undecided, reflecting how close the federal election race remains.

Coalition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume said Dutton’s decision to show up proved his credentials for the top job.

“That Peter fronted up to the debate after hearing that news and performed exceptionally well is demonstrative of just how dedicated he is to the job that he has, and the kind of prime minister he will be,” she told Seven’s Sunrise program.

At the debate, Dutton released modelling for the Coalition’s plan to cut power prices by forcing companies to keep gas in the Australian market.

“You will see the wholesale price of gas coming down very quickly when it filters through to consumers,” Coalition energy spokesman Ted O’Brien told ABC radio.

This would offer households a 7 per cent fall in their gas bills and 3 per cent cut to their electricity bills. However, Australians may have to wait up to a year for savings to kick in.

-AAP