World

Australian Prime Minister Calls General Election For May 3

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has officially called for a general election to be held on May 3. He visited Governor-General Sam Mostyn on Friday to dissolve the federal parliament and begin the formal election process.

The election will determine the members of Australia’s 48th Parliament.

Election Campaign Kicks Off

The announcement sets the stage for a five-week campaign.

Albanese and his governing Labor Party will face off against Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s Coalition, which includes the Liberal and National parties.

At a press conference following his visit to Mostyn, Albanese emphasized that voters would have the power to ‘choose the way forward0’ in the upcoming election.

He also highlighted the importance of voting, stating, “Your vote has never been more important.”

Economic Concerns And Election Issues

Opinion polls indicate that the election will be a close contest.

The Albanese-led government recently released its annual budget, which featured tax cuts and other measures aimed at appealing to voters.

However, Dutton, the 54-year-old leader of the opposition, has criticized Albanese’s leadership, accusing him of ‘weak’ governance and inflating inflation through government spending.

Dutton’s signature policy includes a $200 billion proposal to build seven nuclear reactors, which would slow down the expansion of renewable energy.

Voters are expected to focus on economic concerns and the high cost of housing in the election.

While inflation has decreased under Albanese—from 7.8 percent in 2022 to 2.4 percent in December—many Australians are still struggling with high food, fuel, and power prices.

Housing Crisis And Voter Discontent

Sydney and Melbourne now rank among the 10 least-affordable housing markets globally, according to the annual Demographia affordability index.

Despite efforts to address inflation and housing costs, many households continue to face financial difficulties.

Political dissatisfaction is also rising, with independents gaining traction by advocating for greater transparency and progress on climate issues.

Polls suggest that unaligned crossbenchers could play a pivotal role in the next government, potentially leading to a rare minority government.

On matters of national security, both major parties largely agree on strengthening Australia’s military ties with the United States.

However, there are differences in their approach to China. Albanese has focused on increasing engagement with China, making a historic trip to Beijing in 2023, the first Australian leader to visit in seven years.

In contrast, the previous Conservative government’s critical stance on China led to a trade war that cost Australia billions of dollars.

Also Read: Delhi Assembly To Discuss Mustafabad Name Change And CAG Report On DTC

Purnima Mishra

Recent Posts

PM Modi’s Nagpur Visit: A Spectacular Reception Caught On Camera

PM Modi’s Nagpur visit featured a grand welcome, tributes at RSS HQ, an inspiring speech,…

12 mins ago

US President Trump Threatens Additional Tariffs On Russian Oil, Expresses Frustration With Russian President Putin

US President Donald Trump has expressed his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that…

1 hour ago

PM Modi To Inaugurate Kashmir’s First Vande Bharat Express On April 19

PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express on April 19 from Katra,…

2 hours ago

Productivity Hacks That Will Change Your Life

Master productivity with time-blocking, digital detox, and focus hacks to boost efficiency and control your…

2 hours ago

AFSPA extended In Manipur, Parts Of Nagaland, Arunachal For Another 6 months

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act…

14 hours ago

‘Manthan 2025’ Conference Concludes With Insights On National Unity And Cultural Heritage

The two-day national conference ‘Manthan 2025’ concluded successfully at North Campus, Delhi University, bringing together…

15 hours ago