MELBOURNE, Australia — Australians are preparing to head to the polls on May 3 for general elections. High costs of living and housing shortages are central concerns that may challenge the current government as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor Party aims for a second consecutive three-year term.
On Friday, Albanese visited Governor-General Sam Mostyn’s official residence to initiate the election process, subsequently announcing the election date at a news conference held at Parliament House.
In his announcement, Albanese remarked, “Over the last few years, the world has thrown a lot at Australia. In uncertain times, we cannot decide the challenges that we will face, but we can determine how we respond.” He further emphasized, “Our government has chosen to face global challenges the Australian way: helping people under cost-of-living pressure while building for the future.”
Meanwhile, opposition leader Peter Dutton launched his conservative coalition’s campaign by pledging improved economic management. He highlighted that 29,000 small businesses had collapsed across Australia during Labor’s three-year governance. “It’s a choice about who can better manage our economy and, of course, the question that Australians need to ask is are you better off today, is our country better off today, than three years ago?” Dutton addressed to the press.
Regarding the potential election outcome, predictions suggest Dutton’s coalition might gain additional seats in the House of Representatives. It is worth noting that no Australian government has been replaced after a single term since 1931, a time when the country faced the Great Depression. Historically, Australian governments tend to lose some ground in their second election, and currently, Labor controls 77 out of 151 seats in the House of Representatives where a majority is necessary. Due to redistributions, the forthcoming election will see 150 seats contested.
The possibility of a minority government supported by independent or minor party lawmakers looms. In the last election of 2022, an unprecedented tally of 19 politicians not aligned with either the government or opposition was elected to Parliament.
Such unaligned lawmakers might play a pivotal role in determining whether Labor or Dutton’s conservative Liberal Party forms Australia’s first minority government since the 2010 election. Adam Bandt, leader of the minor Greens party, has stated his party’s support for a Labor minority government is contingent on meeting specific demands.
The demands involve a ban on new coal and gas extraction projects, the provision of free dental care for everyone, and limiting rent increases. Bandt remarked, “With a minority government on the cards this election, this is a once-in-a-generation chance to keep Peter Dutton out and get Labor to act on the housing crisis, the cost-of-living crisis, and the climate and environment crisis.”
Previously in 2010, the Greens backed a Labor minority government, leading to the installation of a short-lived Australian carbon tax which a subsequent conservative administration repealed.
The issues currently at play involve cost of living pressures, which have surged since Albanese took office with 12 interest rate increments since the last election. However, the central bank responded by reducing the benchmark cash rate to 4.1% in February, indicating a potential easing of inflationary pressures.
Albanese has pledged to tackle the housing shortage by building 1.2 million homes over five years, although the 2023 initiative has been slow to get underway. Dutton has countered with a promise to curb housing market competition by reducing immigration. Additionally, he supports allowing Australians to use savings from their compulsory workplace pension funds for down payments on new homes.
Both major parties have committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, their strategies differ; while the government plans to utilize renewable sources such as solar and wind, the opposition proposes constructing seven state-funded nuclear power plants. The opposition also suggests introducing more gas-fired power generation to ensure energy supply remains stable until nuclear power becomes available.