- Australia votes on May 3 as Albanese and Dutton battle in a tight election.
- Cost of living, China ties, and Trump’s policies dominate the campaign.
- Hung parliament possible as polls show a close contest.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that the country’s federal election will take place on May 3, 2025. The election is expected to be a tough fight between Albanese’s Labor Party and the center-right Coalition led by Peter Dutton.
One of the biggest issues in this election is the rising cost of living. Many Australians are struggling with high prices for groceries, housing, and electricity. In response, the government introduced a $10.7 billion tax cut to help voters, but the opposition called it a “bribe” and promised to remove it if elected.
Another major issue is Australia’s relationship with China. Under Albanese, ties between the two countries have improved, with trade restrictions lifted. However, Dutton, once a strong critic of China, has now softened his stance, likely to win back Chinese-Australian voters.
The global situation is also adding pressure to the campaign. With Donald Trump returning as US President, his tough trade policies, including higher tariffs on steel and aluminum, have worried the Australian government. Albanese called the tariffs “unjustified” but invited Trump for a visit. Meanwhile, Dutton promised to meet Trump in person and negotiate a deal.
Polls suggest a close race, raising the possibility of a hung parliament, where no party wins a clear majority. If that happens, independent MPs may decide who will form the government.
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