
Melbourne, Australia,3 May (H.S.): Polls opened in Australia on Saturday, with soaring living costs, the economy, energy, and China as the key issues in the general elections. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of the Labour Party is challenged by Peter Dutton of the centre-right Liberal Party, which promises to get the country back on track after three years in opposition. Pre-election polls favored Albanese, but concerns over US President Donald Trump’s volatile diplomacy affected voter desire for change. Australia’s preferential voting system and the declining influence of major parties complicate the outcome predictions for the 150-member House of Representatives.
Voting commenced at 8 am local time, with a record 8 million of the 18 million eligible voters having already cast ballots prior to election day. Australia mandates voting, imposing fines for non-participation. Albanese emphasized his party’s strong foundations and the need for a second term to improve housing affordability and boost the universal healthcare system, Medicare, stating, We want to be able to continue to kick goals for Australia.
Dutton, on social media platform X, urged voters to support the Liberal-National Coalition, asserting that under Labor, Australians have faced the largest fall in living standards on record. The Labour Party leveraged anti-Trump sentiments, branding Dutton as a Trump-lite conservative. Dutton, known for being tough on borders, also pledged to cut public service jobs, while both parties remain sharply divided on energy policies and China’s strategic challenges.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar