Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for a national election on May 3, calling for a second, three-year term for the Labour government, and calling for his term of office in a contest ruled by cost-of-living concerns.
Albanese said Friday that the election will be a choice between a government plan to “keep the buildings” and a modest cut to government spending by rival liberal-led coalitions.
“What I want is a campaign about policy material and hope and optimism for our country,” Albanese told reporters at a press conference.
“I’m optimistic about Australia. That’s one of the big distinctions of this campaign.”
Opinion polls suggest that Labour is running neck and neck with a liberal coalition led by former police Detective Peter Dutton, risking it being the first government to serve only one term since 1931.
After defeating the Central Right Coalition in the 2022 election, Labour fell in poll amid a grievance over the pressure of living, including a chronic shortage of affordable housing.
Australia is one of the world’s most affordable housing markets, with the median price-to-revenue ratio nearly doubled between 2002 and 2024.
In a Gallup poll last year, more than three-quarters of Australians said they were dissatisfied with the availability of good, affordable housing in the area, which has risen 31 points compared to 2020.
Of the 13 countries surveyed, only Torkier was dissatisfied with housing situations, with a high percentage.
“Our regulated housing sector — restricted developments in the city, strict planning approvals from local councils — continues to price from Australians, young, ambitious people, and the real estate market,” said Al Jazeera, executive director of the right-wing think tank, executive director of the Independent Research Centre.
After taking office, Albanese promised to oversee the construction of 1.2 million new homes by the end of the decade.
However, the government’s construction drive was slower to begin, estimating that the Australian Urban Development Institute estimates 400,000 homes will be missed.
Dutton proposes spending $50 billion ($3.15 billion) to promote the construction of 500,000 new homes, and proposes a series of measures that will facilitate demand, including cutting immigration, a two-year ban on foreign investors and a temporary ban on residents buying property.
Dutton said on Friday that Australia was moving “backwards” and accused Albanese of being accused of creating a group to advise Congress on Indigenous issues in place of bread and butter concerns.
“We simply don’t think we can afford to continue our current path, so that means we can’t afford three more years of work,” he said.
“The economic policies of labor and wasteful spending have increased the cost of living for everyday Australians.”
Other issues set to play a prominent role in the campaign include healthcare, immigration, energy and climate change.
While Albanese has pledged to invest heavily in green manufacturing and solar and wind power, Dutton proposes shifting the country’s energy mix to nuclear power by building seven nuclear power plants and two small modular reactors.
While workers or coalitions are all guaranteed to win the largest share of the vote, polling suggests that support for key parties is at record lows, increasing the likelihood of a suspended parliament.
If neither the workers nor the coalition secures a majority in the 151-seat House of Representatives, they will need to negotiate with left-leaning Australian green or independents to form a minority government.
Australia last had a minority government in 2010 when Labour’s Julia Gillard called for the support of the Greens and three independent MPs.
Frank Mols, senior lecturer in political science and international studies at the University of Queensland, said, “The Labour Party will win 77 of its 151 seats in 2022 and will have to lose two seats to lose the ability to form its own government.
“That being said, the liberals need to turn 19 seats upside down to form a majority government, which is certainly a high order given the growing popularity of independents and other minor parties,” Mors said.
“So if labour loses a majority government, it is the result of a small natural shaking over it, coupled with a lack of a compelling “magnificent vision” that stimulates voters. ”
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