Australia To Hold General Elections On May 3; PM Albanese's Party Set For Close Fight

Issue of cost of living, climate change, and managing record immigration are going to be key issues on voters' minds in Australia while casting their votes on May 3.

Australian PM Anthnony Albanese's Labour Party is predicted to have a close fight with rival Peter Dutton's Liberal Party.

Source : X/@AlboMP, @PeterDutton_MP

Australia will hold its general elections on May 3 where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labour Party is set to have a close contest against Liberal Party's Peter Dutton. 

Albanese announced the election date on Friday after visiting the Governor General in the capital Canberra, reported BBC. 

Opinion polls have predicted a coaltion government in the continent-country as both the major parties could have a slim margin. Either of the parties would possibly have to work with independent MPs or minor parties - which combined won a record share of the total vote in the previous elections in 2022 - to form the next government. 

Politics in Australia has traditionally been dominated by Labour and the Liberal-National coalition. A party needs to win at least  76 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives - where the prime minister sits - to form a majority government.

Albanese is one of the longest-serving politicians in the country who took power in 2022 after a long period of political instability in which the country changed leaders six times in only eight years. 

Cost Of Living Issue To Dominate Polls 

Issue of cost of living, including affordability of housing and groceries and access to healthcare will dominate the polls this time, as per the BBC report. 

Concerns over managing record immigration and reducing crime has also increased significantly. Climate change, feature of the last election, is going to be important for many Australians this time too. 

Addressing a press conference on Friday morning, Albanese reiterated his pledge the address the cost of living saying electing his rival Peter Dutton would be a step backwards for the country. He has already unveiled plans to provide more free doctor visits and deliver small tax cuts. 

Meanwhile, Dutton has argued the Albanese government has failed  to improve the lives of Australians, and it is his party that has the solutions. He is expected to speak later in the day. 

The opposition leader has promised to "get Australia back on track and improve the economy by reducing fuel prices, slimming down the public service and improving Australia's energy security.