Australians will head to the polls on May 3 after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called a snap federal election, seeking a second term for his center-left Labor Party.
Albanese formally triggered the election by visiting Governor-General Sam Mostyn on Friday, later announcing the date at a press conference at Parliament House. The campaign is expected to focus heavily on economic concerns, including the rising cost of living and a nationwide housing shortage.
The election pits Albanese against opposition leader Peter Dutton, who heads the center-right Liberal Party. Under Australia’s absolute majority voting system, candidates must secure over 50% of the vote to win, meaning both major parties may need coalition support.
Since Albanese took office, Australians have faced 12 interest rate hikes, worsening financial pressures. However, the central bank signaled easing inflation by cutting the benchmark cash rate to 4.1% in February.
“In uncertain times, we cannot decide the challenges that we will face, but we can determine how we respond,” Albanese said. “Our government has chosen to face global challenges the Australian way: helping people under cost-of-living pressure while building for the future.”
Dutton, meanwhile, is campaigning on economic management, vowing to support small businesses and startups after more than 29,000 closures under Labor’s leadership. “It’s a choice about who can better manage our economy,” he told reporters. “Are you better off today than three years ago?”
Housing remains a key issue. Albanese has promised to build 1.2 million homes over five years, though progress has been slow. Dutton’s plan includes reducing immigration to ease demand and allowing Australians to use their pension savings for home down payments.
Both leaders have pledged to cut emissions to net zero by 2050, but their approaches differ. Albanese prioritizes renewable energy, while Dutton advocates for state-funded nuclear power plants.
With economic and housing concerns shaping the debate, the coming weeks will see an intense battle for Australia’s leadership.
