TIGHT CAMPAIGN
Albanese has announced a slew of measures aimed at pleasing families and businesses in recent months, including tax cuts in Tuesday’s budget, with the rising cost of living in the country set to dominate the campaign.
A close-run election could mean no single party or coalition of parties will be able to form a government on its own, instead relying on smaller parties to command a majority in the country’s lower house.
Albanese, a long-time Labor lawmaker who grew up in government housing, came to power on a wave of personal popularity but has suffered from the rising cost of living and a steep rise in interest rates during his tenure.
Falling inflation and the decision by Australia’s central bank to cut interest rates for the first time in five years at its February meeting have done little to help Albanese’s polling numbers.
After enjoying a healthy lead for much of his term, his approval ratings are now close to those of Liberal leader Peter Dutton, a former police officer and the interior minister in the last Liberal-National government.
Dutton has campaigned on law-and-order and a plan to adopt nuclear power in the country, in opposition to Labor’s transition to renewable energy.
Both leaders have promised an extra A$8.5 billion ($5.42 billion) over four years to shore up the country’s public healthcare system.
