Albanese warns Dutton is risk to economy in opening 3 May election pitch
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More news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has framed the federal election as a choice between “Labor's plan to keep building or Peter Dutton's promise to cut” after confirming a 3 May poll date.
The context: Speaking to reporters at Parliament House after visiting Government House on Friday, Albanese said Australia was “turning the corner” under Labor, but Dutton presented a risk to the country.
While Albanese had plenty of positive messages in his opening pitch to voters, it was heavy on criticism of Dutton in a sign that Labor’s campaign will be dominated by a scare campaign over Coalition cuts to essential services including Medicare.
Albanese’s decision to call the election has spoilt any momentum Dutton was hoping to achieve from his budget reply speech on Thursday night, in which the opposition leader promised to halve fuel excise for a year and introduce an east coast gas reserve to lower power prices.
The Prime Minister said his government’s intervention in the gas market, which Dutton opposed, had already delivered six times more petajoules of domestic gas than what Dutton promised on Thursday night.
What they said: "Australia is turning the corner. Now on 3 May, you choose the way forward. Your vote has never been more important. And your choice has never been more clear," Albanese said.
"This election is a choice between Labor's plan to keep building or Peter Dutton's promise to cut. That is the choice.
"We've been in turbulent seas but if Peter Dutton had had his way and his opposition to our cost-of-living measures had been put in place, Australians today would be $7,200 worse off on average.
"He has no plans for cost-of-living relief going forward. Last night, all we saw was a very dark speech, a negative speech, we had no plans except for jacking up taxes for all 14 million Australians.
"Peter Dutton last night gave a budget reply that was all about fear. It was all about fear. What I want is a campaign about policy substance and about hope and optimism for our country. I'm optimistic about Australia. That's one of the big distinctions in this campaign.
"I think we are the best country on earth and I'm so proud to lead this country."
Albanese calling election for 3 May
The news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to confirm that Australians will head to the polls on 3 May, setting up a five-week election campaign as tightening polls predict a hung parliament.
The context: Albanese ended election timing speculation by leaving the Lodge this morning and visiting the Governor-General on Friday morning to call an election which will be dominated by cost-of-living pressures. He will then hold a press conference in the Prime Minister's Courtyard in Parliament House.
His announcement is set to come within days of both major parties using budget week to flesh out their cost of living pitches.
On Tuesday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers unveiled a $17 billion tax cut package, which will benefit every Australian when it is rolled out over the next two years.
And although the Coalition declined to back that package — and has pledged to repeal it — Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced an immediate halving of the fuel excise and a reservation of east coast gas supplies during his budget reply on Thursday evening.
While a positive fortnight has seen Albanese climb in the polls, neither major party appears on course to secure the 76 seats needed to form a majority government. While the Coalition suffered historically bad result in 2022, Labor was only able to secure a 2-seat majority — which became three after its historic win at the Dunkley by-election.
The rest of the void was filled by Australia’s largest ever crossbench, after a decade of declining support for the major parties. The May election is the first electoral test for the so-called teal movement’s staying power.
A host of independents who won previously blue-ribbon Liberal seats are attempting to retain their seats, with teal MP Allegra Spender in the most commanding position. Others, like Kate Chaney in WA and Zoe Daniel in Goldstein, will face trickier tests.
Meanwhile, the Greens insist they are looking to build on record gains in the Lower House last time around, and are eyeing seats in Melbourne, NSW and SA. But they may struggle to hold onto the seat of Brisbane, a traditional Labor stronghold which was a surprise casualty in 2022.
Looming over this election is US President Donald Trump, whose return — including tariff threats against his allies — could disrupt the campaign.
Albanese had been set to call an April election date, which would have avoided a federal budget, but those plans were shelved due to Ex-Cyclone Alfred.
The numbers: Labor holds a three-seat majority in the House of Representatives, with the Coalition needing roughly 20 seats to form a majority government.
The source: Prime Minister’s Office
