PM Albanese rules out April election as Cyclone Alfred looms
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The news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he has "no intention" of calling an election this weekend or on Monday as Cyclone Alfred approaches southeast Queensland and northern NSW.
The context: The government was widely expected to be planning for an election on April 12, which would allow it to avoid handing down a budget. An election on that date would need to be called this weekend or on Monday.
Due to the cyclone, the government is now expected to proceed with a budget on March 25 and instead hold an election in May.
What they said: "I have no intention of doing anything that distracts from what we need to do," Albanese told the ABC's 7:30 on Friday night. "My sole focus is not calling an election, my sole focus is on the needs of Australians
"I have very clearly said … that we'd produce a budget on March 25 and that certainly is my clear intention."
The source: ABC
