Australia's General Election: Cost of Living and Housing Dominates Campaign

Last Updated May - 03 - 2025, 02:18 PM | Source : Fela News

Australia’s general election sees rising living costs and housing shortages as key issues. With inflation and energy policies at the forefront, a possible minor

Australia’s general election began on Saturday, with the rising cost of living and housing shortages dominating the campaign. Voting runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time across the country, which spans three time zones. In Western Australia, polling begins and ends two hours later. Of the 18.1 million registered voters, 8.6 million had already voted early or by mail since April 22.

Australia mandates voting, which typically supports centrist outcomes. In 2022, turnout was 90%. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labour Party is seeking re-election, while opposition leader Peter Dutton hopes to unseat a first-term government—a feat not achieved since 1931.

Inflation, which peaked at 7.8% after Labour’s 2022 win, led to interest rate hikes up to 4.35% by November 2023. A slight decrease to 4.1% in February suggests easing pressure, though Trump’s U.S. tariff policies bring global uncertainty.

Labour’s narrow majority faces a challenge, and a continued decline in support for major parties could lead to a rare minority government. This election also marks a demographic shift, as younger voters now outnumber Baby Boomers. Key policy differences include Labour’s focus on renewables and the opposition’s nuclear energy plan.