Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has formally called a national election for May 3, sparking a five-week fight as cost-of-living anxiety haunts the country.
Speaking to the nation on Friday, Mr. Albanese highlighted his government’s concentration in economic resilience and long-term growth. “Our government is taking on international challenges the Australian way – backing individuals under cost of living strain while constructing a better future,” he said.
The Labor government, which won its majority in the 2022 elections, is now having to fight a tough contest with the opposition coalition of the Liberal and Nationals. Recent opinion polls, however, point to a dead heat race putting a hung parliament, where smaller parties are poised to hold the balance of power, firmly on the cards. 
Peter Dutton, the opposition leader, has made law and order and nuclear energy pulses the heart of his campaign in reply to Labor’s catchcry for renewable energy. With both the major parties committing an extra A$8.5 billion ($5.42 billion) to public healthcare, economics are expected to be top of voter agendas.
Mr. Albanese’s personal rating, once such a strength, has fallen with rising inflation and interest rates. Although more recent economic metrics give the appearance of turning around, they haven’t really moved voters’ opinions on this subject.
As the nation heads towards a brutal election fight that will determine its economic and political path of the next three years, Australia counts down the final few weeks.
