By Renju Jose
SYDNEY () — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated on Thursday that he intended to announce an election soon. His center-left administration swiftly pushed a new tax cut bill through Parliament in hopes of boosting support and regaining favor with disillusioned voters.
Term limits of three years indicate that Australia must hold elections by May 17 at the latest to choose a new parliament. According to opinion polls, the race appears tight, with the opposition Liberal-National coalition slightly edging out Labor.
“I can assure you it will happen in May, and it will be announced very soon,” Albanese said during an interview with radio station Triple M.
I won’t label it right now, but I’ll do so shortly. My sense is that Australians are eager to move forward.
The Labor administration led by Albanese has been rolling out numerous initiatives designed to appeal to both households and enterprises struggling with elevated expenses as they aim for a second term.
On Tuesday’s federal budget announcement, the government unexpectedly unveiled two additional phases of tax reductions totaling A$17.1 billion ($10.7 billion). This means an individual earning the average wage would receive a fresh tax break of A$268 for the fiscal year concluding in June 2027, followed by another A$536 in the subsequent year; however, these amounts remain considerably lower compared to the A$1,654 assistance provided during the current fiscal period.
The tax cuts bill was introduced in the lower house on Wednesday morning, and was cleared in a late night sitting in the Senate – where Labor does not have a majority – with the help of the Greens party and independents.
If voted into power, the opposing Liberal-National coalition stated they would overturn the bill, substituting it with their own proposal to reduce the fuel excise by half for one year.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, referred to it as a “genuine, quick assistance,” which saves households approximately AUD 750 annually. However, Treasurer Jim Chalmers contended that the opposition’s proposals would offer only minimal relief and suggested that Australians would ultimately face more difficulties.
“Every day of the election campaign will be plagued by this decision,” Chalmers informed journalists.
(1 USD equals 1.5924 AUD)
(Reported by Renju Jose in Sydney; Edited by Lincoln Feast.)
