By Syed Atiq ul Hassan, 28 March, 2025
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has officially announced that the federal election will take place on May 3. In a significant political move, Albanese visited Governor-General Sam
Mostyn to request the dissolution of Parliament. With immediate endorsement from the Governor-General, preparations for the election are now underway.
The Political Landscape
Australia’s federal politics is primarily dominated by two major parties: the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Coalition, which consists of the Liberal Party and the National Party. The National Party primarily represents regional and rural areas. Additionally, the Australian Greens hold considerable influence, often playing a crucial role in forming the government by supporting either Labor or the Coalition.
With only five weeks until election day, political parties now have a limited window to campaign and present their policies to the public. Despite their efforts, neither Labor nor the Coalition has proposed a ground-breaking agenda that clearly sets one apart from the other. Instead, the upcoming election is largely centered on pressing economic issues affecting everyday Australians, including the rising cost of living, surging housing prices, and increasing inflation.
Key Election Issues
For many Australians, the most pressing concerns include the affordability of daily essentials, housing costs, quality education for their children, and escalating transportation expenses. However, both major parties have struggled to present comprehensive plans that offer a clear solution to these challenges. As a result, political analysts suggest that independent candidates may secure a larger share of seats, potentially influencing the formation of the next government.
Labor Party’s Vision for Australia
The ruling Labor Party asserts that Australia has faced significant global economic challenges in recent years, requiring time and effort to recover. Labor claims that under its leadership, inflation has started to decline, wages are improving, and tax cuts and energy bill relief have been implemented to ease financial pressures on households. Furthermore, the party has established 87 free Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across the country, with more planned for the future.
If re-elected, Labor’s key policy priorities for the next three years include:
- Easing the cost of living
- Strengthening Medicare
- Building 1.2 million homes
- Boosting Australian manufacturing
- Protecting the environment
- Expanding educational opportunities
- Enhancing Australia’s global standing
To address the rising cost of living, Labor plans to introduce additional tax relief for middle- and low-income earners while regulating the energy market to prevent excessive price hikes. The party has also pledged to work with major supermarkets and suppliers to tackle price gouging, ensuring Australians get fairer prices on everyday essentials.
Labor has also outlined a significant investment in the housing sector to make homeownership more accessible. Their ‘Help to Buy’ scheme promises to assist first-time homebuyers by covering a portion of their mortgage, reducing upfront costs and mortgage repayments. Additionally, the party aims to build more affordable homes under a social housing program, ensuring more Australians can secure stable housing. Another attractive plan for Labor is allowing first-home buyers who are salaried employees to withdraw from their superannuation to purchase a home, further easing financial barriers to homeownership.
On education, Labor plans to increase funding for public schools and expand financial aid for tertiary education students. The party has proposed reducing university fees in key sectors, such as healthcare and technology, to encourage students to pursue in-demand careers. Additionally, there will be an expansion of free early childhood education programs to ease the financial burden on working families.
Regarding transportation, Labor has announced initiatives to improve public transport networks, expand infrastructure projects, and introduce fuel subsidies to counter rising petrol costs. These measures are aimed at making commuting more affordable and efficient for Australians who rely on public and private transportation.
However, amid global economic uncertainties and policy shifts in the United States—such as former President Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on Australian exports—Australians are questioning whether Labor can successfully implement its ambitious agenda. Voters will be keen to hear further details on how these promises will be delivered.
The Coalition’s Alternative Plan
Opposition leader Peter Dutton, a former police officer turned politician, presents a contrasting vision for Australia. If elected, Dutton is expected to align closely with US policies under Donald Trump, particularly regarding trade and border security. His proposed immigration policies indicate a tougher stance on visa regulations and illegal migration, with a strong focus on national security.
The Coalition’s 12-point policy agenda include:
- Reducing the cost of living
- Strengthening the economy
- Supporting small businesses
- Ensuring affordable and reliable energy
- Addressing the housing crisis
- Reforming migration policies
- Enhancing national security
- Improving healthcare
- Supporting regional Australia
- Advancing Indigenous affairs
- Strengthening communities
- Cutting government waste
While these priorities resonate with many Australians, questions remain regarding their feasibility. Voters will be looking for clear explanations on how Dutton plans to finance these initiatives and which policies will take precedence over the next three years if the Coalition forms the government.
To combat inflation and the rising cost of daily essentials, the Coalition has proposed implementing stricter regulations on big corporations to prevent excessive profit margins at the expense of consumers. Additionally, Dutton’s economic plan includes tax cuts targeted at businesses to stimulate job creation and economic growth.
The Coalition has also promised substantial investments in infrastructure projects to reduce transportation costs. They plan to introduce fuel tax relief and improve public transportation networks in urban and regional areas. Their proposal includes enhancing road and rail networks to reduce travel times and ease congestion.
On housing, the Coalition aims to ease the crisis by releasing more land for development and providing incentives to private investors to build affordable rental properties. Their strategy also includes offering first-time homebuyers grants and expanding the First Home Buyer Scheme to reduce financial barriers to homeownership.
Regarding education, the Coalition has proposed increasing funding for vocational training programs, ensuring that Australians have access to job-ready skills without accumulating significant student debt. They also plan to work with the private sector to create more apprenticeship opportunities, particularly in trade industries, to secure long-term career pathways for young Australians.
The Road Ahead
As election day approaches, both major parties must work to convince voters that they have viable solutions to Australia’s economic and social challenges. With increasing public dissatisfaction and a lack of confidence in traditional party platforms, the rise of independent candidates could significantly influence the final outcome.
Australians will closely scrutinize the leaders’ debates, policy announcements, and campaign promises to determine which party—or combination of parties—will lead the nation forward. With the economy, cost of living, and national security at the forefront of public discourse, this election is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in recent Australian history.
(The writer, Syed Atiq ul Hassa, is a Sydney-based journalist, analyst, writer, author and editor, Tribune International, Australia. He holds the life achievement award 2024 by NSW Government. His email address is shassan@tribune-intl.com ).
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