Australia goes to polls tomorrow to elect new govt

Melbourne, July 1

Millions of Australians were bracing for a key election that pits Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull against Labour Opposition Leader Bill Shorten who is vying to become the country’s fifth premier in three years, with polls indicating that the vote may be too close to call.

Over 15 million people are expected to exercise their votes on Saturday with over 1,600 candidates, including five of Indian-origin, contesting from over 55 political parties.

The main contest is between Turnbul and his conservative coalition against a Labour opposition led by Shorten.

Britain’s decision to leave the European Union prompted Australia’s political leaders to re-emphasise their economic security credentials ahead of the election this Saturday.

Turnbull has urged the Australians to look for stability and re-elect his conservative coalition which dumped the country’s last prime minister less than a year ago. Shorten said ruling coalition is deeply divided so Labor could give more stable government.

The polls will elect all 226 members including 150 members for the lower house of the 45^th Parliament after an eight-week official campaign period following the double dissolution announced by Prime Minister Turnbull in April this year.

About 10 million people are expected to vote at 7,000 polling booths, whereas over 4.5 million people are on track to vote in advance.

In the 150-seat House of Representatives, Labor currently holds 55 seats, the coalition 90 and five seats are held by minor parties or independents.

Major issues of economy, cost of living, education, climate change, Great Barrier Reef, health, house affordability, gay marriage and asylum seekers dominated the debate between Australia’s two major political groups - the Australian Labor Party and Liberal/National coalition.

Liberal Party’s Turnbull, a 61-year-old self-made multi- millionaire, focused on economy with more jobs and growth while Shorten, 49, of Labor party focused on health, education and climate change.

Turnbull has also promised to hold a plebiscite on the issue of allowing same-sex marriage if re-elected to the government.

Hours ahead of the election day, the two national survey revealed ‘neck to neck’ race but different results.

While the latest Fairfax-Ipsos poll has shown support for the coalition and Labor deadlocked at 50 per cent each and a possibility of a hung parliament, the third Galaxy poll showed the coalition ahead 51-49 on a two-party preferred basis.

The Fairfax-Ipsos poll of 1377 voters revealed an even split on a two-party preferred basis but when asked specifically which party would receive their second preference, voters gave Labor a 51-49 per cent lead.

Turnbull remained the preferred choice for prime minister.

In the Galaxy poll, the coalition was ahead of Labor 51-49 on a two-party preferred basis.

It surveyed 1,768 voters showing that the swing against the government was limited to 2.5 per cent.

More than 27 per cent of voters would support the Greens and other minor parties, according to the Fairfax-Ipsos poll, while the Galaxy poll revealed the same number of people claiming they would vote for independents.

Both main contestants made a final pitch for votes on their last leg of election campaign in Sydney.

Five Indian-origin candidates are also contesting the federal election representing Liberal, Labor and Greens Party apart from few who are contesting as independent candidates. — PTI