Australia votes amid cost-of-living crisis, uncertainty over Trump's policies

Canberra [Australia], May 3 (ANI): Australians are set to make a crucial choice this Saturday as they head to the polls in a tightly contested federal election, with the nation's key issues focusing on housing, energy, and the economy, according to Al Jazeera.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left Labour Party holds a slight lead over the conservative Liberal-National Coalition, led by Peter Dutton, in the campaign.

Opinion polls from YouGov suggested Albanese's Labour Party was leading Dutton's coalition by a narrow margin in the two-party preferred vote as of Wednesday. The projected vote share for Labour is 31.4 per cent and for the Coalition 31.1 per cent, Al Jazeera reported.

More than 18 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots at over 7,000 polling stations between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm today. Voting is mandatory for all citizens aged 18 and above, and failure to participate without a valid reason carries a fine of USD 12.75. The election uses Australia's preferential voting system and is held every three years.

With housing affordability and inflation dominating the elections, both major parties have made last-minute pitches to sway the voters. Albanese promised reforms such as reduced student debt, lower taxes, and home ownership support, urging citizens to "keep building Australia's future together."

Sharing a post on X, Albanese wrote, "Vote Labor today for 5% deposits for first home buyers. Vote Labor for 20% off all student debt. Vote Labor for lower taxes. Vote Labor to keep building Australia's future together."

In response, Dutton pledged economic recovery and a renewed national direction, emphasising a plan to "get our economy and our country back on track."

"With your vote we will deliver a plan that gets our economy and our country back on track," Dutton wrote on X.