With the coming federal election due to be held by the end of May, speculation has been rife for months as to what date will be chosen.
The clearest hint yet came on Monday, with Labor insiders saying an April 12 election is likely, as Anthony Albanese wanting to get the Western Australia election out of the way first.
The WA state election is on March 8, so that would allow voters in the west five weeks between the two elections.
Labor won a massive majority in the last WA election and its state government is popular and expected to retain power.
Calling the federal election in early March would allow the Labor government to avoid bringing down the federal budget which is due for March 25.
Despite the two previous budgets showing surpluses, the next one is predicted by many to show the federal coffers in deficit.
Though interest rates have stayed stubbornly high throughout Labor’s almost three years in office, the Government is hoping for an interest rate cut before the coming election.
That would help ease voters’ minds about cost of living concerns and make some of them more likely to vote for Labor under Mr Albanese, rather than the Opposition under Peter Dutton.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is pictured with Transport Minister Catherine King
Speculation has been rife for months about the date of the federal election. Opposition leader Peter Dutton (pictured) will be hoping it’s sooner rather than later
An analysis of Newspolls taken over the last quarter of 202 shows 35 to 49-year-old voters, commonly mortgage holders who determine many swinging electorates, are shunning the government as the election looms.
But Mr Albanese dismissed concerns that he is leading the Labor Party to a likely election defeat, despite the polling data suggesting he is losing his grip on ‘middle Australia’.
‘What I am worried about is helping fellow Australians. I have been underestimated my whole political life,’ he told reporters late last month.
‘I am focused on making a difference for cost of living, making a difference for plans that we have going forward.
‘We have already announced a number of changes, including to address intergenerational equity issues by cancelling 20 per cent of HECS debts for people if we are reelected.’
Mr Albanese also aimed his message squarely at Australian families by talking about what Labor is doing with childcare.
‘We have announced changes to give a guarantee of childcare provision in an affordable way and we have announced billion-dollar funding for child care infrastructure,’ he said.
More to come…
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