Federal election approaching on 3 May

23 April 2025 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called a federal election for May 3. With Premier Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton presenting their policies for the next parliamentary term, the two men are now set for a short campaign in which they will seek to convince voters that each one of them is the right person to lead the country. Meanwhile, the annual government budget was tabled earlier this month. The federal budget deficit could be ten times larger than expected within a decade regardless of who wins the upcoming election, according to a new analysis, with neither major party offering voters realistic solutions to address rising cost of living pressures. Labor’s budget included $35 billion in new election promises to voters, headed by cheaper drugs under the Government subsidy system, relief on energy bills and a “modest” tax cut from the middle of next year. Independent economist Saul Eslake said the solution was more likely to involve tax increases than spending increases, given the huge cost pressures on health, social welfare and military spending. “It is difficult to see how spending can be cut sufficiently in other areas to offset the increases in health care and military spending,” he said. “Reducing the number of public servants, as the Liberals are proposing, will not do this as public servant wages account for just 6.4 per cent” of government spending. The cost of living is likely to dominate the election campaign, with more than two years of high inflation weighing on families and businesses and each party offering its own answers on how to respond. The field is also set for a potentially turbulent election campaign, with the turmoil caused by the US President Donald Trump’s new round of tariffs which were announced in early April. It is noted that if they lose just three seats, Labor would be forced into a minority government, while the Coalition needs to win 19 more seats to be able to govern alone. Based on current opinion polling, pollsters see a minority government as the most likely scenario. Seats which could change hands in South Australia, are, Boothby held by Labor’s Louise Miller-Frost by just 3.3% which could go back to the Liberal party’s candidate Nicole Flint and the seat of Sturt currently held by James Stevens where the margin is on a knife edge 0.45% and there is every possibility that it could go the Labor Party’s Claire Clutterham.

Greek Tribune Adelaide, South Australia