Australia Election Live: It's Albanese vs Dutton as Canberra navigates through US, China influence in polls

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed party workers and the public for the last time before polling ends at 6 pm (1:30 pm IST).

Thanking Labour Party workers for their efforts throughout the election campaign, Albanese said, “We live in a vibrant democracy where everyone gets their say and every one gets one vote, one value.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton, the two main contenders in the elections, have cast their respective votes.

Both the leaders were seen exercising their right to franchise along with their family members.

Voters in Melbourne and Sydney have experienced lengthy waits at several polling stations today, with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) reporting the longest queue taking up to 80 minutes.

The Australian Election Commission’s spokesperson, Ekin-Smyth, said, “I’ve spoken to one of the staff members there who reported that while there was a queue, there did not seem to be a level of angst among the voters present.”

“It is hard to say exactly why those venues have seen bigger queues, because we did forecasts … But you can never fully accurately predict voter behaviour,” he added.

Zareh Ghazarian, a political scientist at Monash University, believes that in recent decades, the main parties have received a decreasing fraction of the vote in Australian elections.

The expert stated that this benefited independent candidates and those from minor parties.

If the pattern of votes going away from big parties seen in the 2022 election continues in Saturday’s election, the result might be a rare minority administration.

The Australian Electoral Commission has issued a last reminder to electors on the east coast to cast their ballots before polls shut at 6 p.m. local time (08:00 GMT).

With over 7,000 voting booths open countrywide from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., voters are reminded that closing times vary by time zone.

Election officials ask voters to arrive at their allocated stations before the deadline.

After casting his vote, opposition leader Peter Dutton told reporters, “I’m confident Australians have seen through a bad government”.

“There are a lot of families who are really doing it very tough at the moment and Australians can’t afford three more years of Labor”, he commented.

He emphasised that the Coalition has a “positive plan” to handle the economy and assist people “now”.

Millions of Australians voted Saturday in a bitterly contested general election, following a campaign shaped by living costs, climate anxiety and US President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

From dusty desert towns to sun-splashed harbour cities, voters are choosing between left-leaning incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and conservative challenger Peter Dutton.

Political strategists said Trump was not likely to be the decisive factor in the election – Albanese has run a strong campaign and Dutton made mistakes, including a short-lived proposal to ban public servants working from home.

But the Trump effect, they said, has added to reservations for voters who became risk-averse.

Australia has a preferential voting system in which candidates are ranked in order of preference.

In Australia, if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the first round, the votes of the least popular candidates are reallocated, and the process is repeated until someone obtains a majority.

In House contests, voters must mark a preference for each and every candidate on the ballot.

However, in Senate contests, voters simply need to mark a certain number of choices.

This election will see all 150 House of Representatives seats up for grabs, as well as 40 of the Senate’s 76 seats.

To create a majority administration, one party must win at least 76 House seats. If it cannot do so, it must seek backing from small parties or independent MPs.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has recommended that those people who have not received their postal voting forms yet, to “consider attending a polling place” before the polls shut on Saturday afternoon.

“Our staff are available to provide assistance for any voter who requires it,” an AEC representative stated in response to a question from ABC.

According to ABC, several voters did not get their postal vote applications before election day.

Here are the potential outcomes of the vote and what they would mean:

Majority Labor Government

Albanese would continue as prime minister, naming a new Cabinet from among elected Labor parliamentarians. He has said he would travel to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump “very early on” if re-elected as Prime Minister in the May 3 election.

Minority Labor Government

This is likely, according to polls.

Labor is on a notional 78 seats, just two more than the minimum for a majority, and could lose outer metropolitan seats in the biggest states where cost-of-living pressures are a major concern for voters, analysts said.

If a member of the cross-bench is appointed as speaker, Labor could govern with 75 seats.

Hung Parliament

In this scenario, independents and minor parties would be the kingmakers.

In the last hung parliament in 2010, the major parties were tied on 72 seats. The Labor and Liberal-National leaders courted a handful of independents and a Green, striking policy deals in exchange for support, during negotiations that stretched on for weeks.

Minority Liberal-National Government

The Liberal-National coalition would have to make a large gain, from 53 seats in the previous parliament, to be within striking range of 76 seats, and polling shows this is unlikely.

Majority Liberal-National Government

A Liberal-National coalition ruled for nine years before its 2022 election loss, so if the polling is wrong, cost-of-living pressures could drive voters to return a conservative government.

Opposition senator Jacinta Nampijnpa Price last month said she was not referencing Trump when she told supporters her administration would “make Australia great again.”

Price, who would be responsible for reducing the federal public service by 41,000 jobs if the coalition were elected, told reporters she didn’t recall using the words reminiscent of the Republicans’ “Make America Great Again” slogan.

Dutton said on Friday his Liberal Party-led government would reduce government debt.

“I want to make sure that we can get our country back on track, that we can manage our economy well and only a Liberal government can do that,” Dutton said.

“If we manage the economy well, we can bring inflation down and make sure that we help families with the cost-of-living crisis,” he added.

Both campaigns have focused on Australia’s changing demographics. The election is the first in Australia in which Baby Boomers, born between the end of World War II and 1964, are outnumbered by younger voters.

Both campaigns promised policies to help first-home buyers buy into a property market that is too expensive for many.

A major point of difference is energy. The opposition has promised to build seven government-funded nuclear power plants across Australia that would begin generating electricity from 2035.

Gas-fired electricity would fill the gap between aging coal-fired plants closing and nuclear generators taking their place.

Labor plans to have 82% of Australia’s energy grid powered by renewables including solar and wind turbines by 2030 and to rely less on gas.

The party has warned that Dutton’s coalition would make massive cuts to services to pay for its nuclear ambitions.

Labor has accused the coalition of mimicking U.S. President Donald Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency by promising to slash more than one in five federal public sector jobs.

“We don’t need to copy America or anywhere else. We need the Australian way,” Albanese said on Friday.

Since Howard was voted out as prime minister after 11 years in 2007, six people have held the job — including the current Australian Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd, who held it twice in separate stints three years apart. Most of those who led their parties to election victories were dumped by them between votes in the face of poor opinion polling.

The only leader to serve a full three-year term was Scott Morrison, who replaced ousted Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull nine months before the 2019 election and remained in office until his government was defeated by Albanese in 2022.

That leaves Albanese with a chance to become the first prime minister since Howard to win back-to-back elections.

On the eve of the election, Albanese received the endorsement of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who said the Labor leader “did more to secure my freedom than any other politician or public figure,” including the late Pope Francis.

The remarks, posted to the social platform X by Assange’s brother Gabriel Shipton, were his first on Australian domestic matters since he was released from a British prison last June and returned to his homeland after a plea deal that ended U.S. prosecutors’ attempts to extradite him for publishing military secrets.

Albanese “stood up to” the U.S. over the case, Assange said, and his government had “proven itself unusually capable of rescuing Australians caught up in sensitive political situations.”

The endorsement was unusual from Assange, who has been scathing about Australian politicians. Albanese on Friday night downplayed the endorsement, saying it was “a matter for Mr. Assange” and that it was “a good thing” the WikiLeaks founder was now able to be with his family.

Going into the election, Labor held a narrow majority of 78 seats in the 151-seat House of Representatives, the lower chamber where parties form governments. There will be 150 seats in the next parliament due to redistributions.

Dutton’s conservative alliance of parties known as the Liberal-National Coalition held 53 seats in the last parliament, and a record-high 19 lawmakers were not aligned to either the government or the opposition.

Monash University political scientist Zareh Ghazarian said the major parties were gaining a smaller proportion of the votes at each election in recent decades, which was benefitting independent candidates and those representing minor parties.

If the trend of votes shifting away from major parties that was evident at the 2022 election continued at Saturday’s election, the result could be a rare minority government.

There was a minority government during World War II and the next was during a three-year term after the 2010 election.

“This election’s going to be a real test of whether what we saw in 2022 is a sign of things to come, or whether the ’22 election was just a one-off flash in the pan,” Ghazarian said.

Party leaders usually concede defeat and claim victory on election day. But in the last minority government, key independent lawmakers announced they would support a Labor administration 17 days after the polls closed.

Both campaigns have focused on Australia’s changing demographics. The election is the first in Australia in which Baby Boomers, born between born between the end of World War II and 1964, are outnumbered by younger voters.

Both campaigns promised policies to help first-home buyers buy into a property market that is too expensive for many.

A major point of difference is energy. The opposition has promised to build seven government-funded nuclear power plants across Australia that would begin generating electricity from 2035.

Gas-fired electricity would fill the gap between aging coal-fired plants closing and nuclear generators taking their place.

Labor plans to have 82% of Australia’s energy grid powered by renewables including solar and wind turbines by 2030 and to rely less on gas.

Housing prices and rents have soar as builders have gone broke amid rapid inflation.

Annual inflation peaked at 7.8% a year after Labor was elected in 2022. The central bank’s benchmark interest rate rose from a record low 0.1% to 0.35% two weeks before the government changed. The rate has been raised a dozen times since then, peaking at 4.35% in November 2023.

The central bank reduced the rate by a quarter percentage point in February to 4.1% in an indication that the worst of the financial hardship had passed. The rate is widely expected to be cut again at the bank’s next board meeting on May 20 due to international economic uncertainty generated by U.S. President  Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

Australians fired up barbecues and wore tight-fit swim trunks called “budgy smugglers” to voting centres as they welcomed election day on Saturday with some unique and quirky traditions.

Voters across the country grabbed a “democracy sausage”, which is sausages, burgers or other barbecued meat sold by volunteers at polling booths, as they turned out to cast their ballots.

This Australian election day ritual was a talking point on social media as voters posted pictures and videos with their snack in hand under the #democracysausage.

“Voted and did my civic duty of buying a #democracysausage,” one voter said on social media platform X.

Meanwhile, at polling booths near Australia’s famed beaches, including Bondi beach in Sydney, some swimmers cast their ballots after a dip wearing brief-style swimming trunks locally called “budgy smugglers”.

An Australian swim wear brand called Budgy Smuggler ran a campaign offering a free pair to the first 200 people who voted in smugglers.

Voting began on Saturday in Australia’s national election that polls show will likely favour Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over conservative challenger Peter Dutton, with voter appetite for change dampened by worries over U.S. tariffs and global economic uncertainty.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reports a record 111 polling stations abroad in 83 countries this year.

The highest concentrations of Australians overseas are in Berlin, Hong Kong, London, and New York.

People can vote in a variety of remote areas, including Bali, the Japanese city of Osaka, Port Vila in Vanuatu, and Pape’ete, the capital of French Polynesia.

All 150 seats in Australia’s House of Representatives, as well as 40 of the Senate’s 76 seats, are up for grabs in this election.

Australia’s two largest parties are the left-leaning Australian Labour Party and the conservative Liberal-National alliance.

To create a majority administration, one party must win at least 76 House seats.

If it cannot do so, it must seek backing from small parties or independent MPs.

For decades, small parties and independents have gradually increased their proportion of the vote in Australian state and federal elections.

With a third of its people born overseas, Australia has traditionally seen itself as a “migration nation” – a state that offers newcomers a fair chance and a fresh start.

However, discontent is mounting as migrant numbers increase, raising concerns about housing affordability and infrastructural pressure.

Peter Dutton has used record migrant statistics to accuse Labor of aggravating the housing problem.

He has also stated that Labour is expediting citizenship so that migrants may vote.

The Coalition has committed to reducing migrant numbers by 100,000 if elected, which Labour has condemned as a “savage” measure that will harm critical industries like as elderly care and construction.

Last year, Albanese’s government attempted to limit the number of overseas students here, but the idea was rejected.

Major Party Leaders

• Anthony Albanese (Labor): The current Prime Minister seeks a second term, pledging $8.5 billion to strengthen Medicare and lower PBS medication costs.
• Peter Dutton (Liberal): The Opposition Leader focuses on nuclear energy, housing, and immigration, campaigning under the slogan “Let’s get Australia back on track.”

Other Notable Figures

• Adam Bandt (Greens): Gaining traction, especially with young voters, Bandt could hold the balance of power.
• Robbie Katter (Katter’s Australian Party): Highlights regional issues, with potential sway in key electorates.
• Independents: High-profile candidates like Zoe Daniel (Goldstein), Helen Haines (Indi), Caz Heise (Cowper), and Francine Wiig (Fairfax) are expected to play influential roles.

Crucial Seats
Marginal seats—such as Deakin, Bennelong, Gilmore, Menzies, Sturt, Wentworth, and Moore—are likely to determine the election outcome.

Early voting ended last night, and over 8.5 million individuals (or nearly half of the national electoral register) voted before election day today, according to the Australian Electoral Commission.

More than 6.77 million people voted early, 1.64 million postal ballots were returned as of last night, and 155,000 individuals voted using a mobile team.

“With more completed postal votes to come back, there is no doubt that more than half of everyone who will cast a vote in this federal election has done so before the day,” according to the AEC.

In an interview with Australia’s News 9, Peter Dutton stated that the vote “is about what people believe is in our country’s best interests”.

“Who is best able to manage the economy and reduce cost of living pressures?”  There are simply too many struggling families.”

He anticipated that many voters would not vote for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s administration in the polls.

Anthony Albanese hopes to become the first Australian prime minister in 21 years to lead a political party to two consecutive election victories when the country votes on Saturday.

The last was John Howard, who won a fourth consecutive term in 2004, making him the second-longest serving leader in Australia’s history. But when he was voted out three years later, it marked the beginning of a turbulent period in Australian politics with six prime ministers.

“There’s a lot of undecided voters. We have a mountain to climb. No one’s been reelected since 2004,” Albanese told reporters Friday.

Prime Minister Albanese said he was not shocked to learn of claims that a pro-Russian website attempted to “launder” misinformation on Australian issues in the run-up to the federal election.

According to a Saturday investigation by Australian national broadcaster ABC, website Pravda Australia, part of the worldwide pro-Kremlin Pravda Network, has dramatically expanded its production since mid-March in an attempt to “poison” AI chatbots and promote “Russian narratives”.

Voting is taking place throughout Australia’s three time zones, from 8 a.m. local time until 6 p.m. in eastern Australia.

The polls open and close two hours later on the West Coast.

Since early and postal voting began on April 22, almost half of all ballots have already been cast but not tabulated.

Coal-mining superpower Australia will choose between two leaders with sharply contrasting ideas on climate change and emissions reduction.

Albanese’s government has embraced the global push towards decarbonisation, warning of a future in which iron ore and polluting coal exports no longer prop up the economy.

Dutton’s signature policy is a US$200 billion scheme to construct seven industrial-scale nuclear reactors, doing away with the need to ramp up renewables.

The 36-day campaign was a largely staid affair but there were a few moments of unscripted levity.

Albanese tumbled backwards off the stage at a heaving campaign rally, while Dutton drew blood when he hit an unsuspecting cameraman in the head with a stray football.

It remains to be seen whether Albanese or Dutton will command an outright majority, or whether they are forced to cobble together a coalition with the support of minor parties.

Polls opened in Australia’s general election on Saturday with high costs of living and a shortage of housing major issues in the campaign.

Voting across the nation the size of three times zones spanning two hours will continue from 8 a.m. (22:00 GMT Friday) until 6 p.m. (08:00 GMT Saturday) in eastern Australia. The polls open and close two hours later on the West Coast. Around half the ballots had already been cast, but not counted, since early and postal voting began on April 22.

Australia is among the few countries where voting is compulsory, a system that leans toward creating centrist governments. At the last election in 2022, 90% of eligible voters cast ballots.

Anthony Albanese, the left-leaning Labor Party’s prime minister since 2022, is seeking re-election.

Albanese, a mainstay of parliament for over 30 years, experienced a period of widespread popularity after taking office, but has since faced criticism for his handling of sensitive issues like as housing, Indigenous relations, and both antisemitism and Islamophobia.

His opponent is the conservative Liberal-National coalition’s Peter Dutton, who is running for opposition leader for the first time.

Dutton, a strong conservative, has years of experience in key ministerial positions, including as defence and home affairs, but has been a divisive figure at times, notably on social matters.

For the 18 million Australian voters in this election, voting for their preferred candidate is also a legal requirement.

Since 1924, voting has been mandatory for all Australian citizens above the age of 18, with those who refuse to do so subject to a fine of A$20.

Today, Australia has one of the highest voter participation rates in the world, but many other nations struggle to encourage people to vote.

According to official figures, about 90% of eligible voters cast ballots in the most recent federal election, held in 2022.

After a shocking election in Canada, comes Australia. The country will go to vote on Saturday (May 3) with the cost of living crisis being at the front of the minds of many Australians. Notably, Australia is among a handful of nations that enforces compulsory voting, boasting a turnout rate of more than 90 per cent.

As Australians gear up to cast their vote and decide the future of their country, we take a closer look at all the things that matter this election — from the polling process to contenders, the major issues and who has a better chance of winning.

Australians will vote on Saturday in a close-run national election marked by concerns over the cost of living and housing affordability, as well as trade tensions triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Here’s how Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labor party and the conservative Liberal-National coalition, led by Peter Dutton, compare on key policies.

As Australia prepares to vote in its 2025 federal election on May 3, a growing number of candidates — from major parties and independents alike — are ramping up their outreach to Chinese-Australian voters via platforms like WeChat and RedNote.

Once eyed with suspicion over national security concerns, these apps have now become central to political campaigning, particularly in electorates with significant Chinese-speaking populations.

As Australia gears up for an important election, the latest viral video suggested that a Chinese Communist Party-linked group have mobilised volunteers to support an independent candidate ahead of the polls. The video that spurred allegations of foreign interference featured members of the Australia Hubei Association, a Chinese diaspora group with known links to the United Front Work Department (UFWD).

It is pertinent to note that UFWD is part of the CCP’s network that seeks to advance China’s influence abroad. The group has dispatched volunteers to assist candidates in the Australian federal election. Last week, Tharini Rouwette, the founder of COMPELL, an organisation dedicated to multiculturalism in Australian politics, shared a video on TikTok showing these volunteers at work, Nikkei Asia reported.