Sydney, Australia — Australians are casting their votes today in a closely watched national election that could secure a second term for Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, with polls indicating he holds a narrow lead over conservative challenger Peter Dutton.
Polling booths across the country opened at 8 a.m. and will close at 6 p.m. local time (10 a.m. to 8 p.m. NZT), though a record eight million of Australia’s 18 million eligible voters have already voted early. Voting is compulsory in Australia, one of the few democracies with such a system.
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While cost-of-living pressures dominated much of the campaign, late-stage concerns over global instability — particularly linked to U.S. policy under former President Donald Trump — appear to have swayed some voters. Trump’s unpredictable trade policies and recent tariffs on Australian goods reignited fears of economic volatility.
Albanese made a final whirlwind campaign push across three states on Friday, framing the election as a choice between “stable leadership in uncertain times” and what he described as the opposition’s “cuts and chaos.”
Dutton, leader of the Liberal-National coalition, criticized Labor’s economic record and appealed to voter frustrations. “Are you better off today than you were three years ago?” he asked, pointing to rising prices and pressure on small businesses.
Despite leading in some polls earlier this year, Dutton’s campaign stumbled over controversial proposals, including a now-abandoned plan to end work-from-home arrangements for public servants. He has also struggled to distance himself from unpopular comparisons to Trump-era policies, despite emphasizing his own record on border control and public sector reform.
A Newspoll published on Friday showed Labor ahead 52.5% to 47.5% on a two-party preferred basis. However, strategists warned that voter sentiment remains volatile, and preferences from minor parties and independents could determine the final outcome under Australia’s ranked-choice voting system.
Polling trends indicate a significant and growing shift toward non-major parties. According to Roy Morgan research, nearly one-third of voters may choose independents or minor parties — echoing the 2022 election results and suggesting a possible minority government scenario.
Final results may not be clear for days as votes are tallied and preferences distributed.
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