Five Things to Know About the Australian Election
AFP/APP
Sydney: Australians are voting in a general election Saturday, a hard-fought contest between party leaders with sharply contrasting visions for the country.
Here are five key things to know about the poll Down Under:
- Blue-Collar Boys
The election pits left-leaning incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese against staunchly conservative rival Peter Dutton.
Both leaders have blue-collar roots, distinguishing them from predecessors with elite educational and professional backgrounds.
Albanese (62) was raised by a single mother in a modest, government-subsidised flat in inner-city Sydney. As a teenager, he cared for his mother, Maryanne, who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis.
Dutton (54), the son of a bricklayer, grew up in Brisbane’s suburbs. He dropped out of university, joined the state police, and briefly worked in a butcher’s shop. His time as a drug squad detective shaped his tough stance on law and order.
- Going Nuclear
Despite possessing some of the world’s largest uranium reserves, Australia has maintained a near-total ban on nuclear energy since 1998.
Dutton aims to lift this ban and build a nuclear industry, arguing it’s the most reliable path to reducing emissions.
Albanese, on the other hand, is investing heavily in renewables like solar and wind, and aspires to make Australia a global green energy superpower.
- Trump Card
The US decision under Donald Trump to impose tariffs on Australia has shaken up the campaign.
Dutton’s earlier praise of Trump as a “big thinker” may have cost him support in recent polls.
Albanese has used the issue to sharpen his stance, calling the tariffs “economic self-harm” and emphasizing his commitment to “free and fair trade.”
Dutton later said: “If I needed to have a fight with Donald Trump, or any other world leader, to advance our nation’s interest, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”
- Independents Day
Australian politics has traditionally revolved around the Labor Party and the Liberal-National Coalition, but that’s changing.
Growing disillusionment has boosted independents, many of whom are campaigning on transparency and climate action.
While Labor held a slight lead ahead of election day, a close result could see 10 or more independents holding the balance of power potentially triggering a minority government.
- Vote, or Else
Australia enforces compulsory voting — in place since 1924 and turnout has never fallen below 90%.
Non-voters face a $20 AUD fine (about $13 USD).
More than 1,000 polling stations also offer “democracy sausages” to raise funds for local causes — trackable at democracysausage.org.
Of the 18.1 million eligible voters, more than a third voted early.
Australians are electing all 150 seats in the House of Representatives (3-year term) and 40 of 76 Senate seats (6-year term).
The House uses preferential voting, and the Senate uses proportional representation.
