Australia Votes in Tight Election in Trump Tariff Shadow

Australia’s 2025 Election: Albanese’s Labor Leads Tight Race Against Dutton’s Coalition as Young Voters Hold Key

By MANISH ANAND

NEW DELHI, May 3, 2025 — Australia is voting on Saturday amid a tight race between incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his challenger Peter Dutton. The pollsters are giving a slight edge to Albanese’s ruling centre-left Labour. Dutton’s conservative Liberal-National coalition is counting on young voters to close the gaps.

The Australian election closely follows Canada’s federal polls where the incumbent Liberals held grounds by stoking patriotic passion. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, by calling a snap poll, milked US President Donald Trump’s threatening rhetoric against Canada.

Unlike Canada, Trump largely ignored Australia in his tariff rhetoric. With AUCKUS, Australia is a key security partner of the US along with the UK.

Dutton led aggressive campaigns in Australia, promising petrol subsidy and vows to cut down the cost of life with the government support. Albanese has held grounds with strong support along left to centre vote base in Australia.

Unlike Canada and Germany, Trump and his men have not made overtures to sway the poll outcome in Australia. For Germany’s February elections, billionaire Elon Musk, a key aide of Trump, openly canvassed for AfD (Alternative for Germany), which is now dubbed an “extremist” outfit by Germany for not accepting five million Muslims as part of Germany.

Ahead of the polling, 6 News Australia said that “Labor is slightly increasing its national two-party-preferred lead to 52.5%”. But Dutton is counting a strong number of voters who have singled out cost of living as a key poll issue. But Dutton’s poll theme faces challenge from global cooling off of inflation in recent weeks that led to Central banks across continents to cut rates.

Dutton is a well-known name in India. During his India visit last year, he had called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He’s also known as an India admirer.

But Albanese also has a close bond with Modi. India and Australia have boosted bilateral relations with comprehensive economic partnership with thrust on welcoming the skilled Indian workers.

While India is a neutral observer in Australia’s election, China has faced allegations of interference. Dutton and his associates stepped up pressure on Albanese for Chinese military vessels regularly foraying close to the Australian waters.

Peter Fok, a correspondent with Al Arabia, said in a report that the “first time voters hold the key to the outcome of the Australia’s election”. Fok said that both the major parties have made similar promises to cut down the cost of living and help the first time buyers purchase homes.

Australian lesson for India on how to defeat identity politics

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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