Australia’s Albanese starts election campaign touting healthcare credentials | World News
Australian Prime Miner Anthony Albanese touted his Labor party’s credentials on affordable healthcare on Saturday, the first full day of campaigning for a general election expected to focus on the cost of living.
Albanese on Friday called the election for May 3 as his centre-left Labor runs neck-and-neck in opinion polls with the Liberal-National opposition, led Peter Dutton. Dutton has centered his campaign on a housing crisis, arguing that home ownership is becoming unattainable.
After enjoying a strong lead for much of his term, Albanese’s personal approval ratings have now narrowed, bringing him close to Dutton, a former police officer and defense miner in the last conservative government.
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Labor, which pledged an additional A$8.5 billion ($5.3 billion) for Medicare in February, emphasizes its commitment to Australia’s universal healthcare system as a key point of difference from the Liberal-National coalition. The opposition, on the other hand, argues it is better suited to manage the economy and border security.
“At this election, this little card here, your Medicare card, is what is at stake,” Albanese said while campaigning in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, in Dutton’s electorate. Medicare, established Labor in 1984, provides Australians and some overseas visitors with access to a range of health and hospital services at low or no cost.
Meanwhile, Dutton, also campaigning in Brisbane, stated, “I want to make sure that it’s easier, not harder, for Australians, and this election really is about who can manage the economy.” On Friday, he proposed cutting permanent migration 25% to boost home-building and has also advocated for the long-term adoption of nuclear power in the country.Story continues below this ad
Albanese has so far seen little political gain from slowing inflation and the central bank’s first interest rate cut in five years. He warns that a Liberal-National government would slash public programs and reverse modest new tax cuts passed parliament.
