Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has officially called the Australian federal election for May 3, 2025. The announcement, coming five days after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the Canadian federal election for April 28, 2025, follows months of speculation and sets the stage for a five-week campaign leading up to the election on May 3.

The election is expected to focus on key issues like cost-of-living pressures, healthcare, and energy policies. Both Australian major parties are gearing up for a tight race, with polls suggesting a close contest.

This election will determine the members of the 48th Parliament of Australia, with all 150 seats in the House of Representatives and 40 of the 76 seats in the Senate up for grabs.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is seeking re-election for the Labor government, while the opposition, led by Peter Dutton of the Liberal-National Coalition, aims to regain power after one term in opposition.

Key Issues

As the election approaches, several key issues are likely to dominate the political landscape:

• Economic Management: Voters will be concerned about inflation, cost of living, and economic recovery post-pandemic.
• Climate Change: Policies regarding climate action and environmental sustainability are critical, especially given Australia’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters.
• Healthcare: Access to healthcare services and the management of the public health system will have significant impact.
• Indigenous Rights: The treatment and rights of Indigenous Australians, including discussions around a potential Indigenous Voice to Parliament, will be a focal point.
• National Security: Issues related to defense and national security, particularly in the context of regional tensions, will also be prominent.

Key dates

The key dates for the election are:

• Election called Friday, March 28, 2025
• Voter enrolment closes at 8 pm local time on Monday, April 7, 2025.
• Early in-person voting starts on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
• The deadline for postal vote applications is 6 pm local time on Wednesday, April 30, 2025
• Election day is Saturday, May 3, 2025
• Postal votes must be completed on or before election day (Saturday 3 May 2025)
• Postal votes must be returned before Friday, May 16, 2025.

Australian federal elections are conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), an independent federal agency responsible for conducting elections and referendums, providing voter education and enforcing electoral laws, including political advertising regulations.

More details are available on the AEC website.