Explainer | Australia election: who’s leading, is Morrison or Albanese tougher on China, why has the PM been called a ‘bully’?
- Opinion polls suggest Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labor party is ahead of PM Scott Morrison’s incumbent conservative coalition, but they’ve been wrong before
- Morrison has attacked Albanese for having no experience, and been called a ‘liar’ and a ‘bully’. On foreign policy, both talk tough on China amid tensions
Australians will soon be heading to the polls and enjoying the tradition of sausage sizzles on May 21.
The conservative Liberal-National coalition has been in power since 2013 and is seeking another three-year term. The opposition Labor Party, minor parties and independent candidates have all been giving the government a run for its money.
All 151 lower house or House of Representatives seats will be up for grabs. The party or coalition holding a majority in the lower house will form a government.
Voting is compulsory for about 17 million Australians, who must register when they turn 18. Those who do not vote face a fine of A$20 (US$15).
Here we take a look at some of the issues that have surfaced in the lead up to the election.
Who’s leading the race?
This week, Australian opinion poll Newspoll found that, of the two major political parties, the centre-left Labor party was leading the conservative government by 54-46 per cent, roughly the same as when the election was called a month ago.
