Australia to hold federal election on 3 May

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be seeking to fight off a resurgent opposition and win a second term.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose Labor Party will be defending a small majority, announced the date from Parliament House on Friday.

Opinion polls predict a slim margin between the country's two major parties, and the possibility either will have to work with independent MPs or minor parties - which combined won a record share of the vote at the last election - to form the next government.

The campaign is expected to be dominated by cost-of-living issues, and Labor is fighting to avoid becoming the first single-term government to lose an election in almost a century.

In a press conference on Friday morning, Albanese reiterated his pledge to address the cost of living - having already unveiled plans to provide more free healthcare, cut student debt and deliver small tax cuts. He argued that electing his rival Peter Dutton would be a step backwards for the country.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj02033n18go

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