Australia sets May 18 election with campaign expected on taxes, climate change

 

FILE PHOTO: Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny arrive for the national remembrance service for victims of the mosque attacks, at Hagley Park in Christchurch, New Zealand March 29, 2019. REUTERS/Edgar Su

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australians go to the polls in a general election on May 18, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday, firing the starting gun on a campaign expected to be fought over taxation, climate change and inequality.

 

Opinion polls show Morrison's conservative coalition trailing the opposition Labor party after six years in power and two prime ministers toppled by internal party ructions.

 

"So the choice to be made by Australians on the 18th of May is like it always is at every election, and that is: who do you trust to deliver that strong economy which your essential services rely on?" Morrison said to reporters in Canberra.

 

While the government has framed the election as a referendum on its record of managing Australia's finances, the economy shows signs of beginning to slow.

 

Consumer spending has weakened as home prices fall after a prolonged property boom and high debt levels weigh on sentiment.

 

Financial markets are fully pricing in the probability of at least one interest rate cut later this year.

 

A pre-election budget included tax cuts for low and middle-income earners and record spending on health and education while promising the first budget surplus in more than a decade.

 

Opinion polls show the Morrison-led government, consisting of the Liberal and rural-focused National party, is headed for a resounding defeat against centre left Labor unless it can alter the current trajectory.

 

(Reporting by Tom Westbrook; editing by Darren Schuettler and Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-04-11

Climate change? I am concerned too but if they saw what was happening in Asia I dont think anyone would bother. Dont understand what happened to Australia? Havent had a proper leader since Keating. The country now is full of Arabs whom the government seems to pander to. The political correctness. New generation of useless soft kids. Would make u cry

22 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

The country now is full of Arabs whom the government seems to pander to.

LOL - Got example when 'Arabs' have been exempted from the Rule Of Law processes?

Edited April 11, 20197 yr by simple1

Got a feeling that it might be closer than the polls predict.

Hard to tell if the fringe parties are going to do very well or be a big fat nothing. Senate should be interesting.

Here's the latest betting odds for those who want to put their money where their mouth is: