By LIAM DURKIN

 

STRAP yourself in (especially if you live in Monash).

The federal election has been called for May 3, 2025. Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese visited the governor general, Sam Mostyn, last Friday morning (March 28) to dissolve the 47th parliament, triggering a five-week race to form the next government.

The declaration comes after Labor released its federal budget in March, which the Coalition leader and Mr Albanese’s election opponent, Peter Dutton, replied to last week.

Mr Albanese, in a short press conference on Friday, framed the election as a choice between Labor’s plan to “keep building” and Peter Dutton’s “promises to cut”.

“In challenging times we have laid very strong foundations. We want to keep building, the Liberals and Nationals just want to start cutting,” Mr Albanese said.

“Over the past three years they have opposed everything we have done to help people with the cost-of-living.”

Mr Albanese is aiming to become the first Prime Minister since John Howard in 1998 to win a second term.

Making the case for a second term, Albanese said that “it was always going to take more than three years to clean up 10 years of mess” left by previous Coalition governments.

“The biggest risk to Australia’s future is going back to the failures of the past, the tax increases and cuts to services that Peter Dutton and the Liberal party want to lock in,” Mr Albanese said.

Cost-of-living remains among the hottest topics leading up to the election, which many people are viewing as a referendum on energy.

The Coalition plans to explore nuclear, with Loy Yang one of seven proposed sites.

Victoria is expected to have a major say in the federal election, with pollsters suggesting it will be won and lost in the suburbs of Melbourne, Sydney, and regional Tasmania.

Labor can only afford to lose two seats, or else head for a minority government, or worse, become the first one-term government since the Great Depression.

Dutton however needs to win nearly 20 seats to achieve a majority.

It could be argued some of these seats were not necessarily lost because voters turned against the Liberals at the last election, more so they turned against former PM, Scott Morrison.

As it stands, it looks as though Australia could have a hung parliament for the first time since 2010.

If this happens, independents and minor parties on the crossbench will hold even greater sway. The influence of teal independents at this federal election also gives 2025 a different outlook.

Some larger-than-life characters are also set to feature, including Clive Palmer and his obviously named ‘Trumpet of Patriots’ party.

Billboards denoting the party and its Microsoft Word 2003 style logo have sprung up across the Valley, and his venture is sure to cause an interesting sideshow at the very least.

Closer to home, while the federal seat of Gippsland held by Darren Chester remains one of the safest Nationals seats in the country, he will still have to hold off Labor’s Alison Stephens, Rochelle Hine (Greens), Greg Hansford (One Nation), and Simon Wilson.

Monash (which takes in Moe) is where greater interest lies.

Career politician and incumbent Russell Broadbent is again running as an independent, but is facing strong opposition from fellow independent Deb Leonard, and Liberal candidate Mary Aldred.

Aldred rolled Broadbent (a long serving Liberal) in a preselection battle two years ago, while Leonard (who has put together a massive advertising blitz) has sensed an opportunity to win Monash after Broadbent lost his majority last time around.

Labor has a young candidate in Tully Fletcher, and the Greens an ironically named one in Terence Steele.

Those running for other parties are Geoff Dethlefs (Family First), Kuljeet Kuar (One Nation), and Alex Wehbe (Trumpet of Patriots).

The Nationals are not running a candidate for Monash, meaning preferences will likely play a huge role in deciding the seat. Particular intrigue surrounds just who Broadbent will choose given his fallout with the Libs.

Voting is compulsory in Australia.

Speaking from personal experience, when an Albanese says an event is compulsory, it’s in your best interest to turn up.