Anthony Albanese has dodged questions about whether he will call an early election despite experts describing his recent budget as a clear speech to the masses.
The Prime Minister is due to hold a public vote in May 2025, but with the economic forecast expected to change next year, experts have suggested elections could be held later this year while budget sweeteners are still fresh in mind of the voters.
Tuesday night’s Budget provided a $300 energy bill credit for every household, increased rental assistance and waived $3 billion in student debt indexation.
The new relief comes on top of the Stage Three tax reduction changes announced in January. The average household will receive an annual tax cut of $1,888, or $36 per week.
Sky News political analyst Andrew Clennell was quick to point out that the budget resembled an election speech.
“There are reasons for an early election in this document,” he said after emerging from lockdown, a six-hour period in which Press Gallery journalists were offered early access to Budget documents.
‘Presenting another budget before the elections, scheduled for next May, runs the risk of announcing a large deficit.
‘For the first time in a long time, early elections make some sense. That election, whenever it comes, Labor wants to choose between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton rather than a referendum on the Albanese government.
Albanese was asked directly if he expected to go to the polls before 2025.
The prime minister is known to promote the completion of full terms. In fact, he supports extending the federal MP’s term to four years, having repeatedly argued that three years is simply not enough by both the government and the opposition.
The Budget is setting aside $90.6 million to increase the number of skilled workers in the construction sector (pictured, construction workers in Parramatta, western Sydney).
Tuesday night’s Budget provided a $300 energy bill credit for every household, increased rental assistance and waived $3 billion in student debt indexation.
Despite this, he rejected questions about calling early elections.
He told Peter Stefanovic: ‘We are focused on the economy and getting all the adjustments right.
‘I will leave the obsession with politics somewhere else. That’s what they did last night.
Pressed to answer the question directly, the prime minister again did not rule out an early election.
“We don’t focus on politics,” he said.
‘What we are focused on (elections are due in 2025) is getting the setup right and changing things, making a difference for people.
‘That is our focus in this budget. It is a difficult task to provide cost of living relief while continuing to put that downward pressure, as we see, on the continued moderation of inflation.
‘It was a difficult task. I think we got it.
The new relief comes on top of the Stage Three tax reduction changes announced in January. The average household will receive an annual tax cut of $1,888, or $36 per week.
But opposition leader Peter Dutton said it was clear the Albanian government was “preparing for an election this year”.
He said: ‘I think they are worried about the economy deteriorating.
“As we know, we are already in a per capita recession, we know that families are going backwards because their real wages are simply not keeping up with inflation and there are many families right now who are drowning in a sea of red.
‘They have difficulties with insurance: premiums continue to increase. They have high food prices; everything is going up more and more under this government.’
Despite posting a $9.3 billion surplus this year (the second in a row), Treasurer Jim Chalmers said there would be deficits in subsequent years and employment would decline.
Coalition finance spokesperson Jane Hume said the Budget “certainly” had the “sugar hits” Australians could expect in the run-up to the election.
Dr Chalmers denied the claim that the cost of living package was intended to get voters in a “good mood” ahead of the next election.
Albanese does not definitively rule out an early election. He attended the National Press Club on Wednesday to watch Treasurer Jim Chalmers deliver his post-budget speech.
‘That is not our motivation. Our motivation here is to understand that people are having a hard time and that we must provide substantial cost-of-living relief responsibly. That’s what the Budget does,’ he stated.
Asked if there would be another budget before the next election, Dr Chalmers said “that remains to be seen”.
‘I will “We will certainly be prepared to present another budget next year,” he said.
‘Our intention, our inclination, is to reach completion. But that decision is made by the Prime Minister.
“If I need to do a fourth budget before I go to people, I’d be happy to do it, I’d be willing to do it, but it’s not a decision I make on my own.”
Dr Chalmers doubled down during his speech at the National Press Club on Wednesday afternoon, saying that both he and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher are “happy to do another” budget.
‘I don’t see this Budget in political terms. Many of you have asked me if this is the last budget of the parliamentary legislature. My answer is: I hope to make another one.
‘I’m happy to do another one, Katy and I are ready and looking forward to doing another one. But that is in the hands of the Prime Minister.
‘We know our place in these types of considerations and I will present a budget on the day my Prime Minister tells me to. I anticipate it will be on this side of the election, but that will be up to him to decide.”
