Five ways Australia’s election rivals lure voters

Sydney, May 2 (AFP/APP/DNA):Rivals contesting Australia’s general election on Saturday have offered starkly different visions and multi-billion-dollar promises to woo voters.

Here are five ways left-leaning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his conservative opponent Peter Dutton are vying for people’s support:

– Character –

Since winning power three years ago after nearly a decade of right-leaning government, 62-year-old Albanese has sold himself as the kinder alternative.

But former policeman Dutton says the prime minister is “weak and incompetent”.

“Uncertain times call for strong leadership and decisive action,” the 54-year-old has said, arguing he offers exactly that.

Albanese’s retort: “Kindness is a strength. Compassion is a strength. It’s a strength of our country.”

– Memorable quotes –

“They are delulu with no solulu” (translation: delusional with no solution), Albanese said of the opposition’s policies, in an apparent attempt to connect with Gen Z.

“I don’t know the president. I haven’t met him,” Dutton told a debate when asked if he trusts US President Donald Trump, who hit longtime ally Australia with trade tariffs.

– Cost of living –

Polls say it’s the biggest issue on voters’ minds.

Albanese’s centre-left Labor Party promises modest tax cuts, cheaper doctor visits, more subsidised childcare, electricity bill rebates, a 20-percent reduction in student debt, and thousands of new homes just for first-time buyers.

Dutton’s Liberal-National coalition says it will slash tax on gasoline and diesel for a year, reserve some local natural gas output just for Australia, match the government on cheap healthcare, and invest in infrastructure needed for up to 500,000 new homes.

– Climate –

Dutton touts a US$200 billion plan to build seven large-scale nuclear reactors by 2050, while ramping up gas production, and slowing the rollout of solar and wind projects.

Albanese has embraced the global push towards decarbonisation, pouring public money into the renewable sector, which he says will supply 82 percent of Australia’s electricity by 2030.

– Indigenous symbols –

Dutton says he won’t stand in front of the Aboriginal flag — an official flag alongside the Australian national flag — if he’s prime minister.

“We can’t be as good as we can be if we’re separating people into different groupings,” he has argued.

Dutton also said Indigenous “Welcome to Country” ceremonies — held at sports games, meetings and other occasions — have been “overdone”.

Albanese says it is a “sign of respect” and people can decide on holding one.

He has accused Dutton of “stoking division, trying to turn Australians against each other, trying to start culture wars”.

An estimated 3.8 percent of Australia’s 26 million people are Indigenous, official figures show.