SIDNEY - Australia will hold elections on May 21, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Sunday, April 10.
Campaigns leading up to the election are expected to debate the high cost of living, climate change, and questions about the trust and competence of the major parties.
Morrison emphasized economic uncertainty and security threats when announcing the election date.
He said it was not yet time for power to be handed over to Anthony Albanese, the leader of the opposition Labor party, which he said had not been tested.
"Only by voting Liberal and National in this election on May 21 can you ensure a resilient economy for a stronger future", Morrison told media in the capital Canberra.
Labor said it would offer Australians a better economic alternative.
Morrison's conservative coalition lags behind Labor in opinion polls after nine years in power.
However, he had experienced the same thing before the May 2019 election when he came out victorious.
In an opinion piece on staging the election, Morrison said although Australians are now facing more challenges, such as fires, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic, the country has held up better than other countries.
"But I know our country will continue to face very real challenges and many families are struggling to survive", he said.
He said Labor would weaken the economy with higher taxes and deficits when Australia's recovery from the pandemic crisis was better than in other countries.
"Now is not the time to bet on that", Morrison said.
The leader of the Albanese Labor party stressed that the cost of food, fuel, child care, and health had risen while incomes had remained unchanged since the conservative coalition took power in 2013.
He also said the Labor government would ease pressure on family spending.
"So the next time you cringe at paying for groceries at the convenience store, remember the Morrison administration has been trying to close your pockets", Albanese said in an opinion piece on Saturday.
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