Australian news and politics recap March 28: Dutton launches election bid from Qld as May 3 battle begins

During the Prime Minister’s announcement of the Federal election, Mr Albanese said: “My fellow Australians - we live in the greatest country on Earth, and we do not need to copy from any other nation to make Australia even better and stronger.”

Mr Albanese was asked after his speech if this was his way of “suggesting that Peter Dutton is copying ideas from Donald Trump”.

“Well, people will make their own judgments, of course,” Mr Albanese said.

“People will have a look at the mass sackings of public servants and wonder.

“Now, there are a range of ideas that have been borrowed from others.

“We need the Australian way.

“The Australian way is that we look after each other, is that we’re a country that, in the language that we use with each other, fair dinkum, fair go - they’re part of the Australian lexicon.”

The Prime Minister was asked what he would say to Aussies who hear that “Australia is turning a corner”, but are not feeling relief from the cost-of-living struggles.

“We’ll continue to have their back,” Mr Albanese told reporters.

“One of the things that we have done is to craft cost-of-living measures so that we continue to put that downward pressure on inflation.

“That has been important. At the same time, what we’ve done is deliver things that have made a difference for Australians, whether it’s the three lots now of energy price relief, whether it be the cheaper childcare, the cheaper medicines.

“We have real wages that are growing, going up.

“We very consciously changed Scott Morrison’s tax cuts to make sure that people who were really doing it tough, low and middle-income earners, got a tax cut.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his record when told Australians would not argue they are better off now compared to three years ago.

“We have governed through what have been turbulent seas,” Mr Albanese said.

“But we’ve governed by providing cost-of-living relief.

“If Peter Dutton had had his way, and his opposition to our cost-of-living measures had been put in place, Australians today would be $7,200 worse off, on average.

“He has no plans for cost-of-living relief going forward.

“Last night, all we saw was a very dark speech, a negative speech.

“We had no plans except for jacking up taxes for all 14 million Australians.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared he plans to lead a majority Labor Government and that he intends to remain Prime Minister for a full second term if elected.

“Serving you as Prime Minister is the greatest honour of my life,” Mr Albanese said, appearing to hold make emotions.

“What drives me each and every day is the determination to build a future worthy of the people of Australia.

“The world today is an uncertainplace. But I am absolutely certain of this: now is not the time for cutting and wrecking, for aiming low, punching down, or looking back.

“This is a time for building. Building on our nation’s strengths. Building on our nation’s strengths. Building our security and prosperity for ourselves. Building an Australia where no-one is held back and no-one is left behind.

“At this election, I’m asking for the support of the Australian people, to keep building on the hard work that we have done and the strong foundations that we have laid.

“I’m asking you to vote Labor so we can keep building Australia’s future together.”

“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.

“If the Liberals had their way, you and your family would be worse off right now, and if they get their way, you will be worse off in the future.

“Because the Liberals are promising to increase income tax for all 14 million Australian taxpayers, and because Peter Dutton needs to find $600 billion to pay for nuclear reactors, that will provide 4 per cent of Australia’s energy needs some time in the 2040s.

“Everything in Peter Dutton’s record tells us that he will start by cutting Medicare and he won’t stop there.

“He will cut everything except your taxes.

“No-one will get any power from theLiberals’ nuclear reactors for two decades. But every Australian will get the bill right away.

“Because when Peter Dutton cuts, Australians pay.”

“At a time where it’s never been more important for Australia to stand on our on two feet, only Labor is building an economy where we make more things here, an economy defined by fair wages for hard work, where people earn more and keep more of what they earn,” Mr Albanese said.

“The biggest risk to all of this is not what’s happening elsewhere in the world.

“The biggest risk to Australia’s future 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.

“Australians remember what that lookslike. Less than three years ago, the chaotic and dysfunctional Morrison Government left bulk-billing in freefall, aged care in crisis and the NDIS at breaking point.

“A decade of the Liberals keeping wages low, sending jobs offshore and fighting about climate change left our nation open to the worst global inflationsince the 1980s and the biggest global energy crisis since the 1970.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says “only Labor has the plan to make you better off over the next three years”.

“Only Labor is acting on the cost of living. Only a vote for Labor will keep your wages growing.

The Prime Minister spruiked his plans for student debt, tax cuts for all, and his plans to strengthen Medicare.

“(Labor will make) the biggest ever investment in bulk-billing for all Australians, so you can see a GP for free wherever you live.

“Cheaper medicines, capping thecost of a PBS script to no more than $25.

The same price that it was back in 2004.

“Labor’s positive plan means taking another $150 off your power bill.

“Better and cheaper child care forevery family, and fair funding forevery family, and fair funding for every school, public and private.

“Making free TAFE permanent. Creating greater opportunity for women, not as an add-on or an after thought, but as a fundamental economic and social priority.”

“Our government has chosen to face global challenges the Australian way: helping people under cost-of-living pressure, while building for the future,” Mr Albanese said.

“Because of the strength and resilience that our people have shown, Australia is turning the corner.

“Now, on the 3rd of May, you choose the way forward. Your vote has never been more important, and your choice has never been more clear.

“This election is a choice between Labor’s plan to keep building or Peter Dutton’s promise to cut.

“That is the choice. That is your choice.”

As the Prime Minister approached the microphone to announce to Federal election, he was asked if he was ready, simply replying “born ready”.

“My fellow Australians, this morning I visited the Governor-General and Her Excellency has accepted my advice that an election be hld on Saturday 3rd of May 2025,” Mr Albanese said from the Prime Minister’s courtyard at Parliament House.

“Over the last few years, the world has thrown a lot at Australia.

“In uncertain times, we cannot decide the challenges that we will face.

“But we can determine how we respond.”