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

After visiting Government House to ask the Governor-General to disolve Government, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is addressing the nation from Parliament House.

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We are standing by for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to speak from Parliament House.

He is expected to address the nation in around 10 minutes.

After about 20 minutes inside Government House, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is again on the move, now headed for Parliament House.

Mr Albanese is set to hold a press conference in the courtyard where he will reveal the all-important election date.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley says Australia can’t afford another Labor Government.

“This election is about who can manage the economy better,” she told Sunrise.

“Who can help Australians get ahead. Who can properly balance migration and housing, so Australians can realise that great Australian dream of owning your own home.

“(It’s about) who can keep us safe in an increasingly uncertain world.

“I can’t wait to get out there. I am filled with energy, enthusiasm and determination to meet as many Australians as I can to present this clear choice.

“This country cannot afford another three years of Labor, and Australians are going backwards with some of the highest power prices in the world, and some of the lowest living standards

“We’re going backwards and it’s just not good enough.”

Moments after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese entered Government House to call the Federal election, Education Minister Jason Clarke said this election was about choosing high or low taxes.

“Well, this is a choice between higher taxes under Peter Dutton or lower taxes under Labor,” Mr Clarke told Sunrise.

“Australians will have a choice in the next few weeks between Labor and Medicare, or Peter Dutton and nuclear reactors.

“That will be the choice that Australians will have to make.”

The Prime Minister is currently meeting with Governor-General Sam Mostyn to call the Federal election.

The meeting is expected to last around 15-30 minutes, depending on how quickly Anthony Albanese drinks his morning beverage, before an expected press conference around 8am AEDT.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has just left the Lodge, headed to Government House to meet Governor-General Sam Mostyn.

When Mr Albanese arrives at Yarralumla, the Prime Minister will formally request she prorogue the Parliament, and issue the writs for a general election of the House of Representatives as well as half the Senate.

This shuts down Parliament and places the Government into caretaker mode.

With Anthony Albanese reportedly planning to call an election on Friday, the Prime Minister is set to follow a well-worn path of his predecessors in going to the voters.

Elections for the House must be called every three years, based on the date of when Parliament first returned after the last poll.

The first task the Prime Minister will need to do is visit Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Government House in Canberra, which he is set to do on Friday morning.

There, Mr Albanese will formally request she prorogue the Parliament, and issue the writs for a general election of the House of Representatives as well as half the Senate.

The Prime Minister typically then holds a press conference announcing the date, and making his pitch to Australians.

Read the full process on what to expect.

The Prime Minister is expected to call the Federal election on Friday as Labor and the Coalition clash over tax cuts and fuel subsidies in a last-ditch attempt to woo voters with cost-of-living relief.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton ilast night delivered a crucial Budget reply speech that could make or break the launch of his election campaign and redefine his party’s appeal to voters.

He promised to lower power bills, unlock gas supplies and slash migration to free up homes, on top of an already announced sweetener to halve fuel excise for a year.

But widespread expectations that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would kickstart his bid for a second term on Friday has threated to steal Mr Dutton’s thunder, slowing his possible momentum.

In a blitz of radio interviews on Thursday, Mr Albanese told Triple M the date — tipped to be May 3 — would be announced “imminently”, with Labor sources predicting a visit to the Governor-General on Friday.

Read the full story.