48 HOURS UNTIL AUSTRALIA DECIDES AS LEADERS MAKE FINAL PITCHES

Miko Santos

May 01, 2025

Transcript

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As Australia approaches the final 48 hours before polling day, both major parties are making their last pitches to voters in what has become a tightly contested race. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton are traversing the country, each presenting starkly different visions for Australia's future.

Final Campaign Pushes

Prime Minister Albanese, campaigning in Western Australia, has focused his message on education, healthcare, and renewable energy investments. Speaking at Winthrop Primary School in Perth, he emphasized his government's commitment to education funding, announcing "$16.5 billion over a decade" for schools nationwide, with "$2.4 billion for schools in Western Australia."

The Prime Minister has framed the election as a choice between "Labor supporting and building Australia's future" versus what he characterizes as a "coalition of cuts and chaos." Highlighting his government's achievements in childcare, TAFE, and aged care reform, Albanese is positioning Labor as the party of responsible management and forward-thinking policies.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has centered his campaign on cost-of-living relief, speaking from his marginal seat of Dixon in Brisbane. His key promises include cutting fuel excise by 25 cents per liter (saving approximately $14 per tank) and delivering a $1,200 tax rebate to the average taxpayer.

Dutton has repeatedly asked voters if they are "better off today than three years ago," characterizing the election as a referendum on Labor's economic management. "Australians know that there is a sliding doors moment for our country," Dutton stated, emphasizing his party's focus on immediate household budget relief.

Coalition Releases Costings

In a significant development, the Coalition has released its election costings, claiming a $14 billion improvement to the budget bottom line over four years and a $40 billion reduction in gross debt. Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor presented the figures at a press conference, asserting they represent "the biggest improvement in the budget position since the current costing conventions were put in place."

However, scrutiny of the documents reveals the Coalition would run larger deficits than Labor in the first two years before achieving improvements in later years. This has prompted Finance Minister Katy Gallagher to criticize the plan as "bigger deficits, savage cuts" while questioning the Coalition's previous complaints about government spending and inflation.

A central point of contention remains the Coalition's nuclear energy proposal, with costings allocating $400 million over four years and $36 billion in the medium term through to 2035. This figure falls significantly below Labor's projected costs for such a program, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers claiming the Coalition "hasn't provided anywhere near enough for their nuclear reactors."

Public Service Reductions

The Coalition's plan to cut 41,000 public service positions over five years has emerged as a major election issue. Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume clarified that these reductions would be achieved through "a hiring freeze and natural attrition," contradicting earlier campaign statements that voluntary redundancies would form part of the approach.

These cuts, primarily targeting Canberra-based positions, are projected to save approximately $17 billion. The Coalition maintains that frontline services and national security positions would be protected, while Labor argues the cuts would damage essential service delivery.

Migration and Economic Growth

Migration policy has featured prominently in budget discussions, with the Coalition's plan to reduce net overseas migration by 100,000 people annually estimated to cost $4.2 billion. Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor defended this approach, arguing that current migration levels under Labor are putting excessive pressure on housing and infrastructure.

"What you've seen under Labor is an attempt to grow the economy through population growth, not through productivity growth," Taylor stated, claiming that "over a million people in two years has been too much."

The Coalition has proposed these migration cuts across permanent migration, international student, and humanitarian visa categories, asserting the reductions would help address housing affordability and improve living standards for Australians.

Final Countdown

As campaigns enter their final phase, both leaders are scheduled to visit multiple states before polling day on Saturday. With more than five million Australians having already cast their votes through early polling, the remaining 48 hours will be crucial for both parties as they attempt to sway undecided voters.

Polling indicates a close race, with both major parties acknowledging the contest will likely be decided on a seat-by-seat basis. The outcome may hinge on how effectively each party's economic management credentials and policy offerings resonate with an electorate concerned about cost-of-living pressures and the nation's long-term prosperity.

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