🇦🇺 New Federal Election Set for 3 May: Tight Race Expected
A crowd of Australian voters with sausage sizzle at polling station – Image created by ChatGPT with DALL·E by OpenAI. Used with permission.
VOCABULARY LIST
Head to the polls (verb phrase) /hɛd tə ðə poʊlz/: To go vote in an election
Australians will head to the polls on 3 May.Tight race (noun phrase) /taɪt reɪs/: A very close competition
This federal election is expected to be a tight race.Cost of living (noun) /kɒst əv ˈlɪvɪŋ/: The amount of money needed to cover basic expenses
The cost of living is a big issue for voters.Single-term government (noun phrase) /ˈsɪŋɡəl tɜm ˈɡʌvənmənt/: A government that only lasts one term in office
Labor wants to avoid becoming a single-term government.Step backwards (noun phrase) /stɛp ˈbækwədz/: A return to a worse situation
Albanese said voting for Dutton would be a step backwards.Wasteful spending (noun phrase) /ˈweɪstfəl ˈspɛndɪŋ/: Using money in a careless or unnecessary way
Dutton said he would stop wasteful spending.Minority government (noun phrase) /maɪˈnɒrəti ˈɡʌvənmənt/: A government without a majority of seats
The Greens say a minority government is coming.Compulsory voting (noun phrase) /kəmˈpʌlsəri ˈvoʊtɪŋ/: A law that requires citizens to vote
Australia has compulsory voting for adults.Carbon cap (noun) /ˈkɑbən kæp/: A limit on the amount of carbon pollution
Labor introduced a carbon cap for big polluters.Cultural warrior (noun) /ˈkʌltʃərəl ˈwɒriə/: Someone who strongly supports certain cultural or political ideas
Dutton has been described as a cultural warrior.ARTICLE
Australia will have a federal election on 3 May, and many think it will be a very close race.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the election date on Friday from Parliament House. His Labor Party is trying to keep a small majority in parliament. Recent polls show that Labor and the opposition, the Liberal-National Coalition, are very close. This means they might need to work with smaller parties or independent MPs to form a government.
The main issue of the campaign will be the rising cost of living. Labor wants to avoid being the first single-term government to lose an election in nearly 100 years.
At his press conference, Albanese said he will keep working to make life more affordable. He has already promised more free healthcare, help with student debt, and small tax cuts. He said that voting for opposition leader Peter Dutton would be a step backwards.
“This election is a choice between Labor’s plan to keep building, or Peter Dutton’s promise to cut,” Albanese said. He described his campaign as one of “hope and optimism,” while saying Dutton’s was “all about fear.”
Dutton disagrees. He said Australia is worse off than three years ago and that Labor’s decisions have made things harder. He promised to lower fuel and energy prices, reduce immigration, and stop wasteful government spending.
The Greens, who won more seats than ever before in the last election, say they want to keep Labor honest on issues like the environment and housing.
Many voters are worried about housing prices, grocery costs, and healthcare. Concerns about immigration and crime are also growing. Climate change remains important for many people.
In Australia, voting is compulsory for adults. To form a majority government, a party must win at least 76 out of 150 seats in the House of Representatives.
Anthony Albanese became prime minister in 2022 after a long period of political instability, with six leaders in eight years. He promised unity and action on climate change. His government made a new law to cut emissions and added a carbon cap for big polluters.
However, one of his biggest goals—recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution—failed at a referendum in 2023.
He also faced criticism for buying a $4.3 million house during a housing crisis. Rising global costs have made life harder for Australians and caused many leaders around the world to lose elections.
Peter Dutton, a former police officer, has been in parliament for over 20 years. He is known for tough views, especially on immigration, but is now trying to show a softer side.
Australians haven’t voted out a government after just one term since 1931—so this election could be one for the history books.
SOURCE:
This article is based on: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj02033n18go
Reflection Questions
Instructions:
Use these questions as:
– Speaking practice (e.g. talk to yourself, record and listen back)
– Writing practice (e.g. short paragraph answers)
– Class discussion with your teacher or classmates
What do you know about elections in your home country? Are they similar to Australia’s?
What problems in your daily life would you like politicians to fix?
Do you think it's important to vote? Why or why not?
What kind of leader do you think Australia needs right now?
Have you heard political promises before? Did they come true?
Comprehension activity - multiple choice
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