&w=3840&q=100)
Australia election: Can Dutton replace Albanese as PM? Polls close, counting of votes begins
The almost universal consensus across a slew of opinion polls leading up to election day was that Albanese's governing Labour Party would win a second term read more
A woman walks past electoral placards outside a pre-polling place in the seat of Bennelong, Sydney, Australia. Reuters
Most of Australia has voted for its next government after polling stations closed at 6 pm AET(1:30 pm IST) in the eastern states. Now, all eyes are on the results, which will be displayed soon by the Australian Election Commission in real-time after the counting begins later today.
This year's elections were swayed by issues like cost of living, climate anxiety and US President Donald Trump's tariffs. While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has taken a tough stance against Trump's trade measures, his main contender, Peter Dutton went soft on the US president and has been heavily criticised for it.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Later today, both leaders will address their respective parties in Sydney and Brisbane as the Australian Electoral Commission tallies votes.
The almost universal consensus across a slew of opinion polls leading up to election day was that Albanese's governing Labour Party would win a second term.
'The holy grail is back-to-back wins that we're aiming for today,' Albanese told Channel Seven.
'I'll leave nothing on the field over the next three years if I'm re-elected as Australia's prime minister.'
Some polls have shown Dutton losing support to Albanese because of Trump, whom he praised this year as a 'big thinker' with 'gravitas' on the global stage.
The ruling centre-left Labour Party has branded the opposition leader 'DOGE-y Dutton' and accused his party of mimicking Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency.
Not just the US, but China has also emerged as a key point of contention between the two parties with Albanese claiming that his government had improved relations with Beijing, which removed a series of official and unofficial trade barriers that had cost Australian exporters 20 billion Australian dollars ($13 billion) a year since Labor came to power in 2022.
The election is taking place against a backdrop of what both sides of politics describe as a cost-of-living crisis.
Foodbank Australia, the nation's largest food relief charity, reported that 3.4 million households in the country of 27 million people experienced food insecurity last year.
The Australian House of Representatives is made up of 150 members, each representing a specific region of the country. Members serve a term of three years. To form a majority government and choose a prime minister, a party or coalition must win at least 76 seats.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
With inputs from agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Los Angeles protests turn violent; Trump deploys hundreds of National Guard troops: What triggered the outrage?
AP photo Tensions flared in Los Angeles on Sunday as demonstrators clashed with police and set cars ablaze, protesting a series of immigration raids and the controversial deployment of National Guard troops by United States President Donald Trump. The unrest marked the third consecutive day of protests in California's most populous city. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, which resulted in the arrests of several individuals alleged to be undocumented immigrants and gang members, have sparked outrage in the city's large Latino community. The daylight raids and the federal response have only added fuel to the fire. A car burns during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP photo) California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned Trump's move to bypass state authority and activate National Guard units without his consent. 'We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved,' Newsom wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 'This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California.' A protestor is detained in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP photo) Here are the top 10 things to know about the LA protest: Protesters torched vehicles and disrupted traffic, while law enforcement responded with flash-bangs and smoke grenades to disperse crowds from key areas. At least three self-driving Waymo vehicles were set on fire, with two others vandalised, highlighting anger at both immigration policy and Silicon Valley's presence. A major freeway was blocked for over an hour as protesters took to the roads before being pushed back by the California Highway Patrol . Soldiers from California's 79th Infantry Brigade were stationed across the city, wearing full camouflage and armed with live rounds, prompting criticism that their presence was more about intimidation than order. Trump defended his decision, suggesting a broader deployment of troops may follow. He also hinted at invoking the Insurrection Act, which permits military use in domestic unrest. US Northern Command confirmed that around 500 Marines were in a "prepared to deploy" state to support federal operations if needed. Leading Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, slammed the deployment as a "dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos". House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump's action, accusing governor Newsom of failing to maintain law and order in the state. Many demonstrators said the Guard's presence was a scare tactic. 'These protests have been peaceful,' protester Thomas Henning told news agency AFP. 'It's intimidation, plain and simple," he added. Despite the unrest, a CBS News poll taken before the protests showed that a slight majority of Americans supported the ongoing immigration crackdown.
News18
29 minutes ago
- News18
'Tired, Stressed': Errol Musk Blames ‘PTSD' For His Son's Public Fallout With Donald Trump
Last Updated: According to Errol Musk, the two individuals have been under stress for the past five months, with the bill serving as the breaking point that escalated their tensions. Tech billionaire Elon Musk's father, Errol Musk has claimed that his son's outburst against US President Donald Trump was a result of 'PTSD' incurred during his time in the White House, adding that his son erred by confronting Trump, who he believed was ultimately going to win their contentious dispute. The senior Musk made the remark in Moscow, where he is expected to address a forum organised by Vladimir Putin's closest aides. The Tesla CEO and the Republican leader had a bitter, public fall out after the former criticised the Trump administration's recent 'Big, Beautiful Bill." 'So they had an argument about that [bill], and as they are all suffering from a bit of PTSD, a post-traumatic stress disorder over the last few months, they started hitting out at each other," Errol Said as reported by Metro. 'But unfortunately, he doesn't realise that in order to get their votes in the Senate and the Congress, Trump has to do that," he added. According to Musk Sr, the two prominent figures had been under considerable stress for the past five months, with the bill serving as the breaking point that escalated their tensions. 'They are the only two people left in the arena, Trump and Elon, and all they were used to was fighting with the opposition. They've been under a lot of stress for five months. And it gives them a break. You know, they've had to get rid of all the opposition, try and put the country back on track, and do normal things and so forth," Errol said. Musk-Trump Feud Once close allies, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are now locked in a public feud that has rapidly escalated. The fallout began after Musk strongly criticised Trump's sweeping tax and domestic policy bill, calling it a 'disgusting abomination". What began as a policy disagreement quickly became personal, with both sides exchanging insults online and in private meetings. Musk even resurfaced old quotes from Trump and GOP leaders about spending and deficits, further fuelling tensions. In response, Trump suggested severing federal ties with Musk's companies. Just weeks ago, Musk was still being honoured as a trusted advisor to the administration; now, the relationship appears to have completely broken down. First Published: June 09, 2025, 07:44 IST
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
China's factory-gate deflation worst in 22 months as economic headwinds mount
China's producer price deflation worsened in May, hitting a near two-year low, while consumer prices continued to decline amid trade tensions and a housing slump. Uncertainties from the U.S. tariff war and weak domestic consumption have fueled expectations of further policy stimulus. Cooling factory activity and cautious household spending are impacting the economy. Cooling factory activity highlights the impact of U.S. tariffs on the world's largest manufacturing hub, dampening faster services growth as suspense lingers over the outcome of U.S.-China trade talks set to resume in London on Monday. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads China's producer deflation deepened to its worst level in almost two years in May while consumer prices extended declines, as the economy grappled with headwinds from trade tensions and a prolonged housing from a tariff war with the United States and weak consumption at home have rattled sentiment and fuelled expectations of more policy stimulus to combat deflationary producer price index fell 3.3% in May from a year earlier, worse than a 2.7% decline in April and the deepest contraction in 22 months, National Bureau of Statistics data showed on Monday. That compared with an estimated 3.2% fall in a Reuters factory activity highlights the impact of U.S. tariffs on the world's largest manufacturing hub, dampening faster services growth as suspense lingers over the outcome of U.S.-China trade talks set to resume in London on a phone call on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussed trade tensions and critical minerals, leaving key issues for further consumer price index dipped 0.1% last month from a year earlier, after falling by the same amount in April and slightly better than a Reuters poll forecast of a 0.2% slid 0.2% on a monthly basis, compared with a 0.1% increase in April, and matched economists' predictions of a 0.2% sales growth slowed last month as spending continued to lag amid job insecurity and stagnant new home prices despite a recent raft of support households cautious about spending due to income pressures, some companies have resorted to price discounts to boost sales, prompting the authorities to urge an end to the auto industry's bruising price core inflation measure, excluding volatile food and fuel prices, registered a 0.6% year-on-year rise, slightly faster than a 0.5% increase in April.
