Latest news with #LiberalandNational
Sky News AU
28-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Former prime minister Scott Morrison breaks silence on Coalition loss, urges unity and return to core economic values
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has broken his silence following the Coalition's federal election loss, urging the Liberal and National parties to return to their core values. In his first interview since the defeat, Mr Morrison told Sky News the Coalition's path back to government must include lower taxes, strong national defence and essential services. 'It has always been the heritage of the Liberal and National parties to stand for lower tax, stronger national security, an economy that can support essential services like health, education, the NDIS,' he said. 'People want to have aspiration. They want to get ahead. They want to see defence and national security ensure that we can have a peaceful region. 'All of that depends on a strong economy. That always remains the core message, I think, of the Coalition.' Mr Morrison declined to offer direct commentary on what went wrong during the election campaign, which saw the Coalition record one of its worst results in decades. Former opposition leader Peter Dutton has faced heavy criticism for the Coalition's lack of economic messaging during the campaign. During the federal budget week, Treasurer Jim Chalmers surprised voters with tax cuts — a move that the Coalition struggled to counter. Political observers noted the opposition lacked a clear counter proposal, eventually offering a $1,200 tax offset weeks into the campaign. Mr Morrison said the Liberal–National Coalition's strength has historically come from clarity on economic management and national security. 'We're an entrepreneurial, free country that supports people to get on and make their own futures, and I think we've always been the party that stood for that,' he said. He acknowledged that political attitudes, particularly post-COVID, have led to voters expecting more security and support from government. However, he warned against allowing these expectations to override the party's economic philosophy. 'People are seeing, often, their economic security these days more in government shielding them from economic cycles, rather than the policies that help them get ahead,' he said. Mr Morrison praised newly appointed Liberal leader Susan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud, saying he remained confident in their ability to rebuild the Coalition. 'There's always tensions in the Coalition… but you work through them together. I think that's what Sussan in particular has done, and I commend her for doing it,' he said. Ms Ley and Mr Littleproud have since reached a renewed Coalition agreement, following a temporary split.
The Independent
28-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Australia to hold general elections on 3 May as Albanese seeks second term
Australians will cast their votes on 3 May to elect a government in an election heavily dominated by the cost-of-living crisis and shortage of housing. Prime minister Anthony Albanese, who seeks a second three-year term in office, drove to governor-general Sam Mostyn's official residence on Friday to trigger the election. He later announced the date at a news conference at Parliament House. "Over the last few years, the world has thrown a lot at Australia in uncertain times," the prime minister told reporters. "Because of the strength and resilience that our people have shown, Australia is turning the corner. Now, on May 3, you choose the way forward." Experts and opinion polls predict a slim margin between the two major parties, with opposition leader Peter Dutton 's conservative coalition expected to pick up more seats in the House of Representatives. "Our government has chosen to face global challenges the Australian way - helping people under cost-of-living pressure, while building for the future," he added. Mr Albanese's Labor Party won a majority at the last federal election in 2022 and is hoping to return for a consecutive second term. An Australian government has not been ousted after a single term since 1931, when the nation was grappling with the Great Depression. But Australian governments almost always lose ground in their second election and Labor only holds 77 of the 151 seats in the House of Representatives, where governments need a majority. Redistributions mean there will be only 150 seats after the next election. One likely outcome is a minority government supported by independent or minor party legislators. The 2022 election brought a record 19 lawmakers who were not aligned with either the government or opposition into the parliament. Unaligned lawmakers could be crucial to whether Labor or Mr Dutton's conservative Liberal Party forms Australia's first minority election since the 2010 election. Mr Albanese has announced a slew of measures aimed at pleasing families and businesses in recent months, including tax cuts in Tuesday's budget, with the rising cost of living in the country set to dominate the campaign. On Friday, Albanese focused his campaign attack on the opposition Liberal and National coalition, saying it would axe government programmes and revoke modest new tax cuts passed by parliament. Mr Dutton has campaigned on a housing crisis that he says is putting home ownership out of reach, and on Friday he said cutting permanent migration by 25 per cent will create more homes. Reducing energy costs for small businesses and households would be at the centre of his government if elected, Mr Dutton told reporters. "If energy is unaffordable and unreliable, it is a disaster for the economy," he said, criticising Labor's transition to renewable energy. A Liberal and National government would reserve gas that isn't already under export contract to meet Australian demand, to reduce electricity prices for manufacturers and supermarkets, he said. "It's important that we honour our overseas export contracts but equally its important to ensure that we can take care of Australians first," he said. Mr Dutton also plans to adopt nuclear power in the country. He has promised a cut to fuel excise that he said would bring faster relief to households as they fill up the car, compared to Labor's tax cuts that start next year. Both leaders have promised an extra A$8.5bn (£4.13bn) over four years to shore up the country's public healthcare system. Another issue in the campaign will be which leader would best handle relations with US president Donald Trump, who imposed steel and aluminium tariffs that affect Australian exports. Mr Trump is expected to announce a further round of tariffs on trade partners next week. Albanese said his government had been "engaging on a daily basis" with the Trump administration over tariffs, and pointed to his two phone calls with the US president and early meetings between the two countries' defence and foreign ministers.
