Thursday, 3 April 2025
Stories and events of the Kaurareg homeland of Kaiwalagal, the Torres Strait homeland and Cape York homelands of the Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaykenu and Gudang Peoples.
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Cost of living prominent in ‘tight’ federal election race BY VELMA GARA & CHRISTINE HOWES
Pic supplied.
Warm welcome for volunteer vets from Waru and Snowy Thursday Island Animal Support Group Inc (TIASG) held its 14th vet clinic late last month, thanks to volunteer friends Vets Beyond Borders. The vet team saw almost 130 animals during the five days of consultations.
Volunteers Kristy Cummings and AnneRita Gela are pictured above with Waru and Snowy, who help welcome clients to the clinic. Full story & more pics on PAGE 4 N
The 2025 federal election will be held on Saturday 3 May. Monash University’s School of Social Sciences Head of Politics and International Relations Discipline Dr Zareh Ghazarian said it would be a “very tight electoral race”. “Opinion polls have been signalling that Labor has been losing support,” he said. “Labor can’t afford to lose seats as it won government with a very slim majority in 2022. “It’s not all rosy for the opposition either. “Peter Dutton is leading the Coalition which lost 18 seats at the last election, including heartland seats in Melbourne and Sydney. “The Liberal Party, in particular, must hold onto all its seats and win others, especially metropolitan electorates, if the opposition has any chance of winning majority government.”
He said the Greens and Independents were also facing challenges. “After winning several seats in 2022, the pressure will be on them to retain their electorates within the context of a political debate in which cost of living is prominent,” he said. “‘If neither major party wins enough seats, the Independent and minor party MPs will ultimately determine who can form government and who will become prime minister.” Dr Ghazarian said the budget would also play a role. “With cost of living on everyone’s lips, Labor’s Budget this week becomes a very important background to the campaign,” he said. “Labor will discuss its tax cuts, while the Coalition will discuss reducing fuel prices.” La Trobe University Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy Professor Andrea Carson said Australians were moving away from the
two major parties in a long-term trend. “One-third of voters will be voting for an Independent or a minor party and we’re not seeing any disruption to this trend,” she said.
Foreign Policy La Trobe University Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of International Relations Professor Nick Bisley said foreign policy wasn’t normally an issue in federal elections. “But the volatility and uncertainty in the world – from the war in Ukraine to Trump’s chaotic first weeks in office – mean this time international issues will be a key electoral battleground,” he said. “The ALP and the Coalition will argue that they are better placed to keep Australia secure in dangerous times. “How effectively they can prosecute this argument will be key to determining the election outcome.” Continued PAGE 8 N
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