Cyclone Derails PM’s April 12 Election Plan
The prime minister has decided against calling an election for April 12, citing his focus on the needs of Australians following Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Rumors had circulated that Anthony Albanese would schedule the election by visiting the governor-general on March 9 or March 10.
However, with Tropical Cyclone Alfred affecting southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales, he has dismissed these speculations.
“My priority is not elections, it’s the people and the Australians during this challenging time, and I will not do anything to divert attention from that,” he stated on the ABC’s 7.30pm show on March 7.
“I am not focused on calling an election, my focus is on the needs of Australians, that is my main concern.
“I have no plans to do anything that takes away from what we need to do, which is to support each other during this difficult time,” Albanese added.
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“This is not a time for political considerations,” he emphasized.
Albanese also confirmed that the 2025/26 federal budget scheduled for March 25 will proceed as planned.
“I have consistently stated that we will present a budget on March 25, and that remains my clear intention,” he remarked.
Possible election dates in April are limited due to the Easter and Anzac Day holidays.
Although the deadline for the election is May 17, May 3 is currently a likely alternative.
On March 7, YouGov polling indicated that the federal government leads the coalition by 51 percent to 49 percent in the two-party preferred vote, marking the first time in eight months.
Labor has not been ahead in the polls since July 2024, when it trailed the opposition 49 percent to 51 percent.
The improvement has been attributed to Labor’s recent announcement of a multi-billion dollar Medicare boost and the prime minister’s support for Ukraine.
