Anthony Albanese has called for federal parliamentary terms to be extended from three years to four, as he begins campaigning ahead of the upcoming election.
A Roy Morgan poll on Tuesday showed the Albanese government facing a wipeout – with the Coalition ahead 53 per cent to Labor’s 47 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis.
Appearing on Channel Seven’s Sunrise on Tuesday, Mr Albanese indicated a re-elected Labor would pursue longer parliamentary terms, and ending the right of government’s to call early polls.
‘We should have four-year fixed terms, like they do in most states and territories, to avoid these games (on election dates).’
But any such change would require a successful referendum – something the government would be less than confident about after the failure of its Voice referendum.
Mr Albanese was asked by Sunrise host Michael Usher about when he plans to hold the next election, amid growing speculation that April 12 is firming as his preferred date.
‘(The date) will be May 17 or before,’ the Prime Minister responded, with the May date being the latest possible.
Mr Albanese is this week touring battleground electorates in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western , indicating the election date will be sooner rather than later.
He will begin Tuesday in Rockhampton, central Queensland, before heading north to Cairns and west to Mount Isa.
Cost-of-living pressures will be a key election issue, with untamed inflation, high mortgage rates and rental prices all corroding support for the government.
Usher confronted Mr Albanese with some stark figures about the economy under his government.
‘You need about $1 million to afford a house. Energy prices have gone up 14 per cent in the last 12 months,’ he said.
‘General insurance costs are up 16 per cent. There is no guarantee of a rate cut. Petrol is sitting around $2 a litre.
‘Iron ore is down and the dollar is weak. What are you worried about with the economy?’
Mr Albanese attributed economic challenges to global factors but said the economy is moving in the right direction under Labor.
He also highlighted the government’s achievement of two consecutive budget surpluses.
‘We have real wages increasing, that is wages are increasing by more than inflation in the last four quarters,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘But we understand and are certainly not complacent about it.
‘That is why at each and every opportunity we have looked for ways to address cost of living, to address those pressures that are on families whilst putting that downward pressure on inflation.’
But Usher warned Mr Albanese that voters were not convinced.
‘You’re going to have to pull some fast levers to convince the electorate that they’re feeling better off because most people feel like they’re going backwards,’ he said.
Mr Albanese said people would have been worse off under the Coalition.
He also attacked Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s $330billion bid to set up seven nuclear reactors in order to cut energy costs.
‘Under the Coalition, we will go backwards, under Peter Dutton and things will cost more,’ he said.
‘The only plan they have put forward is for nuclear reactors that will cost $1,200 for every n.’