Australian Federal Election Officially Called for May 3

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has formally initiated the election process, with energy policy and economic issues shaping the five-week campaign.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Governor-General Sam Mostyn to request the dissolution of Parliament and set May 3 as the polling date.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's budget reply speech introduced a controversial gas reservation scheme and proposed reversing the addition of 41,000 public servants to save $7 billion annually.
Energy policy and tax cuts are expected to dominate the campaign, with both parties focusing on cost-of-living concerns and economic priorities.
The election announcement follows a delay caused by Cyclone Alfred earlier this month, which disrupted initial plans for an April polling date.
Federal police have highlighted escalating security risks for politicians, including threats of violence, as the campaign begins.