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| Australia election announced: 10 things to know about the poll | Australia election announced: 10 things to know about the poll |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Australians will vote in a general election on 18 May, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced. | Australians will vote in a general election on 18 May, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced. |
| The poll will decide whether the conservative government wins a third term or is replaced by a Labor administration led by Bill Shorten. | The poll will decide whether the conservative government wins a third term or is replaced by a Labor administration led by Bill Shorten. |
| All 150 seats in the House of Representatives will be contested, and half of the 76 seats in the Senate. | All 150 seats in the House of Representatives will be contested, and half of the 76 seats in the Senate. |
| The election is expected to be hotly contested in several areas including climate change and the economy. | |
| "[The election] will determine the economy that Australians live in, not just for the next three years, but for the next decade," Mr Morrison said at a press conference on Thursday. | |
| "We live in the best country in the world, but to secure your future, the road ahead depends on a strong economy," he said. "That is why there is so much at stake." | |
| Here are some key things to know about the vote. | |
| 1. Voting in the election is compulsory | 1. Voting in the election is compulsory |
| Unlike many other global democracies, Australia has mandatory voting for people aged 18 and over - or they risk a fine. | Unlike many other global democracies, Australia has mandatory voting for people aged 18 and over - or they risk a fine. |
| It ensures a high turnout: 95% of people voted in Australia's last election. The most recent US and UK elections, by contrast, drew an estimated 55% and 66% respectively. | It ensures a high turnout: 95% of people voted in Australia's last election. The most recent US and UK elections, by contrast, drew an estimated 55% and 66% respectively. |
| Advocates say it depolarises the vote and reduces the influence of lobby groups, though critics dispute this. | Advocates say it depolarises the vote and reduces the influence of lobby groups, though critics dispute this. |
| 2. Leadership 'madness' may haunt the government | 2. Leadership 'madness' may haunt the government |
| Mr Morrison only became prime minister last August after bitter party infighting ousted his predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull. | Mr Morrison only became prime minister last August after bitter party infighting ousted his predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull. |
| In doing so, Mr Morrison became Australia's fifth leader since 2013. | In doing so, Mr Morrison became Australia's fifth leader since 2013. |
| "It was a peculiarly Australian form of madness," Mr Turnbull told the BBC in March, speaking about a coup culture which began with Labor in 2010. | "It was a peculiarly Australian form of madness," Mr Turnbull told the BBC in March, speaking about a coup culture which began with Labor in 2010. |
| It's likely to harm the government's standing with voters, predicts Prof Sally Young, a politics expert from the University of Melbourne. | It's likely to harm the government's standing with voters, predicts Prof Sally Young, a politics expert from the University of Melbourne. |
| "They're sick of the sniping and undermining," she says. "Knifing a leader - it never goes down well." | "They're sick of the sniping and undermining," she says. "Knifing a leader - it never goes down well." |
| 3. Climate change could sway votes - but to what extent? | 3. Climate change could sway votes - but to what extent? |
| Australia has just endured a year of extreme weather events, including destructive floods, bushfires, cyclones and a severe drought. The past summer was the nation's hottest on record. | Australia has just endured a year of extreme weather events, including destructive floods, bushfires, cyclones and a severe drought. The past summer was the nation's hottest on record. |
| It has made climate change a key election issue in some seats, experts say. | It has made climate change a key election issue in some seats, experts say. |
| Last year, the government scrapped plans to set an emissions reduction target in legislation - prompting fierce criticism. | Last year, the government scrapped plans to set an emissions reduction target in legislation - prompting fierce criticism. |
| "Australia's lack of action [on climate change] internationally is becoming more recognised within this country," says Prof Young. | "Australia's lack of action [on climate change] internationally is becoming more recognised within this country," says Prof Young. |
| The University of Sydney's Prof Marc Stears agrees, but says it's unclear how it widely it will affect voting decisions. | The University of Sydney's Prof Marc Stears agrees, but says it's unclear how it widely it will affect voting decisions. |
| 4. In many ways, the main battle lines are familiar | 4. In many ways, the main battle lines are familiar |
| Prof Stears says the major parties are already talking up their traditional strengths. That's subjects like jobs and infrastructure for the government, and health and education for Labor. | Prof Stears says the major parties are already talking up their traditional strengths. That's subjects like jobs and infrastructure for the government, and health and education for Labor. |
| They will compete fiercely on economic issues, with both parties promising policies aimed at reducing the cost of living, | They will compete fiercely on economic issues, with both parties promising policies aimed at reducing the cost of living, |
| Although Australia's economy is the envy of many countries, wages growth is flat, and there is a generational split in attitudes to house prices. | Although Australia's economy is the envy of many countries, wages growth is flat, and there is a generational split in attitudes to house prices. |
| 5. There's much talk about a north-south divide | 5. There's much talk about a north-south divide |
| Mr Morrison is overseeing a minority government, meaning he can ill afford to lose support anywhere in the country. | Mr Morrison is overseeing a minority government, meaning he can ill afford to lose support anywhere in the country. |
| Political observers say he faces challenges from the left and right - a debate that is often framed in geographical terms. | Political observers say he faces challenges from the left and right - a debate that is often framed in geographical terms. |
| In the northern state of Queensland, experts say the government fears losing votes to more socially conservative minor parties and independents. | In the northern state of Queensland, experts say the government fears losing votes to more socially conservative minor parties and independents. |
| But in Victoria in the south, the electorate is perceived as more progressive. It delivered a resounding victory to Labor in a state election five months ago. | But in Victoria in the south, the electorate is perceived as more progressive. It delivered a resounding victory to Labor in a state election five months ago. |
| 6. Will migration and refugee debates resurface? | 6. Will migration and refugee debates resurface? |
| During past elections, Australia's major parties have employed tough rhetoric on immigration issues - particularly regarding asylum seekers. | During past elections, Australia's major parties have employed tough rhetoric on immigration issues - particularly regarding asylum seekers. |
| It has often been used to appear strong on issues such as national security, says Prof Stears. | It has often been used to appear strong on issues such as national security, says Prof Stears. |
| That debate resurfaced in February, however, Prof Stears believes that last month's New Zealand mosque attacks may see politicians tone down such rhetoric. | That debate resurfaced in February, however, Prof Stears believes that last month's New Zealand mosque attacks may see politicians tone down such rhetoric. |
| 7. There are signs of support for minor parties | 7. There are signs of support for minor parties |
| Prof Young says there is some public cynicism about the major parties, pointing to possible increases in support for other candidates. | Prof Young says there is some public cynicism about the major parties, pointing to possible increases in support for other candidates. |
| High-profile independent candidates have entered key races, and in New South Wales, a recent state election saw rises in minor party support in rural electorates. | High-profile independent candidates have entered key races, and in New South Wales, a recent state election saw rises in minor party support in rural electorates. |
| 8. Is there a risk of foreign interference? | 8. Is there a risk of foreign interference? |
| In February, Mr Morrison said a "state actor" had carried out a cyber attack on the parliament and political parties. | In February, Mr Morrison said a "state actor" had carried out a cyber attack on the parliament and political parties. |
| Authorities said there was no evidence of electoral interference, but security experts have urged vigilance. | Authorities said there was no evidence of electoral interference, but security experts have urged vigilance. |
| Concerns about alleged foreign interference prompted Australia to introduce new laws last year. | Concerns about alleged foreign interference prompted Australia to introduce new laws last year. |
| 9. Citizenship checks should be water-tight | 9. Citizenship checks should be water-tight |
| In 2017, several MPs were disqualified for unintentionally breaking a rule that lawmakers cannot be dual citizens when elected. | In 2017, several MPs were disqualified for unintentionally breaking a rule that lawmakers cannot be dual citizens when elected. |
| Fifteen parliamentarians were ousted, though six later managed to return after relinquishing their non-Australian citizenships. | Fifteen parliamentarians were ousted, though six later managed to return after relinquishing their non-Australian citizenships. |
| The saga sparked comprehensive checks of MPs' statuses. | The saga sparked comprehensive checks of MPs' statuses. |
| 10. What do the opinion polls say? | 10. What do the opinion polls say? |
| Opinion polls in recent times have consistently put Labor in front on a two-party preferred basis. | Opinion polls in recent times have consistently put Labor in front on a two-party preferred basis. |
| However, those measures also say that Mr Morrison leads Mr Shorten as preferred prime minister. | However, those measures also say that Mr Morrison leads Mr Shorten as preferred prime minister. |