This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-48305001
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 2019 Australia election: 'Generational issues' dominate vote | 2019 Australia election: 'Generational issues' dominate vote |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Australians will vote on Saturday in the first general election since brutal party infighting ousted the nation's fourth leader in a decade. | Australians will vote on Saturday in the first general election since brutal party infighting ousted the nation's fourth leader in a decade. |
| PM Scott Morrison says he has united his conservative government in the nine months since he replaced Malcolm Turnbull. | PM Scott Morrison says he has united his conservative government in the nine months since he replaced Malcolm Turnbull. |
| Labor opposition leader Bill Shorten has pressed his case with stark policy alternatives. | Labor opposition leader Bill Shorten has pressed his case with stark policy alternatives. |
| Australia has mandatory voting and a record 16.4 million enrolled voters. | Australia has mandatory voting and a record 16.4 million enrolled voters. |
| The nation holds elections every three years, but no prime minister has succeeded in serving a full term since 2007. | The nation holds elections every three years, but no prime minister has succeeded in serving a full term since 2007. |
| The poll will take place just two days after the death of Bob Hawke, a long-serving former prime minister whose achievements have been hailed across the political spectrum. | The poll will take place just two days after the death of Bob Hawke, a long-serving former prime minister whose achievements have been hailed across the political spectrum. |
| What are the key issues? | What are the key issues? |
| Surveys have shown that the economy, cost of living, environment and health are central concerns for voters. | Surveys have shown that the economy, cost of living, environment and health are central concerns for voters. |
| It is in many ways a generational issue election, experts say, with younger people in particular voicing frustration about climate change and a lack of affordable housing. | It is in many ways a generational issue election, experts say, with younger people in particular voicing frustration about climate change and a lack of affordable housing. |
| Others have argued that older Australians would be most affected by tax reform proposals that have dominated much of the campaign. | Others have argued that older Australians would be most affected by tax reform proposals that have dominated much of the campaign. |
| It follows fierce debates in the past year about the rolling leadership turmoil, formal recognition of indigenous Australians, and the treatment of female MPs in parliament. | It follows fierce debates in the past year about the rolling leadership turmoil, formal recognition of indigenous Australians, and the treatment of female MPs in parliament. |
| Who are the contenders? | Who are the contenders? |
| As the Liberal-National government seeks its third term, Mr Morrison claims to have healed bitter internal divisions that brought down Mr Turnbull. | As the Liberal-National government seeks its third term, Mr Morrison claims to have healed bitter internal divisions that brought down Mr Turnbull. |
| He has campaigned primarily on economic issues, often doing so alone while painting the election as a choice between himself and Mr Shorten. | He has campaigned primarily on economic issues, often doing so alone while painting the election as a choice between himself and Mr Shorten. |
| Mr Shorten, who has led Labor for six years, has instead emphasised his team's stability and policies on climate change, cost of living and health. | Mr Shorten, who has led Labor for six years, has instead emphasised his team's stability and policies on climate change, cost of living and health. |
| Also vying for support are minor parties including the Greens, One Nation and the United Australia Party, as well as a raft of independents. | Also vying for support are minor parties including the Greens, One Nation and the United Australia Party, as well as a raft of independents. |
| Crunch time after fierce campaign | Crunch time after fierce campaign |
| By Hywel Griffith, BBC News Australia correspondent | By Hywel Griffith, BBC News Australia correspondent |
| Australians follow the maxim often attributed to Al Capone: "Vote early - and vote often." | Australians follow the maxim often attributed to Al Capone: "Vote early - and vote often." |
| The rapid cycle of state and federal elections means it is never too long before people have to head back to the polling booths. | The rapid cycle of state and federal elections means it is never too long before people have to head back to the polling booths. |
| And given that it is compulsory to take part, many like to get voting out of the way nice and early so that they can get on with their weekend. | And given that it is compulsory to take part, many like to get voting out of the way nice and early so that they can get on with their weekend. |
| This time around the campaign has been fierce, but it has produced few surprises - even an attempt to egg the prime minister didn't reveal any cracks. | This time around the campaign has been fierce, but it has produced few surprises - even an attempt to egg the prime minister didn't reveal any cracks. |
| If Scott Morrison does survive the vote, he'll be revered as a one-man election-winning machine, who fought and won largely on his own. | If Scott Morrison does survive the vote, he'll be revered as a one-man election-winning machine, who fought and won largely on his own. |
| If he loses, Australia will have its fourth prime minister in just four years. | If he loses, Australia will have its fourth prime minister in just four years. |
| How does the vote work? | How does the vote work? |
| Australian elections always take place on Saturdays. This time about 7,000 polling stations will be set up across the nation, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) says. | Australian elections always take place on Saturdays. This time about 7,000 polling stations will be set up across the nation, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) says. |
| But people can vote early at pre-polling stations, and a record number - more than four million people - have elected to do so in 2019. | But people can vote early at pre-polling stations, and a record number - more than four million people - have elected to do so in 2019. |
| Because voting is compulsory, anyone aged over 18 faces a A$20 (£11; $14) fine for not taking part. | Because voting is compulsory, anyone aged over 18 faces a A$20 (£11; $14) fine for not taking part. |
| At the last election, 95% of Australians voted - a much higher proportion than the most recent US (55%) and UK (69%) polls. | At the last election, 95% of Australians voted - a much higher proportion than the most recent US (55%) and UK (69%) polls. |
| Who will win? | Who will win? |
| Opinion polls have consistently put Labor in front on a two-party preferred basis, but the gap has narrowed closer to the election. | Opinion polls have consistently put Labor in front on a two-party preferred basis, but the gap has narrowed closer to the election. |
| This is despite the same measures showing that Mr Shorten trails Mr Morrison as preferred prime minister. | This is despite the same measures showing that Mr Shorten trails Mr Morrison as preferred prime minister. |
| Voting closes on Saturday at 1800 local time in each Australian state and territory - the first results will be expected soon afterwards. | |
| If you have a question about the Australian election you can send it to us via the form below. | If you have a question about the Australian election you can send it to us via the form below. |