Australian voters head to polls in close-run election
The Hindu
Rising living costs, climate change, national security and integrity dominated campaign.
Australians vote in a national election on Saturday, with opinion polls showing the opposition Labor Party narrowly ahead of the ruling conservative coalition although a strong showing by climate-focused independents could lead to a hung parliament.
Centre-left Labor held a decent lead going into the campaign after nine years in opposition, but recent polls showed Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Liberal-National government narrowing the gap in the final stretch of a tough, six-week campaign.
In-person voting at polling booths in suburban schools, beachside pavilions and outback halls opens at 8 a.m. (2200 GMT on Friday) and will close at 6 p.m. (0800 GMT).
Mr. Morrison and Opposition leader Anthony Albanese made whistle-stop tours across marginal seats in the final two days of a campaign dominated by rising living costs, climate change, national security and integrity.
As Labor focussed on spiking inflation and sluggish wages growth, Mr. Morrison has made the country's lowest unemployment numbers in almost half a century the centrepiece of his campaign's final hours. Inflation has risen twice as fast as wages keeping real income in the red.
While the economy is a key issue, several so-called "teal independents" are challenging key Liberal held seats, campaigning for action on climate change after some of the worst floods and fires to hit Australia.
In the outgoing parliament, the Liberal-National coalition held 76 of the 151 lower house seats, while Labor held 68, with seven minor party and independent members.
With a new government in place in Delhi, Singapore hopes to schedule the Ministerial Roundtable with India shortly, says Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. In an exclusive interview, he speaks about the impact of the elections on ties, the “missed opportunity” of RCEP and the new buzz around Andhra Pradesh’s capital Amaravati.