The opposition party in Australia has abandoned its controversial election vows to end remote work arrangements for government officials and to lay off tens of thousands of government employees, after its popularity declined in recent polls.
Centre-right, Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton conceded on Monday that these offers constituted an “error of judgement.” In an interview with Channel Nine, he stated that it is important to invest taxpayers’ funds wisely, adding, “It’s important that we say that and recognise it.”
Dutton, a former police detective from Queensland, had earlier pledged to force government employees to return to the office five days a week and cut 41,000 public sector jobs.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who last week called a national election for May 3, was not convinced by Dutton’s change of heart. Albanese said, “Peter Dutton wants to undermine work rights and doesn’t understand the important role that women and men play in organizing their families.”
As the election campaign gets underway, Albanese’s centre-left Labor Party has gained momentum in the polls, narrowing the gap with Dutton’s Liberal Party-led coalition. The latest Newspoll survey has Labor leading the Coalition 52-48 on a two-party preferred basis, a gain of one point from previous results.
Basic issues such as the cost of living and a severe housing affordability crisis are dominating the campaign. While a win for either the Labor or the Coalition is most likely in the sense of achieving the highest share of the vote, the opinion polls are pointing to a strong chance of a hung parliament.
Australia’s most recent hung parliament was in 2010, when then Prime Minister Julia Gillard relied on the votes of the Australian Greens and three independent MPs to form a minority government.
