Key Points
- The Federal Election is called for May 3
- Russia's President suggests Ukraine could be placed into administration
- Red Bull replaces young driver after two races
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TRANSCRIPT
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the federal election will be held on May 3.
Mr Albanese informed Governor-General Samantha Mostyn of his intention to call a vote at Government earlier this morning.
With five weeks of election campaign ahead, Labor and the Coalition are in a tight race, with opinion polls so far reflecting a larger group of undecided voters than previous years.
The Coalition must win 19 seats in order to govern in its own right, while Labor only needs to lose three seats to be forced into a minority government.
Mr Albanese says Australians have an important choice to make.
"This election is a choice between Labor's plan to keep building or Peter Dutton's promise to cut. It's the choice. It's your choice. Your job, your wages, your child's education, and importantly as well, this thing here, your Medicare card. They're all in your hands."
No political party in Australia has lost an election after just one term for nearly a century.
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The Coalition will head to the election pitching plans boost gas supply and cut the fuel excise - in order to bring down power and petrol prices.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton used his budget reply speech [[Thurs]] to announce a domestic gas reserve, $1 billion for pipelines and storage and fast-tracked approvals would be put in place under a coalition government.
Unlike the Albanese Government, which is offering modest tax cuts if elected, more tax relief will NOT be part of the Coalition's platform.
But Mr Dutton says his government will instead target cost of living pressures through measures to bring down fuel and power prices.
"This election is choice between who can better manage this economy and the questions Australians need to ask is if our country is better off today than yesterday. Generations of Australians have built their lives and their country on the belief that if you work hard you can get ahead and build a better future for their children. However right now Australia is going backwards."
Mr Dutton also confirmed the Coalition will reduce permanent migration by 25 per cent, if elected on May 3.
Under the plan, levels currently set at 185,000 will be cut by an estimated 46,000 places.
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The Greens say their priority is to keep Peter Dutton out and get Labor to act, as the election campaign begins.
The minor party has ruled out working with the Coalition to form a minority government, which occurs when no party can win the majority of seats in the House of Representatives.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt says he is confident in the party’s ability to work with Labor, despite the relationship being strained at times during this term of parliament.
He says there has been collaboration during this term.
"When there's been willingness on the government's part to come and have negotiations, there's been significant amount of legislation that has passed, we've been able to get some really good outcomes. And I would hope, and from our perspective, that's what we want to see in the future."
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A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall and flooding has been issued for parts of inland Queensland, as wet weather continues.
270 millimetres of rain has fallen at Team Borough Dam, west of Mackay over the past day, with moderate to heavy falls through eastern and central districts of the state.
A severe weather warning remains in place for inland southern areas, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of flash and riverine flooding.
It has also issued severe thunderstorm warnings across northern parts of Queensland.
Senior Meteorologist Jonathan Howe says the warnings affects some areas that are already flooded.
"For the rest of today though, rain and storms continue for much of inland, central and northern Queensland and heavy rainfall totals are possible, leading to further flash flooding and also exacerbating some of that river rain flooding that we're already seeing."
A tropical low of northwest WA's Kimberley region is also bringing very heavy rainfall to the coast.
Forecasters say it could reach tropical cyclone intensity overnight, just before crossing the seaboard.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested Ukraine could be placed under a temporary administration, with the support of the international community.
He said this would allow for new elections and the signing of key agreements, with the aim of reaching a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
"In principle, of course, it would be possible, under the auspices of the UN, with the United States, even with European countries, and of course with our partners and friends, to discuss the possibility of introducing temporary governance in Ukraine. For what? In order to hold democratic elections, in order to bring to power a viable government that enjoys the people's trust, and then begin negotiations with it on a peace treaty, sign legitimate documents that will be recognized throughout the world and will be reliable and stable."
His statement comes after European countries held a summit to consider plans to deploy European troops to Ukraine, to secure an eventual peace deal with Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron says France and the UK will forge ahead with the plan, even though only some countries want to take part.
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And in sport, Red Bull has announced Japan's Yuki Tsunoda will replace struggling New Zealander Liam Lawson at the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix next week.
Red Bull team Boss Christian Horner sayd the decision is purely based on competition, and he believed the Japanese drivers' experience will prove beneficial in developing Red Bull's current car R-B-21.
24-year-old Tsunoda started the season strongly... while Lawson is yet to score as teammate of four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
However, the decision to replace him after just two races, will be considered brutal.
