Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly refused to rule out holding the federal election this weekend, despite millions of Australians facing the aftermath of a devastating tropical cyclone. In an exclusive interview with Sky News Australia’s Chief News Anchor Kieran Gilbert, the Prime Minister was pressed on the election date but offered no definitive answers.
Mr Albanese, when asked directly, stated that his focus is on lives, not votes, but stopped short of promising that an election would not coincide with the crisis. Despite this, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton criticized the timing, urging that recovery efforts should take priority over political campaigns.
Gilbert questioned Mr Albanese on whether it would be insensitive to call an election during such a severe natural disaster. The Prime Minister, however, suggested that the issue of the election date has been raised repeatedly over the past few months, adding that fixed four-year terms are essential for providing certainty.
As residents on the east coast brace for the full impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the Prime Minister’s comments have left many uncertain about the potential overlap of disaster recovery and election campaigning.