Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called a snap federal election - just days after Canada's PM did the same.
Labor leader Albanese, in a news conference on Friday morning local time, told Australians that "over the last few years, the world has thrown a lot at Australia".
"In uncertain times, we cannot decide the challenges that we will face, but we can determine how we respond," he added.
Laying out his pitch to Australian voters, Albanese said he was "born ready" to face the challenges ahead - but his party faces a steep battle to retain its wafer-thin parliamentary majority.
"Because of the strength and resilience that our people have shown, Australia is turning the corner. Now on May 3, you choose the way forward.
"Your vote has never been more important, and your choice has never been more clear.
"This election is a choice between Labor's plan to keep building or [Liberal leader] Peter Dutton's promise to cut. That is the choice."
Albanese's snap election call comes mere hours after Dutton delivered his Budget reply speech to the Australian Parliament - in which he vowed to sack all 41,000 civil servants hired under the PM.
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Labor leader Albanese, in a news conference on Friday morning local time, told Australians that "over the last few years, the world has thrown a lot at Australia".
"In uncertain times, we cannot decide the challenges that we will face, but we can determine how we respond," he added.
Laying out his pitch to Australian voters, Albanese said he was "born ready" to face the challenges ahead - but his party faces a steep battle to retain its wafer-thin parliamentary majority.
"Because of the strength and resilience that our people have shown, Australia is turning the corner. Now on May 3, you choose the way forward.
"Your vote has never been more important, and your choice has never been more clear.
"This election is a choice between Labor's plan to keep building or [Liberal leader] Peter Dutton's promise to cut. That is the choice."
Albanese's snap election call comes mere hours after Dutton delivered his Budget reply speech to the Australian Parliament - in which he vowed to sack all 41,000 civil servants hired under the PM.
More to follow...
Find Out More...