Prime Minister Anthony Albanese became testy with reporters at a press conference as he sarcastically joked that Australia was “apparently” in the thralls of an election campaign.
Speaking in Tasmania, Albanese was asked multiple times about the election after reports that WA Premier Roger Cook was looking to change the Western Australia election date to avoid a clash with the federal election. The WA election was scheduled for March 8, 2025.
“It’s the media that seem to be obsessed by the date of elections. I have read the election would be in August, September, November, December 7, probably passed now,” he quipped.
“I support four-year terms and I wish it was four-year fixed terms so this obsession with dates that begin halfway through a term didn’t continue.”
Asked if he was concerned about Cook seeking legal advice on changing the WA election, Albanese frowned, saying: “I don’t know what’s causing concern.”
Taking another question, a reporter quoted Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s belief that Albanese would not be able to make majority government at the next election and asked what the prime minister made of it.
“Peter Dutton has not produced, we are in the thralls, apparently, of an election campaign, perhaps in December. Peter Dutton does not have a single costed policy out there,” Albanese said.
“This is a guy who doesn’t have a policy plan going forward, and I’m confident … about majority Labor government.”
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