Red Vs Blue – How Do the Labor and Liberal Parties Stack Up Against Each Other in the Lead Up to the Federal Election?
As a federal election looms, all eyes are on each of the political parties and what promises they will make to secure enough votes for victory.
While many issues form the basis of every political campaign, there are a few issues that the public is most interested in. Cost of living, housing, migration, community safety, healthcare and affordable energy are issues that will no doubt be front and centre of each political party’s campaign. So, what are they promising when it comes to these critical issues?
Cost of Living
Cost of living is an issue that is affecting all Australians. Australians have experienced the largest fall in household disposable incomes of any developed country in the last two years.
Australians have been subjected to 12 consecutive interest rate rises, an increase in annual electricity and gas bills, an increase in groceries, education, household items and healthcare.
Labor: When it comes to easing cost of living pressure, the Albanese government is planning to:
– Provide tax cuts for every taxpayer
– Provide energy bill relief by offering Australians $300 off their energy bills
– Implement a minimum wage increase
– Freeze the maximum cost of PBS prescriptions for a year
– Make the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct mandatory
The introduction of the 3 Day Guarantee will see families able to access three days of subsidised childcare per week from January 2026, equating to a saving of $1,460 per year for families earning $50,000 to $100,000 a year.
The Albanese government has also prioritised getting more Australians into their own homes as part of the government’s comprehensive Homes for Australia plan which includes the biggest home building program of any government in history.
Liberal: Peter Dutton has vowed to rein in wasteful and unnecessary government spending and deliver cheaper energy through a balanced energy plan. The Liberal party also plans to prevent supermarkets from exploiting suppliers and consumers through a new competition policy.
Boosting housing supply and helping young Australians overcome the deposit hurdle which can often prevent them from entering the property market will also be a priority along with protecting the retirement savings of Australians from unfair taxes.
Economy
When Labor came into office in 2022, the economy was strong, and unemployment and interest rates were at historic lows. Wasteful spending, unnecessary red tape and high taxes are being blamed for stifling growth and productivity.
Labor: The ALP’s economic plan is all about fighting inflation without ignoring risks to growth while repairing the budget and rolling out responsible cost of living relief.
Liberal: The Coalition believes governments should live within their means and that spending should be considered and responsible thus minimising the need to collect more taxes. They want Australians to keep more of what they earn. They vow to support Australia’s resource sector, acknowledging that when this industry is strong, Australia’s economy is strong.
They plan to:
– Rein in wasteful spending to take the pressure off inflation and get interest rates down
– Provide lower, simpler and fairer taxes to boost economic growth
– Boost the mining and resources sector by accelerating approvals
– Increase export opportunities for Australian farmers and businesses by negotiating new fair-trade agreements
– Invest in productive infrastructure such as roads and rail
Small Business
Small businesses are under enormous pressure with many struggling to pay their expenses. Rising electricity and the increased cost of borrowing are impacting profit margins. The last calendar year was the worst year for business insolvencies in Australia.
Labor: The ALP announced in January that $11 billion would be invested to help ease the pressure on small businesses. Over 18 months, new funding for the Small Business Debt Helpline and the NewAccess for Small Business Owners programs will commence. Small business owners will also receive a $325 rebate on energy bills.
Liberal: The liberal party acknowledges that Australia is a nation of small and family businesses and that a successful small business sector will only strengthen Australia’s long-term economic prosperity.
A Dutton government will aim to:
– Reverse the damaging aspects of Labor’s industrial relations reforms
– Curtail union militancy in workplaces and re-introduce a tougher Australian Building and Construction Commission
– Introduce a balanced energy plan to deliver cheaper, cleaner and consistent energy
– Reduce the tax burden on business expenses
Housing
Australia is experiencing a housing crisis. Home ownership is becoming increasingly hard, there aren’t enough houses being built and for many obtaining a deposit to buy a home is out of reach.
Labor: The Albanese government has made it its goal to build 1.2 million homes by the end of the decade. To do this, they will:
– Provide a $10,000 incentive to tradies in the housing construction industry to complete their apprenticeships
– Provide incentives to state governments to get homes built quickly
– Deliver the biggest investment in social housing to help reduce homelessness
They also plan to assist first home buyers by implementing the ‘Help to Buy’ program. The program will see the government provide a contribution of up to 40% for 40,000 low and middle-income households to purchase a home.
Liberal: The Coalition believes home ownership should be achievable for every Australian. The Liberal party plans to fix the housing crisis by:
– Boosting housing supply
– Fighting inflation to take the pressure off interest rates and rent
– Reducing migration to levels the housing supply can handle
– Implementing a two-year ban on foreign investors and temporary residents purchasing existing homes in Australia
– Supporting first home buyers and older women to overcome the challenge of saving a deposit for a home by allowing them to use their Superannuation to assist in building a deposit
– Ensuring there is an adequate number of skilled visas for those in construction to support the local workforce
Migration
Net migration to Australia has hit almost 1 million people during Labor’s first two years in office. While migration is embraced by Australian society, many believe, the high migrant intake has had an impact on factors such as housing and community services.
Labor: While the ALP has not yet made any announcements in regard to migration should they be re-elected, all reports so far indicate that they plan to stick with the migration planning levels that were announced in the last federal budget.
Liberal: The Coalition believes in a sensible and managed approach to migration that is sustainable. They want to rebalance the migration program to relieve the pressure on housing and community services.
Peter Dutton plans to:
– Reduce permanent migration intake levels by 25%
– Reduce the number of international students studying at metropolitan universities
– Properly plan and invest in infrastructure and housing needs so that the level of migration into Australia is no higher than what is sustainable
– Secure borders to ensure the integrity of the migration system
– Strengthen detention laws so that criminals that have had visas cancelled are properly monitored and off the streets
Community Safety
Community safety has become a concern. Domestic and international threats, antisemitism, geo-political tension and youth crime are all factors that have made Australians feel unsafe.
Labor: Prime Minister Albanese introduced and will continue to support The Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill 2024 which targets the most serious forms of harmful hate speech.
Labor will also continue to support and protect young people through The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024
Liberal: Peter Dutton has vowed to make national security and community safety a priority. He plans to do this by:
– Increasing the defence force budget
– Repairing strained relationships with our allies such as Israel and ensure AUKUS, Quad and Five Eyes relationships continue to strengthen
– Collaborating with law enforcement to deliver coordinated and effective anti-crime measures
– Building on the success of Operation Sovereign Borders to expand and enhance border security to stop people smuggling and secure borders
– Tackling the increasing prevalence of drugs in the community
– Protecting children from emerging threats to their safety and well-being online
– Doubling funding for the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation
– Making it illegal to post material glamourising violence, drug and property crimes
Healthcare
Australia’s healthcare system is facing significant challenges. A shortage of GPs, a decrease in bulk billing, the high cost of seeing a doctor and ambulance ramping are just some of the challenges Australians are facing when it comes to healthcare.
Labor: The ALP has vowed to continue to strengthen Australia’s healthcare system. The Albanese government plans to:
– Grow the number of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics
– Expand the range of free mental health services
– Increase the number of Medicare eligible MRI machines
– Implement programs to address skin cancer and expanded access to free bowel cancer screening
Liberal: The Coalition believes all Australians are entitled to high quality healthcare. They will support frontline healthcare workers such as doctors and nurses and support Medicare and a strong public health system. To do this this, they will:
– Guarantee a growth in funding to Medicare
– Grow the GP workforce through new incentive payments, entitlements and training support
– Restore critical Medicare funding to help more Australians suffering from mental health conditions
– Support Australians to access suicide support services
– Invest in cancer treatments and cutting-edge medical research to drive treatment breakthroughs and advancements
– Support regional healthcare recruitment and retention initiatives
Given a federal election has not yet been announced, there’s every possibility that these promise or plans will change. Once an election date is announced its almost certain that each of these parties will make themselves and their policies known.
If you would like to learn more about any aspect of immigration, contact the team of registered migration agents at Visa Solutions Australia.
