SYDNEY -- Australians will cast their ballots in a federal election on Saturday, with polls indicating a tight race that could see the opposition Labor Party returning to power after nine years of a conservative coalition government led by the Liberal Party.
The vote comes as economic fallout from the ongoing Ukraine war drives up the cost of living. National security is also a key issue: the recent announcement of a bilateral security agreement by China and the Solomon Islands means navigating Pacific geopolitics will be a major challenge for the next government.
