Australia's federal election features a faceoff between incumbent Anthony Albanese (left) and Peter Dutton of the opposition. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP and Getty Images)

Australia election rivals pledge spending surge even as budget chasm beckons

Fiscal soundness seen hostage to spending as cost of living crisis dominates campaign

SHAUN TURTON

May 2, 2025 05:00 JST

SYDNEY -- Outside a polling station in Parramatta, a bellwether community in western Sydney, Iraj summed up the sentiment ahead of Australia's federal election on Saturday.

"The price of everything has gone up," the 60-year-old said. "You feel it when you're shopping."