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Australians go to the polls on Saturday to choose a new government. Will Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his conservative coalition be given another three years, or will Anthony Albanese, the opposition Labor Party leader, seize a victory?
A hung Parliament may also be a very real possibility. If that happens, the wave of “teal independents” I wrote about this week could be the kingmakers for a minority government.
Their emergence in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and elsewhere reflects a major shift for Australia — a backlash against the major parties and the status quo from the political center, led by community groups and accomplished women who are stepping forward as candidates for the first time.
Understand Australia’s Federal Election
Australians go to the polls on May 21 as the country faces rising inflation, climate change anxiety and foreign policy challenges.
Read my story to get a sense of why many analysts believe their efforts amount to a revival for Australian democracy.
We also have what we call an election explainer for you this week, which attempts to lay out what’s at stake and offers capsule reviews of the major issues and candidates. Starting on Election Day, we’ll have a live briefing where we’ll follow news and put the campaigns — and results — into context.
Yes, for those who are wondering, we will also be sure to address the Grand Unifier of all Australians: the democracy sausage.
And if you have thoughts on why this election matters — and what the result might reveal about Australia — shoot us an email at nytaustralia@nytimes.com.
Now here are our stories of the week.
