The vote counting for Australia's general election began immediately after polling stations closed across the country.
Vote counting is continuing in earnest in the east of the country, where polling stations closed two hours earlier than in the west.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his rival Peter Dutton began their campaigns on Saturday in the key electoral centre of Melbourne. Mr Albanese later returned to Sydney and Mr Dutton to Brisbane to cast his vote.
Mr Albanese was accompanied by his fiancee Jody Haydon and adult son Nathan as he spoke to supporters at his polling station.
Mr Dutton turned out to vote with his wife Cyril Dutton and adult children Rebecca, Tom and Harry in his constituency.
Leaders will make statements at party rallies in Sydney and Brisbane later, after the Australian Electoral Commission has completed the vote count. Typically, leaders will concede defeat or announce victory on election day.
Energy policy and inflation have been key campaign themes, with both sides agreeing that the country is facing a cost-of-living crisis.
Mr Dutton's conservative Liberal Party accuses the government of profligacy that is fuelling inflation and rising interest rates, and vows to cut more than a fifth of public sector jobs to reduce public spending.
While both sides agree the country must reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Mr Dutton argues that increasing the share of nuclear power rather than using renewables such as solar and wind turbines would produce cheaper electricity.
Labor has dubbed the opposition leader “Doge and Dutton” and accused his party of copying US President Donald Trump's style and governance.
Labor insists Mr Dutton's administration will cut services to fund its nuclear energy ambitions.
“What we have seen is an attempt to bring American style politics here, dividing and pitting Australians against each other, and I believe that is not the Australian way,” Mr Albanese said.
He also stressed that his government had improved relations with China, which had removed a range of formal and informal trade barriers that had cost Australian exporters A$20 billion a year since Labor came to power in 2022.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
