Albanese Urges Australians to Seriously Address the Rise of Far-Right Ahead of Election
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Synopsis
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasizes the need to seriously address the rise of the far-right ahead of the May 3 General Election. He calls for mainstream politics to oppose far-right ideologies, while the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, critiques Albanese's focus on affluent voters.
Key Takeaways
- Albanese warns of the far-right's rise.
- Calls for mainstream politics to oppose it.
- Focus on funding for community language schools.
- Victoria is a key election battleground.
- Dutton critiques Albanese's priorities.
Canberra, April 26 (NationPress) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has emphasized that the nation must treat the emergence of the far-right with utmost seriousness as the General Election on May 3 approaches.
As the leader of the center-left governing Labor Party, Albanese on Saturday called for mainstream politics to openly oppose the rise of far-right figures and their ideology.
During his campaign trail in Melbourne, he expressed his ongoing shock regarding the protests by far-right groups at the steps of the Victorian state parliament and in the heart of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia.
"We understand the repercussions of this. We need to regard these threats seriously, as they are tangible," he stated.
The incumbent Prime Minister delivered his remarks from a Chinese language school in Melbourne's southeast, where he pledged that a re-elected Labor government would enhance funding for community language schools by 25 million Australian dollars (approximately 16 million US dollars).
According to Albanese, this commitment would assist 90,000 students in learning and retaining 84 languages, particularly emphasizing Asian languages.
The southeastern state of Victoria, with Melbourne as its capital, is deemed a crucial battleground in the upcoming election.
The Labor Party currently occupies 24 of Victoria's 38 seats in the 150-seat lower house of the federal parliament, while facing challenges from both the left-wing Greens in urban areas and the conservative Coalition in rapidly growing outer metropolitan regions, as reported by Xinhua.
While campaigning in his home state of Queensland on Saturday morning, opposition leader Peter Dutton claimed that Albanese has "neglected" residents in regional and outer suburban areas, favoring "affluent" voters in inner-city Sydney and Melbourne.
Despite polls suggesting that Labor is positioned to secure a second term, Dutton asserted on Saturday that he has "no doubt" the Coalition will regain power.
Both leaders made numerous stops across Australia as the election campaign neared its conclusion.
After a morning in Melbourne, Albanese traveled to Tasmania to engage with Labor Party volunteers, concluding his day in his hometown of Sydney.
Dutton journeyed from Queensland to Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory (NT), where he participated in a roundtable discussion focused on the cost of living and crime, accompanied by the territory's Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro.
While addressing locals, Dutton referenced his previous experience as a police officer in Queensland, pledging that a Coalition government would prioritize community safety.
"This experience instills a lasting understanding of right and wrong, and what we have witnessed in the NT for an extended period is simply unacceptable," he remarked.
The fourth and final leaders' debate of the election campaign is scheduled for Sunday night, where Albanese and Dutton will clash.
