Albanese calls Australia general election for May

Australians will go to the polls in May for general elections with high costs of living and a shortage of housing likely weighing against the government as prime minister Anthony Albanese s centre-left Labour Party seeks a second three-year term.

- ROD MCGUIRK

Mr Albanese drove to governor-general Sam Mostyn's official residence today to trigger the election and planned to officially announce the date later at a news conference at Parliament House. The options were to hold the voting on 3, 10 or 17 May. Most commentators agreed that the earliest date was the most likely.