Morrison Government falling behind in the Polls, Austrians voting early in record numbers

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#Australia, May 16, 2022 – After a week of early voting, polls indicate the incumbent, Liberal Australian government is trailing behind their opponents.

No votes have been counted  in the country’s National election but polls carried out by ‘Newspoll’ and shared by Bloomberg says the Labor Party is leading the Liberal government by 54 percent to 46 percent.

The Liberal party has held power in Australia for four terms, but that may change this election.  Media reports also reveal that Prime Minister Scott Morrison was ahead of opponent Anthony Albanese by only two percent a week prior to the start of early voting.

“Well over 1.2 million people have voted already, the prediction is that if this continues on the trend it will eclipse what happened last time,”  said Tom Rogers, Electoral Commissioner on Friday.

“Last time” in 2019 more than 40 percent of voters cast their ballots early. Now the Australian Parliament says more than half the votes could be in before the actual Election Day, which is May 21st.

A lot of this is due to the lingering prevalence of Covid-19, the parliament says, noting that many people are unwilling to stand in line in proximity with others.

Recent flooding in Australia has also hampered elections slightly with workers having to drive out to rural areas or flooded areas and set up remote stations to make sure every vote is counted.

At least two million people have registered to vote by post  which is a ‘big increase’ “We’re seeing votes coming in from [Australians] all over the world by post.”

Aussies will know election results after all 17 million voters have cast their votes this Saturday.

In Australia, it is against the law not to participate in national elections.