Election showdown: Housing help or tax relief—where does your vote land?

Campaign launches often signal a turning point in any federal election—but what happens when both major parties decide to go all in on the same day?

As the race tightens and the pressure mounts, cost of living promises, battleground strategies, and polling numbers are shaping the national conversation.

Here’s what unfolded as the federal election campaign entered its next critical stage.


The federal election campaign entered a pivotal stage on 20 April, as both major parties officially launched their campaigns on opposite sides of the country.

Labor Leader Anthony Albanese and the Prime Minister fronted their campaign in Perth, while Opposition Leader Peter Dutton hosted the Coalition’s launch in Sydney.

Labor chose Perth as a nod to its strong 2022 performance, where it claimed four key seats that helped deliver a majority government.


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Major parties launch campaigns on opposite coasts. Source: Skynews Australia


Meanwhile, the Coalition aimed its sights at Western Sydney—opting for a location with strategic electoral significance as it looked to lock down battlegrounds like Bennelong and Werriwa.

Internal polling suggested those seats remained tightly contested, reinforcing the Coalition’s focus on cost of living and economic management.

The election’s primary battleground shaped up to be household budgets, with both parties unveiling multibillion-dollar proposals to win over voters feeling the financial squeeze.

Labor committed to a $10 billion housing plan that it claimed would support the construction of 100,000 homes and assist Australians trying to enter the property market.


As part of the plan, Mr Albanese confirmed that a re-elected Labor government would offer a mortgage guarantee to first home buyers with just a five per cent deposit.

‘When a young person saves a five per cent deposit, my government will guarantee the rest with their bank,’ Mr Albanese said.

‘This will help people buy their first home faster, without paying the burden of Lenders Mortgage Insurance.’

Under the scheme, eligible buyers would be spared from lenders mortgage insurance—often required when a deposit falls below 20 per cent—potentially lowering upfront costs by tens of thousands.


Labor positioned the housing policy as part of a broader push to address economic pressures, signalling its intent to keep affordability front and centre.

The Coalition, in contrast, promised a one-off $1,200 tax cut for Australians earning under $144,000 a year.

Mr Dutton framed Labor’s existing tax relief as an ‘election bribe’, vowing instead to repeal those measures and provide a more generous offset.

The opposition’s platform hinged on its ability to win voter trust on cost of living, the economy, and national security.


Although the Coalition did not announce its defence strategy at the launch, it flagged plans to increase military spending from 2.3 per cent of GDP to roughly 2.5 per cent.

Despite trailing in polls earlier in the year, Labor appeared to regain momentum heading into the campaign period.

The most recent Newspoll placed Labor ahead 52–48—mirroring its performance in the 2022 election.

That left political observers speculating whether Mr Albanese’s government could again secure a majority or be forced to form a minority government.

Voting was set to open on 22 April ahead of the 3 May election.


To dive deeper into the details of the federal election campaign promises, here’s an insightful video that breaks it all down.

Watch the video now to get a clearer picture of what each party is offering this election.


Source: Youtube/9 News Australia​


Key Takeaways
  • Labor and the Coalition launched their federal election campaigns on 20 April from Perth and Sydney, respectively.
  • Cost of living dominated the agenda, with Labor proposing a $10 billion housing scheme and the Coalition offering $1,200 tax cuts.
  • Labor aimed to help first home buyers with a mortgage guarantee, while the Coalition targeted economic and national security issues.
  • Labor led the latest Newspoll 52–48, with early voting set to begin on 22 April ahead of the 3 May election.

With both parties making billion-dollar promises to ease the cost of living, which plan do you think will make the biggest difference for everyday Australians? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
 
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Well whoever is elected this time, they always start out with lots of promises which when they are in Power they are often unable to bring to fruition. Of the two if I have to choose, I would go for a change of PM. I am not at all impressed at the record of Labor who I always have supported. Not this time. 'The Voice' which gave the average joe no chance to have a Voice about but doggedly went ahead with that is not the voice of the people that I would choose.
 
And Labour announced Saturday that it will spend $10m building a free swimming pool on Cockatoo Island in Sydney. What rot, will a free ferry ride to/from the island be included
It's all about Sydney Sydney Sydney.
 
The first one to promise that they haven't actually forgotten the aged pensioners and will actually grant them a decent cost of living increase will get my, and I think many others, vote. There are so many of us really struggling and no mention of us anywhere. The new forgotten generation.
 
Albo’s election promise to help young ones get their first home. It all sounds sugary sweet to only save 5% for a deposit. There is no mention in your Newsletter that Albo’s government will own 50% of the said properties!

Whoever goes along with this fantasy election promise will work their butts off to get the house set up, furnish it….& make it comfortable.

So when it comes time to sell the house, the government will be rubbing their hands at all the profits they will be stealing without doing any work.

The young ones really need to look deeply into this commitment before they sign up.

This election promise is a disgrace !!!!!🤬
 
All a lot of piffle...... they promise to line their own pockets..... I don't believe a single word that comes out of their mouth...
 
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Surely after all this time we know what they all say is a load of crap. All rehearsed just for the election,it all just rolls off their tongues,all parties do it with no feeling ,just come up with a plan and start talking Working out what they are promising the kitty won't be big enough to go around
 
Whatever they give will be taken back somewhere else. I’ve said before whoever wins the election, it doesnt really matter as we never win. And within six weeks we will all be wanting the other lot and being sorry we voted for the ones we did.
 
What gets me Albanese says that Dutton is like Trump but he seems to be more like him he sounds on the ads and interview a nasty man that is unnessarily insulting and the biggest liar yet
He says he will build 100,000 homes and could not even drop the power by $275 but says he gave us money to reduce the payment of the power bill, it is our money he is giving us it is just added to our debt over 1 Trillion what is a few hundred thousand billion hurt.
 
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Member kbwise (above) gets my vote. Never, ever does a Politician offer something for the very people who were the backbone of this country. Pensioners need a shot in the arm with a Cost of Living Bonus Payment. Indexation doesn't work because it is always 6 months behind.
Like 'CLOSING THE GATE AFTER THE HORSE HAS BOLTED'.

WAKE UP POLITICIANS. PENSIONERS ARE NOT SECOND CLASS CITIZENS.
WE DESERVE TO BE TREATED BETTER!!!

NEITHER MAJOR PARTY WILL RECEIVE MY VOTE!!!
 
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If there is all this money available to give relief to housing and cost-of-living costs, why is it not being used now for those purposes? A major contributor to the rental crisis is the exit of the property investors from the lower cost end of the market because of the excessive government taxes. Governments promise relief on the one hand and then take it away on the other. Investors are selling and owner occupiers are buying! A guaranteed slippery slope to fewer rental properties being available.

How do you tell if a politician is lying? Their lips are moving.
 
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