SYDNEY – On the final day before Australia’s election on Saturday (May 3), Prime Minister Anthony Albanese campaigned in the seat of his conservative challenger, Peter Dutton, as the campaign drew to a close under the shadow of Donald Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy. Australia, one of the few democracies with compulsory voting, has seen almost seven million of its 18 million eligible voters cast their ballots early, either at polling stations or via mail, according to the Australian Electoral Commission.

Opinion polls consistently place Albanese’s centre-left Labor Party ahead of the Liberal-National coalition led by Dutton in two-party preferred terms. However, projections also suggest Labor might end up forming a minority government. While both parties have focused on economic pressures and rising housing costs, Trump’s erratic tariff policies have become a growing concern among voters, influencing the tone of the campaign.

Dutton has tried to disassociate himself from Trump comparisons, but his standing has declined since leading the polls in February. Analysts believe that while Trump’s influence isn't the sole factor, it has reinforced voter caution. Dutton’s missteps—such as a quickly reversed policy to bar public servants from working remotely—also played a role.

“During uncertain times, you can trust Labor to have a plan for Australia’s future, while the Coalition offers cuts and chaos,” Albanese said during a Friday press conference, emphasizing his final message to voters. Speaking on ABC radio, Albanese noted that Australia differs from the U.S. and criticized Dutton’s proposals to weaken climate policies and eliminate 41,000 public sector jobs.

Meanwhile, Dutton campaigned in his own electorate, pointing to economic pressures on families and small businesses. “Are you better off now than three years ago?” he asked voters, referencing the surprise conservative win in the 2019 election despite unfavorable polls. A RedBridge-Accent poll released by News Corp on Thursday showed Labor ahead 53% to 47% under Australia’s preferential voting system, with concerns about Trump and Dutton’s nuclear power proposal (in a country where nuclear energy is banned) influencing voters.

Another poll from the Australian Financial Review/Freshwater on Friday had Labor leading 51.5% to 48.5%. Albanese traveled 1,600 km from Queensland to Tasmania and planned to continue to Victoria and New South Wales. He warned that many voters remained undecided and confirmed he wouldn’t make policy deals with independents or minor parties, unlike Labor’s 2010 minority government.