Australians began voting in a federal elections on Saturday, with bookies predicting a return to power for the Labor party after six years in the political wilderness and a campaign in which it has put climate change and tax reform at the top of its agenda.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made economic management the centerpiece of the campaign for his conservative Liberal-National coalition, which has held power since 2013.
Poll opened at 8 a.m. (2200 GMT on Friday) and will close at 6 p.m. (0800 GMT). Voting is compulsory in Australia and the result should be known on Saturday evening.
The campaign ended on a somber note, with the death on Thursday of the popular former prime minister and Labor stalwart Bob Hawke. Hawke, who was prime minister from 1983 to 1991, was 89.
While it seems unlikely that Hawke's death will have any impact on how voters cast their ballots, Labor leader Bill Shorten said it had made him more determined than ever.
“I already feel a responsibility to millions of people to win. But sure, I want to do it for Bob as well. I don't want to let his memory down,” Shorten told Channel Nine.
Shorten seems to have struck a chord with voters who feel financially left behind and are worried about the environment with his promise to cut both generous tax concessions enjoyed by the wealthy and greenhouse gases.
Morrison has criticized Labor's policy as an attack on people's aspirations.
A final opinion poll conducted by Newspoll for The Weekend Australian on Friday showed Labor's lead over the National-Liberal coalition at 51.5 percent to 48.5 percent.
“I am nervous because it's a big day, it's a very big deal,” Shorten said on Saturday. “But I'm confident that we have done the homework.”
Shorten will vote in Melbourne in his seat of Maribyrnong, while Morrison is spending the day visiting polling booths in Tasmania before heading home to Sydney to vote.
Opinion polls indicate that Morrison has narrowed Labor's lead during the campaign, but many voters are still angry about the ousting of his socially moderate predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull, in a backbench revolt last August.
Turnbull was the second prime minister to be ousted while in office by the ruling Liberal Party amid deep divisions over climate and energy policy.
While polls show most Australians support stronger action to tackle climate change, Morrison's coalition strongly supports the coal industry.
Morrison has said Australia would meet its commitment under the Paris Accord to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 26% and 28% on 2005 levels, but says more ambitious targets would damage the economy.
Shorten said that, if elected, his government would aim to cut carbon emissions by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030, with net zero emissions by 2050.
With about 17 million eligible voters, the Electoral Commission is operating more than 7,000 polling stations in venues such as surf clubs, schools and public halls.
There will also be about 90 voting centers overseas.
A time difference of two hours between the east and west coasts means voting centers in Western Australia will still be open as the initial counts start coming on the populous east coast.
(Source: Reuters)