Emma Pritchard

Clarence Valley residents will head to the polls next month after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially declared Saturday, May 3, as the date of the 2025 Federal Election.

The announcement was made on March 28 following weeks of speculation, with the political campaign between Mr Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton well underway when this edition of the Clarence Valley Independent went to print.

While the ongoing cost of living crisis remains topical for many Australians amidst the effects of the Reserve Bank’s first interest rate cut in several years, both major parties are promoting policies they argue will alleviate financial pressures without exacerbating inflation as they travel their respective campaign trails.

Early in the 2025 Federal Election, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) currently holds 77 seats while the Coalition presently has 53 seats.

The Greens have four seats, a further 13 seats are held by Independents, and Centre Alliance and Katter’s Australian Party hold one seat each.

For a majority government to be formed, a party must win 76 out of 150 seats in the House of Representatives.

The Government is defending 12 seats with a margin of less than four percent but is looking to offset potential losses by targeting Liberal seats in Tasmania along with Green and Liberal seats in Queensland.

Should the ALP lose the 2025 Federal Election, they will be the first Australian Government to be removed from power after just one term since the early 1930s.

Voting is compulsory for all Australian residents aged 18 and above.

To ensure you are registered on the electoral roll and your details are correct, visit aec.gov.au/enrol

Enrolments must be completed by 8pm on Monday, April 7.

Early voting booths are expected to be opened two weeks before the 2025 Federal Election.

The Clarence Valley Independent will publish a full list of local early voting stations as soon as the information becomes available.