REPORT
Australia: federal elections against a backdrop of mistrust of Scott Morrison
Audio 01:16
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after his vote, May 21, 2022. © AP - Mark Baker
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In Australia, we vote this Saturday, May 21 for the federal elections.
According to the latest polls, Labor could return to power after nine years in opposition.
In question, the more than mixed record of the outgoing government in the fight against climate change, in this country marked in recent years by devastating fires and repeated floods.
But also the growing unpopularity of the Prime Minister, the conservative Scott Morrison.
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With our correspondent in Sydney
,
Grégory Plesse
“
Hello to you!
Vote Labor to change government!
Fire Scott!
Activists are present in large numbers this Saturday morning in front of the polling stations.
In this district of Sydney entirely won over to the Labor Party.
There's a wind of change in the air, and that's exactly what Anthony wants, who came to vote with his family this morning.
“
Personally, I hope the government will be ousted.
I recognize them for having managed the pandemic rather well.
But other than that, they
're not doing enough
about climate change,
” he said.
Robbie, stand in line to vote and it won't be for the Prime Minister's party either.
"
I find him very full of himself, very deceitful and I don't think he really takes care of people, which is a problem when your job is to take care of the country
," he said. .
transparency of public life
Beyond the climate crisis, one of the priorities of voters, in this country marked by numerous political scandals in recent years, is transparency in public life.
In any case, this is what Sarah expects from this election.
“
We hope there is less impunity in Parliament.
The creation of an anti-corruption commission is one of the strongest expectations of voters today
,” she said.
Despite this lack of love vis-à-vis Scott Morrison, the result of the election, which is played not nationally, but in 151 different constituencies, could ultimately be tighter than expected.
It is not certain, moreover, that a winner can be designated on Saturday evening.
Voting is compulsory in Australia, and abstainers face a fine of 20 Australian dollars – around 13 euros.
Election officials changed the rules at the last minute to allow more Covid-19 positive people to vote by phone, in this first federal ballot since the start of the pandemic.
►Also read: Australia: anti-Scott Morrison posters on trash cans as elections approach
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Australia
Scott Morrison