As Australians prepared to vote, a major global power once again influenced the political landscape. Previously, China had leveraged trade restrictions as a form of pressure, threatening Australia’s export-reliant economy.
Three years ago, China’s actions included imposing tough limits on Australian exports, deploying surveillance vessels near the western coast, and forging a concerning military agreement with the Solomon Islands.
In contrast, the current election cycle is marked by the prominent role of the United States and the political shadow cast by former President Trump.
Scott Prasser, a public policy expert and former civil servant, observed, “We had grown accustomed to China’s tariffs on Australian goods, but what difference is there from the trade tactics employed by Trump?”
This election unfolds against one of the most complex geopolitical backdrops Australia has experienced in recent memory. Questions have surfaced regarding the reliability of the country’s longstanding military alliance with the United States, even as China continues to expand its influence closer to Australian territory.
Despite these international tensions, most Australian voters have prioritized domestic concerns such as inflation. Early polling showed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor Party trailing the opposition amid growing dissatisfaction over rising living costs and escalating housing prices.
