The Prime Minister has again faced questions about whether he will call an early election as he continues to confirm Labor candidates including in Peter Dutton’s Queensland seat.
Anthony Albanese has dismissed early election speculation while announcing two more Labor candidates in Queensland.
The Prime Minister has named Rowan Holzberger as the candidate for the seat of Forde and Rebecca Hack as the candidate for Ryan.
Mr Albanese says the decision to announce candidates early is about ensuring the party is prepared for his meeting with the new Governor General Sam Mostyn.
Speculation has been mounting in recent weeks that Mr Albanese could send Australians back to the polls this year instead of waiting until next May.
Election talk has intensified in recent days with the Prime Minister on a three-day blitz of Queensland to announce Labor candidates in a string of marginal seats.
Asked in a radio interview on Friday about the early election talk, Mr Albanese quipped: “No, look, I think that three years is too short. I’ve said that on… multiple occasions”.
The Prime Minister said announcing candidates in Ryan and Forde on Thursday and in Dickson on Friday was simply about Labor being well prepared for the election.
Anthony Albanese has moved to shut down talk of an early election. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass
“We’re just making sure that we’re prepared and that everything is in place,” Mr Albanese told 4BC Brisbane.
“We’ll make sure that our candidates are on the ground talking with people about issues of concern and we want to make sure that we’re ready for an election.”
Mr Albanese made the remarks ahead of confirming Ali France would contest the seat of Dickson, which includes City of Moreton Bay suburbs Strathpine and Everton Hills.
Dickson is held by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton but Mr Albanese is optimistic Ms France can cause an upset and win the seat for Labor at her third attempt.
“If you look at the last election, Ali achieved a swing of almost three per cent in this seat. This seat now has a margin of under two per cent,” Mr Albanese said.
Anthony Albanese on Friday announced Ali France as Labor’s candidate for Peter Dutton’s seat of Dickson. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass
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“A swing of half of what she got last time will see Ali France elected as the Labor member for Dickson as part of a federal Labor government.”
Mr Dutton, who is currently in the United States for the Australian American Leadership Dialogue, was unperturbed about having Mr Albanese on his home turf.
“I’m just hoping that he’s going to spend more time there. I want him to meet more people,” the Liberal leader told Today.
“I think people… as they meet the Prime Minister, they’ll work out he’s not a bad person, but just that he’s a bad Prime Minister.
“The government just hasn’t got any better as they’ve got further into this term, and they’ve made decisions in three budgets now that are hurting people in my electorate, but right across the country.”