A teal independent has warned Australia’s “economic future” will be at risk if Prime Minister Anthony Albanese does not call an early federal election.
Kooyong MP Monique Ryan wrote to Mr Albanese this week urging him to send Australians back to the polls this year instead of next May.
Ms Ryan, who defeated then-treasurer Josh Frydenberg in 2022, said waiting a full three years before holding the next election was no longer an option.
She said the nation needed to settle a debate over Australia’s energy policy this year, after the Coalition recently announced its plans for nuclear power plants.
“I do not believe early elections should occur unless there are exceptional circumstances; however, these are exceptional circumstances, given the destabilising effect of the opposition’s policy announcements on our economy,” Ms Ryan told Mr Albanese.
“Prime Minister, the stakes have never been higher leading into a federal election. Our children and grandchildren’s economic future – their jobs, wellbeing and prosperity – will be shaped by our response to climate change.
“Waiting until May next year to address these questions risks undermining the country’s economic future.”
Ms Ryan also claimed Australia’s “economic transformation is now in peril” in the wake of the coalition revealing the seven sites it would locate nuclear power plants.
“The Coalition has recklessly jammed a stick into the spokes of the Australian economy be refusing to reveal a 2030 emissions reduction target and confusing the country with a threadbare nuclear energy announcement,” she said.
“Tens of thousands of jobs, and tens of billions of dollars of investment, are on the line. At a time when economic certainty is needed, the return of Australia’s climate wars is risking our long-term prosperity.
“Given the loss in business and investor certainty resulting from the Opposition’s incoherent energy policy, I write to request that you consider an early election before irreparable damage is done to generations by undermining Australia’s transformation to a clean energy economy.”
Mr Albanese in January said he believed three-year terms were already too short, and said it was “unfortunate” four-year terms have not been implemented.
The May federal budget, however, triggered speculation of an early election after it was labelled a “pre-election budget” with a surplus, tax cuts and a $300 electricity rebate.
But the Prime Minister told the Daily Telegraph: “What we’re focused on isn’t elections, what we’re focused on is the need to provide that cost-of-living relief”.
On Wednesday morning, Treasurer Jim Chalmers was asked by Sky News Australia’s Peter Stefanovic about whether the government was eyeing off an early election after commentary about a shifting budget strategy.
“Oh, no, Pete, this is part of the usual processes of government. You always try and work out what are your priorities and how can you afford to fund them and how can you sequence them,” Mr Chalmers said.