Parliament returns as election countdown begins

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Parliament returns as election countdown begins

Parliament is back for the next fortnight in what could be the final sitting before the federal election is called.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will be in Canberra for the next two weeks after sharpening their election pitches, both travelling across the country last month in an unofficial start to campaigning.

An election must be held by May 17, but April 12 is another possible date with recent opinion polls putting the coalition and Labor neck and neck.

The most recent Newspoll had the coalition ahead 51-49 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.

But the newest Roy Morgan poll shows a slight shift in two-party preferred results.

Over recent weeks, Roy Morgan and others have had the coalition slightly ahead of Labor.

Monday’s results find they are 50:50, likely driven by inflation figures and the prospects of a rate cut.

It means the election could result in a hung parliament, with both major parties requiring the support of minor parties and independents to form a ********* government

Politicians will mark the reopening of parliament with a church service at the catholic St Christopher’s Cathedral on Tuesday morning.

The prime minister is focused on sandbagging seats as polling also shows his popularity continues to slide.

While to govern in majority, the coalition would need to win an extra 21 seats.

With the cost of living set to be the defining issue, Mr Albanese on Monday told a Labor caucus meeting that the government knew people were under financial pressure and “we know the job is not done”.

Stronger hate crimes protections are set to be debated on Tuesday as the government responds to escalating anti-Semitic attacks.

Australia has experienced a spate of hateful incidents since December, including the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue, and the discovery of a caravan filled with explosives in Sydney containing a note with the addresses of Jewish institutions.

This week the government is expected to introduce legislation to guarantee access to the child care subsidy three days a week, fast-tracking its signature policy.

Contingent on Labor being re-elected, the changes will replace the current activity test model for early childhood education support.

This would mean more than 100,000 families would have access to subsidised care.

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