The PM two years in: Albo vows to ‘get the job done’ before calling an election

Anthony Albanese has vowed he will not go to the polls until he has broken the back of the cost of living crisis, saying he is committed to going the distance in his first term of government.

Anthony Albanese has declared Australians won’t be rushing to the polls any time soon. Picture: Adam Taylor

Anthony Albanese has vowed he will not go to the polls until he has broken the back of the cost of living crisis, saying he is committed to going the distance in his first term of government.

He has also doubled down on his plans to combat the toxic negative impact of social media on children, saying people needed hope now more than ever.

The Prime Minister’s pledge comes amid shocking new research from The Salvation Army that shows some families are using candles to save on their energy bills and public bathrooms to save on water costs.

Speaking exclusively to The Daily Telegraph on the second anniversary of his election, the PM killed off mounting speculation of an early dash to the polls on the back of last week’s Budget.

“I think three years is too short,” he said.

“What we’re focused on isn’t elections, what we’re focused on is the need to provide that cost of living relief.”

Albo said his focus isn’t on elections. Picture: David Crosling

Anthony Albanese on election night in 2022. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The PM said conquering inflation was the absolute focus of his government and that the election would still be held next year.

“We have an election due in 2025 but that’s a fair way off. Now we’re two thirds of the way through.

“We’ll be focused on that re-election campaign next year, when we get to it, but our immediate task is to get the job done and to get inflation down.”

The PM sat down with the Telegraph to launch The Salvation Army’s 60th Red Shield Appeal.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese holding the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal bucket along with Salvation Army Major Kim Haworth (left) and Janine Kewming ahead of the annual National Doorknock. Picture: Adam Taylor

The Salvos are facing unprecedented demand for their services as families struggle to make ends meet, with someone seeking their assistance every 17 seconds.

A survey of 1500 of their financial services clients found two-thirds were often going without food so their children could eat and one in three feared they would lose their home and become homeless.

Even more starkly, one in five were living in darkness or using candles or torches at night to save on power bills and one in 10 said they used public amenities such as bathrooms in shopping centres to avoid using water at home.

Mr Albanese said the toughest and most troubling part of the Budget was wrestling Labor’s desire to help people in need without fuelling inflation.

“It’s tough to land a budget in the current economic circumstances,” he said.

“We had to make sure that we produced a second surplus, we were determined to do that so that we put that downward pressure on inflation.

So there’s some targeted measures in there, like increased rent assistance, but that was the focus that we had — that focus on inflation.”

Following reports on the weekend that the PM had started attending Mass again when he could, Mr Albanese said that was a personal matter but that it was important that people had hope in dark times.

“Faith, I think is a personal matter for people,” he said.

“But it’s important that people have hope and optimism going forward. I am concerned about the impact of social media, which can often spread despair and negativity.

And what I’m determined to do as Prime Minister is bring a positive outlook.”

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