Anthony Albanese rejects election speculation as Queensland prepares for Cyclone Alfred landfall

The pending landfall of Tropical Cyclone Alfred will likely dash the highly speculated April 12 election, but the PM said a poll date was not concerning him at the moment.

Anthony Albanese has refused to engage in election speculation, saying his sole focus now is

protecting the millions of Australians bracing for the arrival of category 2 Cyclone Alfred.

Residents from Northern NSW to the Sunshine Coast have been urged to prepare for storm surges, destructive winds and severe flooding, with Alfred expected to make landfall around Brisbane in the early hours of Friday.

The severe weather event also likely rules out the potential for an April 12 election, which would require Mr Albanese to call the election by Monday.

Speaking from Brisbane alongside on Queensland Premier David Crisafulli on Wednesday, Mr Albanese batted away questions on whether he would delay calling the election due to the cyclone.

“I’ve been asked every day for the last year about election timing. I am focused on governing. That is the sole focus that I have,” he said.

“I am here, working with Premier Crisafulli absolutely in lock-step.

“There are no political parties here, there are no borders between NSW and Queensland, just Australians working together.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared alongside Queensland Premier David Crisafulli ahead of Cyclone Alfred’s landfall. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the Prime Minister would “have to have a tin ear” to begin campaigning during a natural disaster.

Mr Dutton, whose outer northern Brisbane electorate of Dickson could be hit with 130km/h winds and storm surges, said he would be surprised if the Prime Minister called the election this weekend.

“I’ll be the last to be told when the election is to be held. So, I’m sure the PM is not going to give me a call about it, but look, I’d be surprised if he calls it this Sunday or Monday for (April 12),” he told Brisbane radio station 4BC on Wednesday.

While Mr Dutton hoped predictions about the tropical cyclone were “overstated”, he said the cyclone and subsequent flooding would devastate Queenslanders.

“There will be people waiting for waters to recede, there will be swift water rescues, there will be people cleaning out their houses or their businesses, and some people will have lost everything,” he said.

“That’s the reality of these weather events, and to go to election at that stage, at that time, I think the Prime Minister would have a tin ear to do that.”

Peter Dutton said he would be ‘surprised’ if Anthony Albanese called the election this weekend. Picture: NewsWire/ John Gass

Mr Dutton said Australians would expect a prime minister to be “governing not campaigning” in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

“So it’s not due until the 17th of May, so he’s got plenty of time to sort out when it is,” Mr Dutton said.

“He may well have been intending to go this weekend, but I think it is difficult in the circumstances.”

With an April 12 election date likely off the table, this would mean May 3 would be the earliest polling day due to the Easter long weekend from April 18 to 21 and Anzac Day the following weekend.

That would leave Mr Albanese with a March 30 window to call the election for a five week campaign.

This means the government could be required to hand down a budget scheduled for March 25.

While it’s believed Labor will not want to hand down a budget due to the forecasted deficits over the forward estimates, Mr Albanese could also avoid this by calling a six-week campaign starting on March 23, with an election date for May 3.

The election must be held on or by May 17.

Residents have been urged to prepare for the landfall of Cyclone Alfred at about 1am to 2am Friday. Picture: NewsWire/ John Gass

Speaking to Sky on Wednesday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers denied said matters concerning the budget and election timing was “not really front of mind” for Labor.

“There is a lot of fear about the difficult days ahead. There is an expectation that we need to brace for some very heavy weather, and so we’re preparing for the worst, but we’re hoping for the best,” he said.

“We’re focused on what it looks like here in Southeast Queensland and in northern NSW over the next coming days and weeks, and we’re focused on some of these outcomes that we’re seeing in the economy.”

He also confirmed he had participated in “hours and hours” of Expenditure Review Committee meetings and said himself and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher were “ready for a budget if we need to deliver one”.