Australia’s federal election is a test of whether the country of 25 million people wants to end or extend nine years of conservative government.
The main issues animating voters are stagnant wages and inflation; climate change; and how to handle the growing ambitions of China in the region. But the race has been widely seen as a personality contest between the two candidates for prime minister.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, a former marketing executive, is being challenged by Anthony Albanese, the Labor opposition leader. Mr. Albanese has run a campaign light on big policy proposals, hoping to make the race a referendum on Mr. Morrison’s competence and combative style of governing.
