Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has guaranteed no new mining tax or royalty increases if Labor retains power in the upcoming Federal election.
In an interview, he emphasised his focus on securing a majority government and dismissed forming deals with crossbenchers, including the Greens and Teals.
Albanese highlighted Western Australia as critical to Labor’s success, targeting Liberal-held seats such as Durack, Canning, Moore, and the new seat of Bullwinkel while vowing to defend the four seats Labor gained in 2022.
He stressed, "Absolutely, we’ll govern in our own right," and rejected suggestions of a coalition agreement if Labor falls short.
During his 27th visit to Western Australia as Prime Minister, Albanese outlined his government's support for the mining sector, citing production tax credits and tax breaks for critical minerals.
He defended contentious policies, including "same job, same pay," and assured the industry that Labor's approach prioritises economic contribution and job creation.
While dismissing criticism of Labor's economic management, Albanese touted achievements such as lower inflation, rising real wages, and over a million new jobs.
"Real wages have increased under us. At the same time, four quarters in a row, as more than a million jobs have been created, inflation — that had a six in front of it — now it has a two in front of it. So on all of the economic indicators, our performance is far far superior."
He also announced a $200 million housing and infrastructure package for regional Western Australia, though opposition leaders labelled it as inadequate.
Albanese remained tight-lipped on the election date but pledged to return to Western Australia multiple times before polling day, due by May 17, underscoring its significance to Labor's campaign.