Anthony Albanese’s son has made his first major campaign appearance as Labor’s re-election campaign officially kicked off

Anthony Albanese’s son has made his first major campaign appearance as Labor officially kicked off their re-election campaign. The Prime Minister was in Western Australia on Sunday to launch Labor’s re-election campaign. He was joined on stage by his son, Nathan, and his partner, Jodie Haydon. While Mr Albanese has projected a steady hand and progress, not revolution, so far in his bid for re-election, on Sunday he finally showed some fire, unleashing in an impassioned call to arms for Australia’s future. Mr Albanese drew on the image of the black swan, a bird once believed to be “impossible” in Europe, in his speech before about 500 party faithful at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Mr Albanese told the crowd the bird was not only now a proud symbol of Western Australia – where he also launched his 2022 election campaign – but the “story of Australia”, to a raucous applause. “We are not shackled by old thinking. We are not captive to the habits and fears of the past … We have the courage and the strength to choose our own way,” Mr Albanese said during his 30-minute speech. “Because Australia didn’t copy the idea of a decent minimum wage from anywhere else in the world – we created it here. “We didn’t steal the idea of universal superannuation from somewhere else – we made it here. “We didn’t wait on other countries to strengthen our democracy by ensuring women could vote in elections and stand for parliament – we led the world. “And we didn’t settle for a second-hand or second-rate health system – we built the best. We built Medicare. “That’s the Australian way. That is the Labor way.” His delivery in the final minutes of his speech was forceful and passionate, and a world away from the measured, at times monotone deliveries seen so far on the campaign trail. Mr Albanese also used his final push to set his party aside from any others, aiming to dispel rumblings of a close alliance with the Greens, and put himself in stark contrast to his opponent, whose policies have been repeatedly likened to those of US President Donald Trump. “Labor’s vision for this country, our plan to build Australia’s future, is not about borrowing ideologies or copying policies from anywhere else, or anyone else,” he said. “It’s about building on what has always been our nation’s greatest strength: the Australian people. Their effort and talent, their creativity and genius, their love of this country, their faith in the fair go. “Everything that brings us together as Australians – and sets us apart from the world.” Mr Albanese has regularly said Australians would not stand for an American-style healthcare system – something he’s accused the Coalition of planning to implement – or DOGE-style cuts to the public service. US President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk have been a looming presence over the campaign, though Mr Albanese has stopped short of directly comparing Peter Dutton to Mr Trump – however senior members of his cabinet have not been as restrained. Mr Albanese derided plans by the Opposition to slash the public service by 41,000 on Sunday, but fell short of comparing the cuts to those made by DOGE in the US. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles used his own address to accuse “Dr Dutton” of “copying and pasting” the Coalition’s policies from the United States and the controversial Republican president. Instead, Mr Albanese projected the same image of steady progress that he has throughout much of the campaign, with a focus on continued investment in Medicare, education, and cost of living. He announced plans to splash a further $10bn to build 100,000 homes exclusively for first homebuyers, and to give them all access to five per cent house deposits. “If you’re looking to buy your first home – Labor’s got your back,” Mr Albanese said. “Labor supports renters, of course we do – but unlike the Greens Political Party we don’t think people should have to rent forever. “And unlike the Liberals, we don’t think young Australians should have to sacrifice their superannuation to buy their first home. “This generation of Australians should not be forced to choose between the opportunity of home ownership and security in retirement. “Australians deserve both – and Labor is building both.” ‘The N-Word’ and a tax splash Mr Albanese also unveiled an instant $1000 tax rebate for workers. The Prime Minister told the cheering crowd the new tax deduction would “guarantee everyone can opt for an automatic tax deduction of $1000 on their work expenses” at tax time. “No paperwork, no box of receipts, no scrolling through your online banking – just tick the box and your return is ready. “Every year, millions of people who work part time, or work from home, or don’t have an accountant to navigate the tax system for them miss out on claiming deductions they are entitled to and pay more tax than they should. “This reform fixes that – and it fixes it forever.” Mr Albanese said the changes took away the hassle of tracking expenses, especially related to work-from-home. “It gives you back more of your own money, faster,” he said. “Importantly, if you’re in a job where you spend more than $1000 each year on your uniform or equipment, you can still claim a higher deduction in the usual way. “No-one will be worse off under this reform – but I make this point: nearly 6 million taxpayers – overwhelmingly low and middle income earners and young Australians – will be better off. “Under Labor you earn more, keep more of what you earn – and get more back at tax time.” Peter Dutton pledged during his campaign launch in Sydney to deliver a once-off $1200 tax relief and allow first-time homeowners of newly-built properties to deduct mortgage interest payments from their taxable income for five years. Mr Albanese did not mention Mr Dutton’s plan in his address, but did reiterate fears Labor have projected throughout the campaign that the Opposition Leader would make sweeping cuts to fund his nuclear power program. “The Liberals have spent this campaign talking about everything from abolishing the Department of Education and the Department of Health to sacking public servants and banning work from home,” Mr Albanese said. “My opponent is happy to talk about measuring up the curtains at Kirribilli House. “But there is something he never talks about – the N-word. “The cost of his nuclear scheme – and the cuts he will make to pay for it. Mr Albanese said Labor’s energy ambitions meant “energy security, environmental responsibility – and economic sovereignty”, powering a “Future Made in Australia”. “The Liberals want us to turn our backs on all of that,” he said. “To forfeit our nation’s unique advantages, a combination that nowhere else in the world can match: our sunlight, our space, our natural resources, our skills and technology and risk it all on nuclear reactors that won’t be ready until sometime in the 2040s. “The private sector can already see that nuclear doesn’t stack up here. “Which is why the Liberals will send the bill – all $600 billion of it – to the people of Australia.”