Australia to hold general election on May 3

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gestures during a press conference in Sydney, Australia (Mark Baker/AP)

Australians will go to the polls on May 3 for a general election with high costs of living and a shortage of housing likely weighing against the government as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labour Party seeks a second three-year term.

Mr Albanese drove to governor-general Sam Mostyn’s official residence on Friday to trigger the election and announced the date later at a news conference at Parliament House.