Despite some of the frantic speculation from the press gallery, the election is shaping up to be held in May – as seemingly was always the plan. There are a few reasons for that; the government wants a rate cut (likely coming at the February meeting, although the markets are not betting on a second rate cut until the May meeting and possibly June, which makes sense when you consider the new board Jim Chalmers appointed starts after this February meeting and it won’t want to cut rates during an election campaign/just before an election campaign and be seen as political stooges (the RBA can pretend politics has nothing to do with it, but politics colours all institutions to a certain extent, and wanting to be seen as above politics can, in its own way, also be political). The government is also hoping that some of the Trump insanity will take the air out of Peter Dutton’s populist balloons.

But as political commentator Sean Kelly writes in the SMH, voters are looking for something that doesn’t seem to be on offer as yet:

With little time remaining, Peter Dutton has offered themes – nuclear, cutting migration and waste – with little substance. Anthony Albanese has offered substance, of a type, but few clear themes, and no sharp story about his second term. After years of dramatic uncertainty – pandemic, inflation, Trump – voters are tired. They might be ready to reward a political leader who offers them some clarity about their future.