Australia is currently at the polls amid Trump’s tariff threats, the war in Ukraine, and shifting alliances. But what does it mean for Europe – particularly in terms of defence and trade?

Voters will have to choose between Labor incumbent Anthony Albanese, a career politician with working-class roots and a pragmatic style, and Peter Dutton, a former police officer and veteran minister leading the opposition Liberal–National Coalition, known for his hardline views on immigration and national security.

Relations between Australia and Europe soured in 2021 when Australia scrapped a €50 billion submarine deal with France in favour of a new security alliance with the UK and the US, known as AUKUS.

Two years later, tensions resurfaced when a near-finalised EU-Australia free trade deal collapsed – particularly over limited EU market access for Australian agricultural exports.

Vas Panagiotopoulos in Melbourne explains how the parties stack up on defence and international trade.