On Saturday, Australians will vote on whether to grant Scott Morrison's Liberal-National coalition a fifth consecutive term in office or opt for change and vote for Anthony Albanese's Labor party.

From climate change to the economy, the future is fraught with uncertainty.

Despite an increasingly contentious relationship with the world's fastest-growing economy, Australia has experienced over 20 years of stable economic expansion, boosted by the mining boom and demand from China, thanks to its natural resources.

Now, however, Australians are feeling the pinch - the cost of living is rising, and home prices are spiraling out of reach – and this, according to experts, will be the deciding factor at the polls.

"Almost all Australians are concerned about economic management," according to political scientist Jill Shepherd of the Australian National University (ANU). Jobs and economic growth are first in the minds of voters.

To combat the global inflation crisis, Labor is proposing techniques to make housing more accessible, a significant worry in Australia, and tying salary growth to the rising cost of food.

She told Al Jazeera that the Liberal party is reluctant to discuss the issue because they have been responsible for the spike in living expenses over the past four years. In the conservative coalition, Morrison's Liberals are the major party.

Morrison's allies have instead sought to highlight his administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Australia was one of the first nations to close its borders and, for the majority of 2020 and 2021, pursued a successful zero-covid strategy — keeping the virus out with stringent quarantines and protecting the economy considerably.

However, the situation is not very favorable for the Morrison administration.

After Sydney was unable to contain an epidemic of the Delta type in June of last year, the policy was abandoned. Australia now reports the highest number of daily new cases worldwide.

"People are not registering the considerable number of deaths because they want this to end. Every seven to eight days, a Boeing 737 crashes, according to Dr. Norman Swan, a noted medical journalist.

Nonetheless, Swan asserts that the pandemic is unlikely to alter the election outcome: "Since neither party has made it a campaign issue, there is nothing that should sway your vote."

Morrison has also committed errors while in government.

A local news parody publication dubbed him "Scotty from Marketing," and opponents allege he is more concerned with image and picture ops than policy.

Angry Lismore residents dumped their flood-damaged goods at his door in retaliation to his response to this year's floods, as we handling of the terrible bushfires two years ago while he was on vacation in Hawaii.

As southeastern Australia burnt and residents were forced to seek refuge on beaches, a photograph of him performing the shaka on Waikiki Beach sparked outrage.

Opening for Labor

The blunders have opened the door for Labor.

Albanese has been a member of parliament for over a quarter-century, but despite his longevity, most voters are unfamiliar with him. The Australian Financial Review, for instance, reported that voters in a series of focus groups saw him as "dull" and "uninspiring."

He, too, has committed some errors.

At the beginning of his campaign, he could not recollect the unemployment rate. A few days ago, he told journalists that Australia's borders were locked, despite opening around six months prior.

Given the lack of distinction between the major parties' economic policy platforms, perceptions of the two-party leaders may be more significant.

Morrison's party is proposing a program that will give young people early access to their superannuation money to purchase property and get a foot on the property ladder.

It is a policy that is sure to be popular with those under the age of 40, who have been mocked for allegedly prioritizing brunches of smashed avocado above real estate. Still, experts warn that it will likely drive housing prices even further.

She stated, "I believe the Liberal Party hopes that young voters will be so excited by the prospect of purchasing their first home that they won't mind the price increase."

Climate change is another subject that has been at the forefront of people's concerns.

With a long history of droughts, bushfires, and floods, Australia is especially susceptible to climate change.

Despite this, the mining industry is a substantial contributor to the country's economy, and Morrison's government has been strongly criticized worldwide for failing to address climate change.

Albanese has stated that he intends to rectify this, removing Australia from the "bad boy" section of United Nations climate change talks.

According to sustainability investor Katerina Kimmorley, climate change is likely to be one of the most influential factors in the upcoming election on Saturday.

Constricting lead

The urge for decisive climate action has driven voters to favor independent candidates over the two big parties.

"These independents are prominent climate change activists. They could wind up holding the balance of power in parliament, which would substantially impact climate policy, Kimmorley added.

Additionally, the policies of the two parties regarding indigenous peoples differ.

Aboriginal organizations have held the lawn in front of Canberra's Parliament House for fifty years, demanding land rights and constitutional acknowledgment as the nation's original inhabitants.

Now, Albanese has stated that he wishes to modify the constitution to reflect that Australia's history did not begin with the British arrival in 1788. However, a senior member of the Liberal Party, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, has stated that constitutional recognition is a long way off. Frydenberg is currently trailing his independent opponent in the polls for his once-safe Liberal seat.

Additionally, Labor has pledged to reform child care to make it more accessible and enable more women to return to the workforce.

Albanese told an audience at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry earlier this month, "One of the most effective ways we can increase participation is by eliminating the complicated mess of payments that create obstacles for parents who want to return to work."

Although Labor is currently ahead in the polls, its lead is decreasing.

Shepherd of the ANU remarked, "Both parties are, for the most part, holding on by a thread in order to make it to election day."

After the election, we will determine which party is dealing with carnage and recriminations.