Australian opposition targets inflation in campaign launch

By ROD McGUIRK
Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s opposition party has officially launched its election campaign with an emphasis on cutting costs of living for voters as inflation surges to its highest rate in 21 years. The center-left Labor Party started campaigning on Sunday in the west coast city of Perth for the first time since World War II, in a demonstration of how important Western Australia state is to the party’s ambition to win control of government in the May 21 elections. Opposition leader Anthony Albanese promised lower cost child care and medicines if he becomes prime minister. Official data released last week showed that Australia’s inflation rose to 5.1% in the year through March. It is the highest annual rate since 2001.