Hannah Thomas Challenges Australian PM Albanese in May Election

Hannah Thomas, daughter of former Malaysian attorney-general Tommy Thomas, is contesting against Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the Grayndler seat during the May 3 federal election, running as a candidate for the Australian Greens. Her campaign highlights her progressive upbringing in Malaysia and activism on issues such as refugee rights, climate action, and Palestinian freedom. Thomas has cited Albanese's failure to oppose Israeli actions in Gaza as a primary motivation for her candidacy, arguing that he should be held accountable for not using his position to intervene. She also criticizes the government's handling of housing, cost-of-living issues, and rhetoric blaming migrants, positioning herself as more attuned to younger voters' concerns. As the youngest candidate in the race, Thomas emphasizes policy changes over social media engagement to address youth issues. Australia’s preferential voting system could influence the outcome, with the Labor Party controversially recommending her as a second preference on their how-to-vote cards.