Labour leader will become the first Australian prime minister to win a second consecutive three-year term in 20 years.
Anthony Albanese became the first prime minister to win for the second consecutive year in 20 years.
Albanese’s Labour Party was on track for an unexpected majority on Saturday as conservative Liberal leader Peter Dutton admitted defeat and losing his own seat.
In his victory speech, left-leaning Albanese promised to guide the nation through a rough patch of global uncertainty.
“Australians choose to face global challenges in the Australian way and take care of each other while building for the future,” he told Sydney supporters. “We don’t need to beg, borrow or copy from other places. We don’t seek inspiration overseas. It’s here for our values and people.”
He said Australians voted for “Australian Values.”
“For fairness, aspirations, opportunities,” he said in loud cheers. “During this period of global uncertainty, Australians chose optimism and resolve.”
Dutton, a major opposition Liberal Party, accepted full responsibility for the poor outcome of the election for what he called “historical opportunities” for the party.
Dutton also lost the Labour Ali France race for his own Dixon seat in Australia’s parliament.
Liberal spokesman Sen. James Patterson has suggested that “Trump Factor” is playing in Australia in connection with US President Donald Trump. Trump cast a long shadow on his six-week election campaign, sparking keen global interest in whether his tariff-induced economic disruption would affect the outcome.
For Australian voters, the biggest issues in this federal election were cost of living, healthcare costs, home prices and high clean energy.
Report from Sydney, Al Jazeera’s Jessica Washington said it was a historic victory for the Labour Party.
“There was certainly a message of unity by the Prime Minister, and there was a brief moment between his speeches as the crowd began booing Peter Dutton.
“The Labour Party has also committed to making it easier for young people to buy homes, including reducing student debt by 20%. This is double embarrassing for the opposition coalition, as they are often considered economic managers, but they have been lost in elections that primarily revolved around those issues.”
The election completed the party’s return to power after 2022 was able to secure a parliamentary majority with 77 of the 151 seats in the House.
After the 2022 election, Labour secured 25 seats in the Senate, and the opposing coalition secured 30 seats, while Greene took 11.
To form a government, the party must win a majority (at least 76 seats) in the House of Representatives. If the party is not fully qualified, the party with the most seats will form a minority government by working with small parties and independent members.
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