Australia’s left-leaning PM Albanese triumphs in election, winning his second three-year term

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has become the first Australian prime minister to win a second consecutive three-year term in 21 years. Opposition leader Peter Dutton conceded defeat in Saturday’s election, saying, “We didn’t do well enough during this campaign, that much is obvious tonight, and I accept full responsibility for that.” “Earlier on, I called the prime minister to congratulate him on his success tonight. It’s an historic occasion for the Labor Party and we recognise that,” he added. Former police officer Dutton, 54, also lost his parliamentary seat, becoming the first opposition leader to do so in a federal election. Left-leaning Albanese, 62, crushed his conservative rival in a contest swayed by economic upheaval and Donald Trump. Albanese’s slow-but-steady leadership resonated at a time of global tumult, analysts said, with voters deserting Dutton in droves. The prime minister claimed victory, vowing to steer the nation through a rough patch of global uncertainty. “Thank you to the people of Australia for the chance to continue to serve the best nation on Earth,” the Labor leader told a jubilant crowd at a campaign party in Sydney. He said Australians have “chosen to face global challenges the Australian way, looking after each other while building for the future. We do not need to beg or borrow or copy from anywhere else. We do not seek our inspiration overseas. We find it right here in our values and in our people”. His party was on track for an unexpectedly large parliamentary majority. Elated Labor supporters swigged craft beers emblazoned with Albanese’s face at an election party in Sydney, chanting his “Albo” nickname as results were declared on TV. Respected election analyst Antony Green from national broadcaster ABC said “I can’t see how it turns around” when almost 40 per cent of votes were counted and with Labor already leading in 70 seats, according to official projections which put it within striking distance of the 76 needed for a parliamentary majority. Millions of Australians had to choose between Albanese and his conservative challenger Dutton. Hungry voters munched on barbecued “democracy sausages” after casting their ballot, while others in bright swimwear crammed into booths after taking an early morning plunge. US President Donald Trump has loomed over the vote since its earliest days, and there was keen global interest in whether his tariff-induced economic chaos would influence the result. “The holy grail is back-to-back wins that we’re aiming for today,” Albanese had told Channel Seven. Though trailing by a few percentage points in the polls, Dutton had said “quiet Australians” could deliver a surprise. But that did not turn out to be the case. A total of 18.1 million voters enrolled for the election. About half cast an early ballot, the election authority said. Voting is compulsory, enforced with fines of AUS$20 (US$13), leading to turnouts that top 90 per cent. Albanese had promised to embrace renewable energy, tackle a worsening housing crisis, and pour money into a creaking healthcare system. Liberal Party leader Dutton wanted to slash immigration, crack down on crime and ditch a long-standing ban on nuclear power. Some polls during the 36-day campaign showed him leaking support because of Trump, who he praised this year as a “big thinker” with “gravitas” on the global stage. “I mean, Donald Trump is as mad as a cut snake, and we all know that,” said voter Alan Whitman, 59. “We’ve got to tiptoe around that.” As Australians soured on Trump, both Dutton and Albanese took on a more pugnacious tone. “If I needed to have a fight with Donald Trump or any other world leader, to advance our nation’s interest, I’d do it in a heartbeat,” Dutton said in April. Albanese condemned Trump’s tariffs as an act of “economic self-harm” and “not the act of a friend”. Economic concerns dominated the contest for many Australian households struggling to pay inflated prices for milk, bread, power and petrol. “The cost of living, it’s extremely high at the moment. So, taxes as well, is also another really big thing. Petrol prices, all the basic stuff,” said human resources manager Robyn Knox in Brisbane. Coal-mining superpower Australia also chose between two leaders with sharply contrasting ideas on climate change and emissions reduction. Albanese’s government has embraced the global push towards decarbonisation, warning of a future in which iron ore and polluting coal exports no longer prop up the economy. Dutton’s signature policy was a US$200 billion scheme to construct seven industrial-scale nuclear reactors, doing away with the need to ramp up renewables.

Australia’s left-leaning PM Albanese triumphs in election, winning his second three-year term

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}‘Thank you for the chance to continue to serve the best nation on Earth,’ the Labor leader said, after a contest swayed by economic upheaval and Donald Trump

‘Thank you for the chance to continue to serve the best nation on Earth,’ the Labor leader said, after a contest swayed by economic upheaval and Donald Trump