See: 3 Things You Need to Know About the Results of the Australian Election
Worker Anthony Albanese rejected the so-called “curse of the incumbent” and was re-elected Australian prime minister in a landslide.
The official voting count doesn’t end for days, but the central left government of Albanese dramatically increases its majority after a conservative liberal coalition of states suffers a fierce defeat across the country.
“Today, Australians voted for Australian values, for their strength to demonstrate adversity and kindness to those in need, for their fairness, aspirations and opportunities,” Albanese said.
Coalition leader Peter Dutton, who lost his seat in 24 years, said he accepted “full responsibility” for his party’s loss and apologized to lawmakers.
Following the results, British Prime Minister Kiel and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said they look forward to deepening bilateral ties with Australia.
The cost of living, particularly healthcare and housing affordability — dominated the five-week campaign, but international relations also grew their heads, becoming a question of how Donald Trump is approaching largely in the election.
Dutton was considered by many to be Australian Trump. Trump in Australia appeared to be on the decline with voters despite his attempts to shake up immigration, public sector cuts, and comparisons with his policies regarding China and the Trump administration.
Labour has seen them sway towards them all across the country, a rare feat for Australia’s second term government. And Albanese will become the first prime minister to win consecutive elections for over 20 years.
The party’s success also eased the tendency for voters to abandon two major political parties. This was the big story of the last election of 2022.
According to forecasts from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Labour has finished with 86 seats, about 40 seats, while the Greens party has finished with one or two Greens. Other minor parties and independents are ahead with nine seats.
This represents a 9 increase for labor and a significant decrease in green support. However, most “teal” independents were returned with more conservative and inner-city electors.
It’s a surprising turn from the beginning of the year when polls put Albanese’s popularity at record lows after three years of global economic pain, tense national debate and growing government dissatisfaction.
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Anthony Albanese says his election is a vote for equality and kindness
In his victory speech on Saturday night, Albanese addressed some of the key election issues. This includes migration, climate change and energy.
He reiterated his commitment to making healthcare (most critically GP appointments) more affordable, keeping his homes out of reach for more Australians, dealing with climate change and doing more to protect the environment.
In particular, he also vowed to advance reconciliation for the Indigenous people.
This is a veiled reference to the failed voice referendum in October 2023, the biggest moment in Albanese’s tenure, which sought to recognize the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of the Constitution, and at the same time establishing a counseling body for them.
Australia is the only federal country that has never signed a treaty with Indigenous peoples.
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This voice was one of the Albaneseans’ most decisive policies, and his most impressive set-off – it was overwhelmingly rejected after months of toxic and divisive national debate.
Indigenous Australians have since told the BBC that they have felt that they have been forgotten by policymakers.
The Prime Minister also discovered it was difficult to try to walk the middle path of the Israel-Gaza War, and after purchasing a multi-million-dollar beach pad in the middle of a housing crisis, he tackled the tough economic situation, like other leaders around the world.
Tanking polls widely viewed the Albanese as the underdogs in elections and were considered the next victim of the “curse of the incumbent.”
Meanwhile, Dutton seemed to be writing a great political comeback – he took his party into office in one period from the worst losses in 70 years.
Almost a century has passed since the first government failed to win reelection, but John Warhurst, professor emeritus at Australian National University, said: [year] in front. He was the one who lost. ”
Instead, tonight, Dutton oversees the party’s losses, so he emphasized that he lost his own Dixon voter to worker Ali France.
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Peter Dutton is one of the most experienced opposition lawmakers.
“I love this country and I fought so hard for it,” he said he admitted defeat to Brisbane supporters.
“We’ve been defined by our enemies in this election, and this is not a true story of who we are, but we’re rebuilding from here. We know our values, so we know our beliefs and we’ll always stick to them.”
His campaign caused a series of confusing policy backflips, troubling mistakes on key issues such as cost of living, and perhaps the most memorable, accidentally pushing the AFL ball into the cameraman’s head.
“The opposition was shambolic,” says Professor Warhurst.
However, the government, despite its campaigning, was ti-sick. Rather than moving forward with bold or persuasive policies, analysts said they primarily allowed voters to judge Dutton and his party.
And that’s what I’ve heard from voters throughout the campaign.
Watch: “Boy” and “Strange”: Australians summarise elections in one word
The Union will lick the wound and turn to choose the next leader, but once again, it must consider that direction.
In the last election, analysts and some party’s own lawmakers warned of the move to the right. They questioned Dutton, a polarized person many considered to be the right person to rebuild support, especially in a medium-sized area where many people have lost.
After a campaign to venture into the realm of culture war on the dying day and that some of the remarks are “Trump” politics, the coalition must ask those questions again.
“We have to stop drinking Kool-Aid from the fire hose, so we need to do some serious reviews… We’re deceiving ourselves that it’s just a few tactical devices that are far from winning elections,” former liberal strategist Tony Barry told ABC.
But on the other hand, Labour has to decide what they want to accomplish in the massive mission handed over by Australia.
Albanese’s “curse of the incumbent” turned out to be a gift. International uncertainty appears to be pushing voters from countries like Canada away from change. Similarly, Australia voted steadily.
Amy Remekis, chief political analyst at the Australian Institute think tank, said Labour had hit a “road on the road” on its policy platform, but could now be brave.
“That’s the path they took to vote, and what they see is that they paid dividends to them. But the question now is, “Does Labour actually do something with power?”
