By Kirsty Needham, Alasdair Pal, and Christine Chen
SYDNEY (Sazua.com) — Australia’s Anthony Albanese secured a landmark second-term victory as prime minister on Saturday, making an impressive political resurgence despite strong competition from conservative forces. The win was fueled primarily by voter worries over the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s influence.
Peter Dutton, the head of Australia’s conservative Liberal Party, admitted defeat and lost his seat as well. This mirrors what happened to Canada’s conservatives and their leader just days before; their defeats were also linked to a backlash against candidates with similarities to Donald Trump.
As Albanese declared victory at Labor’s election celebration in Sydney, supporters erupted into cheers and embraced one another, confident that his party was set to form a majority government.
“Our administration has opted for the approach taken by Australia, as we are immensely proud of our identity and everything we’ve collectively achieved within this nation,” Albanese stated to his supporters.
“There’s no need for us to plead, acquire through loans, or replicate from elsewhere. Our motivation doesn’t stem from foreign lands. It originates within our principles and among our populace,” he concluded.
Albanese would become the first Australian prime minister to secure a second consecutive term in office in twenty years. He stated that Australians had chosen fairness and demonstrated “the bravery to stand firm in tough times and extend compassion to those who require support.”
The Australian Electoral Commission website indicated that Labor was set to secure 81 out of 150 seats in the House of Representatives, thereby expanding its majority in Parliament, as 68% of votes had been tallied.
Dutton – whose Liberals were topping the polls as late as February before he started drawing constant comparisons to Trump – stated that he had called Albanese to offer his congratulations.
In tonight’s broadcast address, Dutton stated, ‘Our performance throughout this campaign was not satisfactory. This is clear now, and I take complete accountability for our shortcomings.’
The ex-police officer known for his strict stance on law enforcement and migration mentioned that he had conversed with Labor’s contender in the constituency of Dickson, which he had represented for twenty years, and commended her on her victory.
Dutton stated, “We’ve been characterized by our adversaries in this election, but that doesn’t reflect the genuine narrative of who we are.” He pledged that the party would reconstruct itself.
TRUMP COMPARISONS
Opinion polls indicated that cost-of-living challenges and worries regarding Trump’s unpredictable policies were key concerns for voters.
“If you sling enough mud it will stick,” said Liberal Senator for the Northern Territory Jacinta Price, whose comments that her party would “make Australia great again” had fuelled comparisons to Trump’s own “Make America Great Again” slogan.
“She stated on ABC that you turned everything into a discussion about Trump.” Dutton mentioned he would assign Price to a ministry focused on enhancing government efficiency, which mirrors several of Trump’s policy initiatives.
“His departure, Peter Dutton, represents a significant loss,” she remarked.
The Opposition Liberal Party spokesperson, Senator James Paterson, supported the conservative campaign, stating that it had been adversely impacted by what he referred to as “the Trump effect.”
“The impact on Canadian Conservatives was heartbreaking… I believe it played a role here; precisely how significant this role will become clear within the next few hours,” he previously stated to ABC.
Initially, when voting began, Labor Treasurer Jim Chalmers stated that the government was “in considerable difficulty” towards the close of 2024. However, they managed to regain their footing due to Albanese’s robust campaigning efforts, policy measures tackling affordability issues, and what has been referred to as the Trump impact.
As the outcomes began to surface, he informed ABC that the predicted triumph was “a historic win.” Albanese “has achieved one of the most significant political successes since federation,” he stated.
The outcomes were “truly astonishing,” Labor backer Melinda Adderley, 54, remarked tearfully at the election celebration.
(Reported by Kirsty Needham and Alasdair Pal from Sydney; Edited by Edmund Klamann and Andrew Heavens)
