ALBANESE’S LABOR TRIUMPHS IN AUSTRALIA’S FEDERAL ELECTION

Sat 03 May 2025:

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has won a second term in a landslide victory, with voters favoring his Labor Party’s stability amid global uncertainty sparked by Donald Trump’s return as US President.

Meanwhile, Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton suffered a crushing defeat, losing his long-held Brisbane suburban seat and dashing his hopes of becoming prime minister, marking a devastating blow for the seasoned politician and former Coalition government minister.

Things have gone from bad to worse for the main opposition leader.

Peter Dutton has not only conceded defeat in the federal election to Albanese but also in the race for his own seat of Dickson to Labor’s Ali France.

This hands Dutton the unenviable record of being the first federal opposition leader ever to lose their seat at an election.

Such a poor result in the country’s federal election will likely leave the Liberal Party searching for a new leader.

Many political analysts have pointed out that comparisons to US President Donald Trump may have damaged Dutton’s image during the election campaign.

In conceding defeat, Dutton said he accepted full responsibility for the election loss. He said he had phoned Albanese to congratulate him, and had also spoken with Ali France, the Labor candidate who succeeds him in the electorate of Dickson.

The Labor victory makes Albanese the first Australian Prime Minister to win re-election for two decades, since John Howard in 2004.

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‘Trump factor’ blamed as Liberals lose

Senator James Paterson, a Liberal spokesperson, has defended the party’s election campaign, which he argued was negatively affected by “the Trump factor”.

“It was devastating in Canada for the conservatives … I think it has been a factor here, just how big a factor will be determined in a few hours’ time,” he told ABC.

The reversal in Labor’s fortunes mirrors those of Canada’s Liberal Party, which returned to power this week in a come-from-behind victory after the US president’s tariffs and remarks on Canadian sovereignty led to a voter backlash.

‘I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we stand’: Albanese

“Serving as your prime minister is the greatest honour of my life,” Albanese tells supporters during his victory speech.

“And it is with a deep sense of humility and a profound sense of responsibility that the first thing that I do tonight is to say thank you to the people of Australia for the chance to continue to serve the best nation on Earth, and I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we stand,” he said.

“Australians have chosen to face global challenges the Australian way; looking after each other while building for the future,” Albanese said.

“And to serve these values, meet these challenges … these opportunities, and build that better and stronger future, Australians have chosen a majority Labor government,” he added.

His words were met with raucous applause from the crowd.

“When it comes to Australia’s future, all of us have so much reason to be optimistic because when we look at everything going on around the world today,” Albanese said.

He added that considering “the changes that will shape the future of the global economy” and “our people who have smarts and skills, actually there is nowhere else you would rather be than right here in Australia”.

He then said the government will be back at work tomorrow, before joking with the crowd, “Maybe not everyone here … and that’s probably for the best.”

The crowd applauds as Albanese pulls out his Medicare card and waves it in the air.

“This card is not Labor red or Liberal blue. It is green and gold. It is a declaration of our national values in our national colours,” he said, pausing as his supporters clapped and cheered.

“Medicare belongs to all Australians and together we’ll make it stronger for all Australians,” he added.

The Labor Party leader says the Australian public voted to reaffirm their common values.

“In this time of global uncertainty, Australians have chosen optimism and determination,” he told the crown in Sydney, as cheers erupted.

“Australians have chosen to face global challenges the Australian way – looking after each other while building for the future,” he added.

In the last three years, Albanese has been credited with improving relations with China, leading to the lifting of tariffs imposed during his predecessor’s term. His government has also repaired relations with Pacific Island nations, in part to prevent Beijing from filling a leadership vacuum. On foreign relations, he’s promised more of the same.

Albanese’s government had been widely criticized for not being aggressive enough in efforts to tame rising living costs. During his second term, he’s promised to provide a tax cut and short-term relief from higher energy bills, and build 1.2 million houses to ease the housing crisis.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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