Anthony Albanese has secured a decisive re-election win, breaking the so-called “incumbency curse” to remain Prime Minister of Australia. While the final tally may take several days, current projections suggest that Albanese’s centre-left Labor government is poised to significantly increase its parliamentary majority after a sweeping national defeat of the conservative Liberal-National coalition.
“Today, the Australian people have voted for Australian values: for fairness, aspiration, and opportunity for all; for the strength to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need,” Albanese declared in his victory speech.
Peter Dutton, leader of the Coalition, lost his parliamentary seat after 24 years and conceded defeat. He took “full responsibility” for the outcome and issued an apology to his party colleagues.
World leaders responded swiftly. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Albanese, voicing hopes to strengthen diplomatic relations with Australia.
Domestically, the campaign was dominated by cost-of-living issues, particularly the rising expenses of healthcare and housing. Nevertheless, foreign policy also played a key role, with debates centring on how Australia might navigate a potential second Trump presidency in the United States.
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Dutton, often compared to Donald Trump due to his hardline views on immigration, fiscal austerity, and China, struggled to dissociate himself from the controversial former US president. Despite efforts to reframe his image, the association appeared to alienate voters. Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described Dutton’s politics as “very Trumpian,” telling BBC Newshour that Trump represented “the mood music that had a very big influence on how people perceived” the opposition.
Labor’s commanding performance marks a rare feat for a sitting Australian government. Albanese becomes the first prime minister in more than two decades to win back-to-back elections, a signal that voters are consolidating their support around major parties after growing fragmentation in recent years.
Projections from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) indicate that Labor will secure 86 seats, with the Coalition trailing at around 40. The Greens are expected to win one or two seats, while minor parties and independents are leading in nine constituencies. Labor gained nine new seats, although the Greens saw a decline in support. Most “teal” independents retained their seats in traditionally conservative inner-city electorates.
The result represents a remarkable political comeback for Albanese, whose approval ratings had hit record lows earlier in the year due to economic challenges and public dissatisfaction. His comprehensive victory now positions Labor strongly as it enters its second term in office.
