Albanese is seeking to become the first Australian prime minister to return to office in two decades, but is facing a challenge from the conservative Liberal Party headed by Peter Dutton.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has secured a second term in office in what appears to be an election wipeout for the Liberal Party leader, as voters chose stability over change against a backdrop of global turmoil inflicted by a returning US President Donald Trump.
Albanese’s Labor Party was on course to secure a majority, and while votes were still being counted, early results showed a sharp swing towards his center-left party, according to projections from national broadcaster the ABC and CNN affiliate Sky News.
The Labor victory makes Albanese the first Australian Prime Minister to win re-election for two decades, since John Howard in 2004.
Labor Party supporters react as a projection of the results in the general election are seen on a news report at the party's election night event in Sydney on May 3.
Labor Party supporters react as a projection of the results in the general election are seen on a news report at the party's election night event in Sydney on May 3. Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images
Australia’s return of a left-leaning government follows Canada’s similar sharp swing towards Mark Carney’s Liberal Party.
While Australia wasn’t facing the same threats to its sovereignty as Canada, Trump’s global tariffs and policy swings have undermined Australians’ trust in the US, according to recent surveys.
Dutton entered the five-week campaign on a strong footing. But analysts say his chances were badly damaged by policy misses and reversals, and weighed down by Trump’s wrecking-ball approach to the global order.
By contrast, Albanese’s Labor Party was able to demonstrate a steady hand – striking an authoritative tone in response to Trump’s decision to impose 10% tariffs on Australia, which were later paused, analysts said.
A man takes a photo of a fellow voter as they prepare to vote in the general election at a polling centre in the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club in Sydney on Saturday.
A man takes a photo of a fellow voter as they prepare to vote in the general election at a polling centre in the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club in Sydney on Saturday. David Gray/AFP/Getty Images
After Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” announcement, Albanese called a press conference and, flanked by his foreign and trade ministers, said: “This is not the act of a friend.”
In contrast, Dutton struggled to shake off comparisons to Trump by his opponents.
Domestically, Albanese has promised to ease cost-of-living pressures after a long period of high inflation, provide a tax cut and short-term relief from higher energy bills, and build 1.2 million houses to ease the housing crisis.
The election result and which party will be able to form a government is typically expected to be known on election night – but it also depends how close the race is.
The country’s cost-of-living and housing crisis has dominated the election, but recent uncertainty caused by US President Donald Trump could also shape the final outcome.
Australians have been voting since April 22, with more than 8.5 million of the 18 million total number of voters already casting early ballots – a considerable jump on the 2022 election. Voting is compulsory in the country.
What we’re hearing across the board from Australian media, including national broadcaster ABC, is that this is a clear victory for the Labor Party and that Anthony Albanese will return to the post of prime minister.
Vote counting, of course, is still under way but the question at this quite early stage is no longer if Labor will win but by how much.
It has been an incredibly successful night for the Labor Party.
We expect that we will shortly hear from Albanese and it’s likely that we’ll also hear from Dutton.Live pictures from the Labor Party headquarters show people there celebrating and chanting “Albo”, which is the nickname for the prime minister.
Conversely, at the Liberal Party headquarters, it’s a much more sombre atmosphere, with people very much disappointed by this outcome.
ABC is projecting that Peter Dutton will lose his Dickson seat to Labor’s Ali France, in a major blow to the opposition.
Separately, Sky News is projecting that Labor will retain the New South Wales seats of:
