Australia's left-leaning labor party wins elections, PM Anthony Albanese secures historic second term

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has secured a historic victory in the country's general election, marking the first time in 21 years that an Australian prime minister has won a second consecutive three-year term.

Albanese's center-left Labor Party has gained the majority in the House of Representatives, with projections from the Australian Electoral Commission showing the Labor Party holding 70 seats.

Also read: Who is Anthony Albanese? Australian Labor Party leader wins a second term to become PM again

The conservative opposition coalition, led by Peter Dutton, has conceded defeat, securing just 24 seats. Dutton acknowledged the defeat, saying, "We didn’t do well enough during this campaign, that much is obvious tonight, and I accept full responsibility for that." He went on to congratulate Albanese, recognizing the historic nature of the Labor Party’s win.

Soon after, PM Modi took to social media to congratulate the Australian PM. "Congratulations Anthony Albanese on your resounding victory and re-election as Prime Minister of Australia! This emphatic mandate indicates the enduring faith of the Australian people in your leadership. I look forward to working together to further deepen the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advance our shared vision for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," he said.


Meanwhile, with 150 seats in the lower chamber of parliament, Labor is expected to form either a majority or a minority government, depending on final seat allocations. Analyst Antony Green from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation predicted Labor would win 76 seats, while the coalition would secure 36 seats, with unaligned parties likely to hold 13.

The campaign was heavily focused on energy policy and inflation, with both parties acknowledging the country’s ongoing cost-of-living crisis, as reported by the Associated Press. Dutton’s Liberal Party blamed government spending for rising inflation and proposed drastic cuts to public services, including eliminating one in five public sector jobs. Meanwhile, Albanese’s Labor Party criticized Dutton’s nuclear energy proposals and accused his party of adopting divisive US-style politics.

The six-week electoral process further garnered worldwide attention, primarily due to the significant influence of US President Trump. International observers closely monitored whether the economic disruption caused by his tariff policies would affect the voting outcome.

The election also highlighted the generational shift in Australia’s electorate, with younger voters outnumbering Baby Boomers for the first time. The parties also campaigned on policies to help first-time home buyers, addressing the country’s increasingly unaffordable property market.

Albanese’s government also emphasized its success in improving relations with China, leading to the removal of trade barriers that had previously cost Australian exporters billions.

Despite facing a tough economic environment, Albanese is set to continue his government’s focus on renewable energy and public services.