Australian election results: Labor Party forms govt again

The Labor Party in Australia led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has won a second term in power in the national elections, media reports said on Saturday (April 3).

"Serving as your prime minister is the greatest honour of my life," Albanese said in Sydney, as quoted by ABC News.

"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," he added.

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Albanese thanks Opposition leader

Albanese said he had thanked Opposition leader Peter Dutton him for "his generous words at the end of what has been a very hard-fought campaign...I make this solemn pledge. We will not forget... we will never take it for granted. Repaying your trust will drive our government each and every day of the next three years...."

"We take out this task with new hope, new confidence and new determination. Together we are turning a corner and together we will make our way forward," he said as quoted by ABC News.

A first since 2004

Political analysts said that while Albanese ran a meticulously planned campaign, Opposition leader Peter Dutton appears to have shot himself in the foot with his comments reflecting a purported ideological closeness to US President Donald Trump, whose now praised reciprocal tariffs, were imposed on Australia also.

The Labor Party recorded significant swings in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia and a small swing in Victoria, while Peter Dutton conceded defeat in his own seat of Dickson, reported ABC News.

The victory will make Anthony Albanese the only Australian Prime Minister to be elected twice since John Howard (1996-2007), reported ABC News.

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Dutton congratulates Albanese

Congratulating Anthony Albanese, Dutton said that his party failed to run an impactful campaign. "We didn't do well enough in this campaign, that much is obvious tonight," Mr Dutton said as quoted by ABC News.

"It is an historic occasion for the Labor Party and we recognise that. I congratulated the prime minister and wished him, Jodie and Nathan all the very best and I said to the prime minister that his mother would be incredibly proud of his achievement tonight and he should be proud of what he has achieved," he added.

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'Chance of coalition govt slim'

ABC’s political analyst Antony Green said that with the prospect of an increasing majority for the Labour Party, the chance of a coalition government at the helm of Australia is slim.

Earlier, Albanese told Channel Seven that he was looking to build on his 2022 victory. “The holy grail is back-to-back wins that we’re aiming for today,” he said. “I’ll leave nothing on the field over the next three years if I’m re-elected as Australia’s prime minister.”