Anthony Albanese is the new Australian prime minister
Anthony Albanese vows unity after labor seizes power. Australia has elected its first Labor government in almost a decade, ousting Scott Morrison’s coalition.
Mr. Anthony Albanese the new Australian prime minister told jubilant voters that Australians had “voted for change”. The center-left vowed to bring people together, invest in social services and “end the climate wars”.
The Greens and independent candidates running on climate platforms saw the biggest gains. The labor won 72 in the lower house so far against Scott Morrison’s Liberal-National coalition won 55.
“My Labor team will work every day to bring Australians together. And I will lead a government worthy of the people of Australia,” he said.
Mr. Albanese, 59, son of a single mum who was a disability pensioner, who grew up in public housing, began by acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, reiterating his commitment to hold a referendum on a Voice to Parliament- an indigenous advisory body -during his three-year term.
Mr. Albanese will fly to Tokyo on Monday for a summit with the leaders of Japan, India, and the US. As he will be representing Australia as its prime minister, he will be sworn into the office quickly- perhaps as early as Sunday.
Mr. Albanese served briefly as deputy prime minister to Kevin Rudd in 2013 and has been a favourite of his party’s left-wing. Since becoming opposition leader in 2019, he has positioned himself more towards the centre.
After taking over from Malcolm Turnbull in 2018, Scott Morrison (54) the first prime minister to serve a full term in office since John Howard in 2017, led Australia through a period dominated by natural disasters and the pandemic. The coalition lost crucial seats to so-called “teal” independents in traditional inner-city Liberal strongholds and had campaigned on platforms of climate action and integrity in politics. Former Defence Minister Peter Dutton is seen as favourite to take over as Liberal leader after former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg appeared likely to lose his seat.
Uk Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he looked forward to working with Mr. Albanese “ in the weeks, months and years ahead as together, we tackle shared challenges and demonstrate the importance of our shared values”.
In Australia voting is compulsory and about 1.7 million people were expected to cast a ballot this time.
Mr. Albanese nicknamed Albo, earned a reputation as a defender of Australia’s free healthcare system, an advocate for the LGBT community, a republican, and a passionate rugby league fan. His father believed his father had died before he was born, but as a teenager, he learned his mother Maryanne Ellery, had in fact fallen pregnant to a married man who was very likely still alive – while travelling in Europe. Three decades later he tracked down Carlo Albanese, flying to Italy to meet his father for the first time and his half-siblings. With his mother’s support, he became the first in his family to finish school and go to university. He has said creating a better world for his son, Nathan, is the inspiration behind his public life. Mr. Albanese who has been an MP for 25 years, separated from his wife of 19 years in 2019 but partner Jodie Haydon joined him on the campaign trail. He worked in both federal and state politics before he was elected on his 33rd birthday to an inner-city Sydney seat in 1996 under Labour ticket. In 2007, when Labor swept to power under Kevin Rudd, Mr. Albanese became the minister for infrastructure and transport.