Anthony Albanese becomes the first prime minister since John Howard in 2004 to win re-election, ending a cycle of one-term leaders over almost two decades, and he becomes the first Labor Prime Minister since Bob Hawke in 1984 to win a second term.
Albanese delivered a personal pledge to Australians to repay their trust after gaining an extraordinary victory at the federal election, as Labor stunned its opponents by increasing its majority in parliament and driving Peter Dutton to defeat in his home seat.
The powerful swing put the government on track to gain at least 14 seats, with some supporters describing the outcome as a landslide, as their opponents reeled from the scale of their losses.
The opposition leader conceded defeat at the election and in his seat of Dickson in northern Brisbane, while Liberals prepared for a wave of recriminations over their campaign and a search for a new leader.
Albanese appeared before chanting supporters in his electorate of Grayndler in Sydney and delivered a vow to voters that repaying their trust will drive his government each and every day of the next three years.
He says 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.
Reprising his key message from the campaign, he held up a Medicare card and vowed to improve health services.
Albanese promised fair wages, fair work conditions and industrial reforms including the “right to disconnect” so that workers could turn down calls from bosses outside working hours.
In an emotional moment that saw him come close to tears, Albanese was joined on stage by his fiancee, Jodie Haydon, and his son, Nathan, and thanked Australians for their support.
[Source: Sydney Morning Herald]
