Labor leader Anthony Albanese was sworn in on Sunday as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister (PM) following his party’s victory in the May 21 federal elections. The victory marked the end of nine years of conservative rule in the country.
With the vote counting still going on, Labor is projected to win around 74 seats, two short of a majority in the 151-seat lower house. The conservative Liberal coalition was defeated in many strongholds by independents and with over 70% of the votes counted, the coalition managed to secure 56 seats.
I am deeply honoured to serve as Australia’s Prime Minister.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 22, 2022
As Prime Minister, I want to bring people together and lead a government that is as courageous, hard-working and caring as the Australian people.
That work starts today. pic.twitter.com/qhu8JxHx2g
During a press conference following his appointment, Albanese listed his government’s priorities, which include climate action, affordable child care, aged care, strengthening medicare, constituting a national reconstruction fund, and fully implementing the respect at work report recommendations. “Australians have voted for change. My government intends to implement that change in an orderly way,” he said.
“I look forward to leading a government that makes Australians proud, a government that doesn’t seek to divide, that doesn’t seek to have wedges but seeks to bring people together for our common interest and our common purpose,” the new PM emphasised.
Thank you Australia. pic.twitter.com/58ZHJCRIlO
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 21, 2022
Apart from Albanese, Labor Senator Penny Wong was appointed as the country’s foreign minister, Richard Marles as the deputy prime minister, Jim Chalmers as treasurer, and Katy Gallagher as finance minister.
The leaders will divide the ministerial portfolios amongst them before Labor’s full ministry is appointed later this month. As a first international engagement, Albanese and Wong are set to travel to Japan for a Quad meeting on Tuesday with Indian PM Narendra Modi, the United States (US) President Joe Biden, and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.
Today I am heading to Japan for the Quad Leaders’ Summit along with Foreign Minister @SenatorWong.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 23, 2022
I am honoured to represent Australia at this important forum.
I look forward to meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida, US President Biden and Indian Prime Minister Modi. pic.twitter.com/7X1AsPNeFS
“The meetings that we will have, not just with the United States but, importantly, with our hosts in Japan and India are going to be very important, in a good way, to send a message to the world that there’s a new government in Australia,” Albanese stated.
Prior to his victory, Albanese called the Quad “very important” to Australia and said the grouping is essential in bringing about a change with regard to dealing with important world issues such as climate change, respect for democracy, and the value of friendship and long-term alliances.
Morrison announced that he will be stepping down as the Liberal party’s leader as the results were the conservatives’ worst performance since the 1946 election. “I’ve always believed in Australians and their judgment and I’ve always been prepared to accept their verdicts and tonight they have delivered their verdict, and I congratulate Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party and I wish him and his government all the very best,” he said.
Congratulations @AlboMP for the victory of the Australian Labor Party, and your election as the Prime Minister! I look forward to working towards further strengthening our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and for shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific region.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 21, 2022
Congratulations to Australia's new Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. Australia is a vital ally, partner, and friend of the United States, and we look forward to working with @AlboMP and his government to advance security and democracy in the region and around the world.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 22, 2022
Congratulations @AlboMP on your election as Prime Minister of Australia.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) May 21, 2022
I look forward to working with you as we reap the rewards of our comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, the AUKUS partnership and the unmatched closeness between the British and Australian people.
🇬🇧🇦🇺
Several contenders have emerged to head the Liberal and according to reports, outgoing Defence Minister Peter Dutton is expected to succeed Morrison.
One of Albanese’s major campaign promises was to reform climate change and environmental policies. Vowing to end Australia’s “climate wars,” Albanese blamed the previous conservative governments for inaction regarding climate policy.
However, since the Labor party looks likely to fall short of the 76 seats required for a majority, it will need the support of the Independents and Greens, which have pledged to fight climate change. This means that Labor will face greater pressure to implement Albanese’s campaign promises and increased demands from Greens and Independents to make more ambitious climate change policies.
Climate change has been a major concern for Australian voters, especially since the 2019 forest fires, a result of a severe heatwave, that resulted in massive property losses, over 30 deaths, and reports that many endangered species were driven to extinction. In fact, a 2021 Lowly Institute survey found that 61% of Australians view climate change as a “critical threat to Australia’s vital interests in the coming decade,” 60% view global warming as a “serious threat,” and 74% believe “the benefits of taking further action on climate change will outweigh the costs.”
Okay, this is a good idea! So, a short thread for you all, explaining the Australian election contest and results https://t.co/WmTXfqpiJA
— Ketan Joshi (@KetanJ0) May 21, 2022
Regarding China, Albanese said his country’s relationship with Beijing will remain a “difficult one” before leaving for the Quad summit in Japan. “It is China that has changed, not Australia, and Australia should always stand up for our values and we will in a government that I lead,” he said.
Relations between both countries first deteriorated after Australia called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. Since then, both countries have been engaged in diplomatic, political, and trade disputes. Furthermore, Australia also entered into the AUKUS trilateral security partnership with the United States and the United Kingdom, which was announced in September last year; the alliance is aimed at countering China’s growing influence across the Indo-Pacific. Under the agreement, Australia will be able to build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines with the technology shared by its partners.
Recently, tensions emerged following the signing of a security deal between China and the Solomon Islands, which Australian say would lead to Chinese encroachment into the Pacific island. Against this backdrop, Australia has warned China against building military bases in the Solomon Islands.
Albanese was congratulated on his victory by the international community, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, India, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, and New Zealand.