Melbourne, 3 May (H.S.): Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently won the federal election, solidifying his majority government as his centre-left Labour Party achieved an impressive electoral sweep, according to local media. The Opposition leader, Peter Dutton, faced a significant defeat, losing his home seat of Dickson in Brisbane to Labour’s Ali France, marking a historic moment as it is the first time since 2007 that a party leader lost their seat. Albanese’s victory establishes him as the first Australian prime minister to secure a second term since 2004.

On the election day, Albanese expressed confidence in his party’s prospects, having performed notably better than Dutton during the preceding five-week campaign. Despite the Coalition initially leading in polls, they experienced a decline in support attributed to their unclear policy positions, allegations of aligning too closely with US President Donald Trump, and intense criticism from Labour over its nuclear reactor initiatives and perceived threats to Medicare.

Dutton, at 62, aimed to project himself as a stable and experienced leader suited to navigate Australia through a time of global uncertainty exacerbated by geopolitical tensions, including Trump’s trade war. Ultimately, the election results signal a critical shift in Australia’s political landscape, with the Labour Party regaining power amid discontent with the previous government’s direction.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar