Australia Election: Albanese’s Labor Party Set to Retain Power

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is on track to lead his center-left Labor Party to a second term, according to projections from national broadcasters on Saturday night.

Early election results show Labor in a strong position to form government once again, with growing support driven by domestic economic concerns and growing unease over the global influence of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Cheers erupted at Labor’s election night headquarters in Sydney as both the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Sky News Australia announced Labor was likely to return to power. Although it remains unclear whether the party will maintain its outright majority, the mood among supporters was one of celebration and relief.

Melinda Adderley, a 54-year-old Labor voter in attendance, was visibly emotional. “It’s absolutely unbelievable,” she said through tears. “It feels like the country has chosen hope again.”

According to preliminary figures published by the Australian Electoral Commission, Labor was leading the conservative coalition—made up of the Liberal and National parties—with 55.94% of the two-party preferred vote, compared to 44%.

READ ALSO: Meta Warns of Possible Facebook and Instagram Shutdown in Nigeria

In a surprising twist, Peter Dutton, leader of the Liberal Party and a key figure in the conservative bloc, was projected to lose his parliamentary seat of Dickson. His defeat would mark a seismic shift in Australia’s political landscape, especially as Dutton had positioned himself as a vocal supporter of policies echoing Trump’s populist rhetoric.

Throughout the campaign, the influence of Donald Trump’s global political style loomed large. Australian voters, still wary of rising interest rates, inflation, and economic volatility, were also uneasy about foreign policy directions shaped by Trump’s potential return to the White House.

Election analyst Tony Barry told the ABC that Trump’s shadow had changed how Australians perceive political risk. “Trump had a massive effect in changing people’s perception of risk,” Barry said.

Opposition Senator James Paterson acknowledged that Trump’s presence in global headlines had hurt the conservative campaign. “The Trump factor was a real hurdle,” he said. “We saw what happened in Canada—it was devastating for the conservatives there, and it’s had an effect here too.”

Indeed, Labor’s rebound mirrors a recent comeback by Canada’s Liberal Party, which surged back to power after a backlash over Trump’s economic pressure tactics and controversial comments on Canadian sovereignty.

READ ALSO: U.S. Approves $3.5 Billion Missile Deal with Saudi Arabia

Within the Australian Liberal ranks, internal comments further fanned the flames of the Trump comparison. Senator Jacinta Price, who infamously declared her party would “make Australia great again,” admitted that the campaign had become too closely tied to Trump-like narratives. “You made it all about Trump,” she said during a televised panel on election night.

Dutton had promised to appoint Price to a newly created ministry of government efficiency—another nod to Trump-era policy playbooks. Price, reacting to the projected results, lamented the potential loss of Dutton, calling it “a huge loss.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers, speaking to ABC, reflected on the turnaround in Labor’s fortunes. “We were in all sorts of trouble at the end of 2024,” he said. “But the campaign reset with Albanese’s leadership, our focus on the cost of living, and frankly, the Trump effect.”

Australia’s central bank also played a role. A surprise interest rate cut in February—reversing a series of 13 consecutive hikes—helped ease the pressure on mortgage holders, giving the Labor campaign a much-needed economic boost just before the election was called.

Labor’s Defence Minister Richard Marles told Channel Seven the early numbers were promising. “Regaining majority government remains a possibility—and it’s what we’re fighting for,” he said.

As the counting continues, one thing is clear: this election wasn’t just about local issues. It was about the future direction of Australia in an increasingly volatile world—and whether the country would lean into or resist the populist forces reshaping politics globally.