Left-wing Labor Party secures victory in Australia's federal elections, widely perceived as a rejection of far-right politics.
Australia Swings Left Amidst Trump-Style Politics Backlash
In a substantial shift, the Labor party has clinched a federal election victory in Australia, marking a significant domestic pushback against Trump-style politics and the nation's rightward lean under the conservative coalition.
Anthony Albanese, the charismatic prime minister, secured a second term, becoming the first Australian leader to do so since John Howard in 2004. Not only has his party maintained its grip on power, but it has also substantially expanded its majority.
Addressing a jubilant crowd in Sydney on May 3, Albanese declared, "Today, the Australian people have voted for Australian values, for fairness, aspiration, and opportunity for all."
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) projected Labor to win 86 seats, guaranteeing a clear majority, while the coalition only garnered 39, losing 18 seats from the previous election. The results of 16 seats remain undecided.
Conceding defeat, the coalition's leader, Peter Dutton, admitted, "We did not do well enough during this campaign." He addressed coalition supporters in Brisbane, acknowledging the apparent outcome.
Labor's campaign framed the election as a choice between stability and chaos, drawing parallels between the coalition's policies and those of U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump's controversial 10-percent tariff on Australian goods and the global financial instability caused by his trade policies raised concerns among voters, as per France 24's May 3 report. Other essential issues in the campaign included rising living costs, wage growth, and the coalition's proposals like limiting remote work for public servants.
Peter Dutton's policies, often compared to those of Trump, alienated some voters. Henry Maher, a politics lecturer at the University of Sydney, told France 24 that Dutton's plans to cut public service jobs in the name of government efficiency were a turnoff for many voters.
On foreign policy, the Albanese government has prioritized support for Ukraine, committing over $1.3 billion in aid and supporting international efforts to hold Russia accountable for its invasion. In July 2023, Albanese met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Australia has imposed sanctions on over 1,200 individuals and entities linked to Russia's war and has urged China to use its influence to help end the conflict. In April 2025, when asked about rumors of Russia requesting to build a military base in Indonesia, Albanese dismissed the claims as "propaganda." He criticized the opposition for repeating them, expressing his opposition to Russia's authoritarian leadership.
Albanese's comments followed concerns about Moscow increasing its military presence in the region. There were unconfirmed reports of a potential Russian military base on Indonesia's Biak Island, an area strategically close to northern Australia, approximately 1,360 kilometers apart.
- Howard's tenure as the Australian leader in 2004 was the last time a prime minister secured a second term, echoing the current victory of Anthony Albanese.
- The election results, filled with war-and-conflicts rhetoric, appeared to respond to the Trump-style politics backlash, demonstrating a general shift towards the Labor party.
- Remaining sure of the Labor party's expansion of its majority, the jubilant crowd in Sydney celebrated their vote for fairness and opportunity, challenging the coalition's Trump-esque policies.
- The general news reporting on the election highlighted Peter Dutton's policies that resonated with Donald Trump's controversial measures, which contributed to the coalition's substantial losses.
