Australia election 2025: Antony Albanese win 'overshadowed by Trump' as Dutton loses OWN seat in landmark loss

Cost-of-living pressures and unease over Trump's unpredictable policies were among the key concerns for voters, according to opinion polls.

Supporters at Labor’s election party in Sydney cheered and hugged each other as Albanese, who is the first Australian PM to be re-elected since 2004, claimed victory and said Labor would form a majority government.

The landmark victory marks a striking reversal from the beginning of the year, when Albanese faced record-low approval ratings.

In his victory speech, Anthony Albanese said serving as Prime Minister is the "greatest honour of his life".

He said: "It is with a deep sense of humility and a profound sense of responsibility that the first thing that I do tonight is to say thank you to the people of Australia."

"Australians have chosen to face global challenges the Australian way; looking after each other while building for the future."

MORE LIKE THIS:

• Australian elections: Polls open as Anthony Albanese hopes to be first PM to win re-election since 2004
• Australia calls sudden federal election as PM Anthony Albanese warns of 'uncertain times'
• British couple claims their 'future is uncertain' as they face deportation by Australian government

Claiming a majority goverment, Albanese said: "And to serve these values, meet these challenges, these opportunities, and build that better and stronger future — Australians have chosen a majority Labor government."

"Our government will choose the Australian way, because we are proud of who we are and all that we have built together in this country," Albanese told supporters.

"We do not need to beg or borrow or copy from anywhere else. We do not seek our inspiration from overseas. We find it right here in our values and in our people," he added.

The PM continued by thanking his opponent Peter Dutton: "I thank Peter for his generous words at the end of what has been a very hard-fought campaign."

He added the world has "thrown a lot at our country over the past three years".

"That is why it means so much that in these uncertain times the people of Australia have placed their trust in Labor once again."

Labor will not take that trust "for granted," he said.

Albanese said he will be "back at work tomorrow," and that his team will "take on this task, with new hope, new confidence and new determination.

"Because together we are turning the corner and together we are making our way forward, with no one held back and no one left behind.

"We will be a government that supports reconciliation with First Nations people because we will be a stronger nation when we close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians."

Peter Dutton’s Liberal-National Coalition suffered a clear defeat, with significant swings against it nationwide.

Most strikingly, Dutton lost his own seat of Dickson in a landmark loss not seen since 2007 when his political mentor John Howard was ousted from his Sydney electorate.

While Dickson was Queensland’s most marginal seat and always expected to be tightly contested, the result is likely to trigger serious internal turmoil and soul-searching within the Coalition ranks.

"We didn't do well enough during this campaign," Dutton said in a televised speech.

"That much is obvious tonight, and I accept full responsibility for that."

He also said he had spoken to Labor's candidate in the seat of Dickson he had held for two decades, and congratulated her on her success.

"We have been defined by our opponents in this election which is not the true story of who we are" Dutton said, pledging the conservative party would rebuild.

Political expert Melissa Clarke pointed to the PM’s steady approach as the reason for tonight’s win.

Speaking on ABC’s election panel, she said: "This is a Prime Minister being re-elected after [we’ve seen] election after election of Australia either changing government or parties themselves, changing their leaders to have a prime minister re-elected for a second."

"He has been criticised for not being adventurous enough, for not being willing to take big enough steps in reform but his belief has always been that what Australians are looking for is a steady hand."

She described the election outcome as a "nightmare" for the Coalition.

The election appeared to take inspiration from Donald Trump in several ways, from campaign slogans to plans to implement Trump-esque strategies if elected.

"If you sling enough mud it will stick," said Liberal Senator for the Northern Territory Jacinta Price, whose comments that her party would "make Australia great again" had fuelled comparisons to Trump's own "Make America Great Again" slogan.

"You made it all about Trump," she said on ABC.

Following Albanese's win, Sir Keir Starmer has congratulated his Australian counterpart.

The UK Prime Minister said: "Congratulations to Anthony Albanese on your election win.

"The UK and Australia are as close as ever – which goes to show that long-distance friendships can be the strongest.

"I know that we will continue to work together on our shared ambitions, including on trade, investment and energy, working towards a better life for working people in the UK and Australia.

"Our collaboration on defence, especially the AUKUS programme, will continue to grow, and as fellow steadfast supporters of Ukraine we will continue to stand together against Putin’s illegal war for as long as it takes."