Labor Party, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, on track for another victory in Australia's national election

Labor Party, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, on track for another victory in Australia's national election

[Sydney, May 3, 2025] — According to a Reuters report, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor Party is on course to win the national election, as reported by various broadcasters on Saturday. This victory marks a comeback for Labor against a previously resurgent conservative bloc, where concerns over the influence of U.S. President Donald Trump played a significant role.

Supporters at the Labor Party’s election event in Sydney erupted in cheers and embraced each other as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Sky News Australia announced that, based on early results, Labor could form the government. However, it remains unclear whether they will be able to retain a majority. ABC also reported that Peter Dutton, leader of the conservative Liberal Party, could lose his seat in Dickson.

“These results are absolutely unbelievable,” said Labor supporter Melinda Adderley, 54, emotionally.

Preliminary results published on the Australian Electoral Commission website showed the Labor Party ahead of the Liberal-National coalition, with Labor receiving 55.94% and the coalition 44% on a two-party preferred basis.

Surveys showed that voters were most concerned about the cost of living and the unpredictability of Trump’s policies. Election analyst Tony Barry told ABC, “Trump has changed people’s perception of risk.”

Liberal Party spokesperson Senator James Paterson acknowledged that the "Trump factor" had negatively impacted the conservative campaign. “It was devastating for the conservatives in Canada… it’s had an effect here too. Just how big an effect, we’ll know in a few hours,” he said on ABC.

Labor’s surge mirrored that of Canada’s Liberal Party, which returned to power earlier this week in a comeback triggered by voter backlash against Trump’s tariffs and remarks about Canadian sovereignty.

‘A Huge Loss’

“If you throw enough mud, some of it will stick,” said Liberal Senator Jacinta Price from the Northern Territory, who had claimed their party would “make Australia great again” — a remark drawing comparisons to Trump’s slogan.

“You made everything about Trump,” she told ABC on Saturday evening. Peter Dutton had nominated her for a proposed ministry of government efficiency — seen as another echo of Trump-era policy ideas.

“Losing Peter Dutton is a huge loss,” she added.

Following the start of vote counting, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the Labor government had been “in deep trouble” at the end of 2024 but managed a turnaround due to Albanese’s strong campaign, policies addressing the cost of living, and the Trump effect.

Speaking to ABC, Chalmers said, “The economy turned from a negative to a positive — the interest rate cut was part of that.” The central bank lowered rates in February, just before the election was called, reversing a series of 13 rate hikes that had increased mortgage payments.

“The sense of the influence of American politics also helped,” he added.

Defense Minister Richard Marles told Channel Seven that the early results were encouraging and that regaining majority government “remains a possibility, and that is what we are trying to achieve.”