Anthony Albanese has been sworn in as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister at Government House in Canberra this morning alongside senior Labor frontbenchers before he heads to Tokyo for talks with the US, India and Japan.
Labor’s historic victory on Saturday has still not secured the majority with the party so far holding 72 electorates with 14 seats in doubt. Labor is expected to achieve 76 following a decimation of Liberal Party in heartland inner city seats.
Mr Albanese’s frontbench team including Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Foreign Minister Penny Wong who will accompany the PM at the Quad leaders’ Summit, were also sworn by Governor-General David Hurley. The remaining frontbench is to be sworn in once Mr Albanese returns from Tokyo.
Ms Gallagher will take on the roles of Minister for Women and Attorney-General and Mr Marles will become Minister for Employment in the interregnum period.
The Quad meeting is actually behind the swearing in ceremony time difference-wise, marking the fastest change of government for Australia in order for the country to be able to participate in the meeting.
“I, Anthony Norman Albanese, do solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that I will well and truly serve the Commonwealth of Australia, her land and her people in the office of Prime Minister,” Mr Albanese said.
“It’s a big day in my life. But a big day for the country, when we change the government. I want to lead a government that has the same sentiment of optimism and hope that I think defines the Australian people. I want to be positive.”
“Australian’s have voted for change and my government intends to implement that change in an orderly way.”
In Tokyo, Mr Albanese will meet US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The Prime Minister also confirmed that he had spoken to US President Biden and said the talks were crucial.
“It enables us to send a message to the world that there is a change of government, there will be some changes in policy, particularly with regard to climate change and our engagement with the world on those issues,” he said.
“The (Quad security) meetings that we will have, not just with the United States, but importantly with our hosts in Japan and India are going to be very important, in a good way, to send a message to the world that there’s a new government in Australia and it’s a government that represents a change, in terms of the way that we deal with the world on issues like climate change but also a continuity in the way that we have respect for democracy and the way that we value our friendships and long time alliances.”