A triumphant Anthony Albanese declared victory at Labor headquarters in Sydney, calling it “the greatest honour of my life” to serve as prime minister.
“It is with a deep sense of humility and a profound sense of responsibility,” he said, “that the first thing that I do tonight is to say, ‘thank you’ to the people of Australia for the chance to continue to serve the best nation on Earth.”
He acknowledged the traditional owners of the land and spoke about Australia’s cultural diversity, referencing the “over 300 cultures” and the “diversity” that binds the country together. Australians, he said, “believe in being kind to all” and “unite to values that bring us all together as Australians”—values that “set our nation apart in this time of global uncertainty” and reflect “hope and optimism.”
“Today, the Australian people have voted for Australian values: for fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all,” Albanese said. “Australians have voted for a future that holds true to these values—a future built on everything that brings us together.”
He said that he had spoken with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, “I spoke with Peter, who has of course conceded defeat, and I thank him.”
When some Labor supporters began to boo, he shut it down with a firm, “No!” and reminded the crowd, “What we do in Australia is treat people with respect.
“I thanked Peter for his generous words at the end of what has been a very hard-fought campaign.” He added, “I want to take this opportunity to wish Peter and Kirrily and their family all the very best for their future.”
Reflecting on the significance of the result, he said, “The Australian people have made their clear choice.”
He called on all Australians to reflect on their shared values, “Let us all reflect on what we have in common, because no matter who you vote for, no matter where you live, no matter how you worship—whether you belong to a culture that has known and cared for this great continent for 65,000 years, or you have chosen our nation as your home and enriched our society with your contribution—we are all Australian.”
He stressed that national unity, equality, and mutual respect would guide his government. “The enduring foundations of equality and respect for one another” would be central.
To first-time Labor voters, he offered a pledge, “For those that voted for Labor for the first time, I make the solemn pledge—we will not forget, we will never take it for granted. Repaying your trust will drive our government each and every day of the next three years. The positive program we took to this election was shaped by the Australian people’s priorities.”
Albanes offered a personal reflection and said, his mother “had a hard life”.
“We struggled financially, but she taught me to always be positive and to believe in people.”
“For those that voted for Labor for the first time, I make the solemn pledge—we will not forget, we will never take it for granted. Repaying your trust will drive our government each and every day of the next three years. The positive program we took to this election was shaped by the Australian people’s priorities.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
He added, “When it comes to Australia’s future, all of us have so much reason to be optimistic. When we look at everything going on around the world today, when we consider the changes that will shape us, when we think about our people, our values, and our skills—truly, there’s nowhere else you’d rather be than right here in Australia. This is a time of profound opportunity for our nation. We have everything we need to seize this moment and make it our own—and we must do it together.”
The speech focused on unity, with themes of fairness, kindness, and respect. There were no major policy announcements, and Albanese was quick to silence any hostility toward the opposition.
“All of us must realise our full potential. To be our very best, every Australian must have the opportunity to be their best. We must value every Australian. And Labor will govern for every Australian.”
This marks the first time since John Howard that a prime minister has won back-to-back elections, and Albanese now leads with a clear majority, granting him strong authority within his party. This is no doubt one of Labor’s greatest victories.
