Anthony Albanese arriving onstage after winning the general election. Photo: AFP/SAEED KHAN
Analysis - For the Labor Party faithful at Anthony Albanese's election night headquarters, the party started early. While many had been nervously banking on a win, few could have predicted such a stunning victory, and for it to come through so early.
By 8.30pm Saturday (Australian time), it was done and dusted - ABC's famous pollster Anthony Green declaring on the big screen that there was no way Peter Dutton could win. The place exploded with joy. From then on it was a procession of loud cheers as each seat result came through. Pretty soon it was also clear Labor would not just win, but win in a landslide.
It is a stunning result, because it was only months ago that Peter Dutton, buoyed by what many thought was a global political shift to the right following Donald Trump's election, was ahead in the polls and on track to win.
Albanese was under pressure over the cost-of-living crisis and the failed Voice referendum.
However, when it came to the campaign, Albanese was the one who shined and looked confident. It was a politically safe campaign focusing on health, tax relief, and stability.
Dutton, on the other hand, looked under-prepared. His early keenness for Trump-style policies also clearly hurt him, as Australians - like Canadians - have not liked tariffs nor the instability created by the Trump administration.
For some Labour Party supporters, the win was also a rejection of Trump-style culture war policies, some of which Dutton has been associated with.
Albanese made no mention of Trump in his victory speech, but talked of tackling global issues the Australian way.
For Albanese it is a huge personal triumph. It is only the second time a sitting prime minister has won back-to-back elections in 20 years. To do so and increase his majority is truly historic.
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