Anthony Albanese and his opposition Labor Party were poised on Saturday to end nine years of conservative government in Australia, according to the country’s national broadcaster, defeating the coalition led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison with a campaign promising “renewal not revolution, The New York Times reported.
A handful of races were still too close to call, but early results showed Labor winning more than 70 seats of the 76 needed to form a government. Alliances with independent and minor-party victors would give it a majority if it does not reach 76 seats by itself.
Six points BBC summary
- Labor will form the next government after the Liberal-National coalition has failed to win enough seats
- But it is still not clear whether it will be a majority leadership or in coalition with independents and other parties
- Anthony Albanese will be the country’s new prime minister overseeing the first Labor government in almost a decade
- Incumbent PM Scott Morrison will be removed from power
- Independents have also done well in the election so far, amid public dissatisfaction with the two major parties
- The rising cost of living and climate change have dominated this election as two key issues for voters