AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION

Labor claims victory

22 May 2022 Labor has won government for the first time in almost nine years, with Anthony Albanese becoming Australia’s 31st prime minister — the 12th person from the Labor Party to hold that title. Mr Albanese told jubilant supporters that Australians had “voted for change”. However until Monday night, it was still unclear whether he would secure a clear majority. The Labor leader vowed to bring people together, invest in social services and “end the climate wars”. Mr Morrison thanked the “miracle of the Australian people” after conceding. In perhaps the election’s greatest twist, support also surged for Greens and independent candidates running on climate platforms. They could wield greater influence if Labor fails to secure 76 lower house seats to govern in its own right. On Monday night, Labor held 74 seats to the Coalition’s 57. There are at least 15 independents including 4 Greens. South Australia will have two Greens senators for the first time since 2016, while Nick Xenophon and Rex Patrick have almost certainly failed to get elected. One Nation has received the highest vote of any party after Labor, the Liberals and the Greens, but its lead candidate is not hopeful of becoming South Australia’s sixth representative in the upper house. In SA, so far, the Liberal Party has won two quotas, the Labor the same and the Greens have one. In the Senate, there has been a significant shift to the centre left. The Greens look set to win a senator in every state, which would give them a total of 12. The Greens are set to hold the balance of power as the ALP will have at least 25 and the Liberal/Nationals 31. A number of seats will go to other smaller groups and independents. (Source: ABC)

Greek Tribune Adelaide, South Australia