Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was victorious in his country’s recent federal election. He’s about to be inaugurated to lead the nation for a second term. In those early election results, it was clear that Labor would win nearly 90 seats, well ahead of a greatly weakened Coalition. In a first answer, Albanese promised to “focus on Australians national interest.”
Straight after the election, Albanese made a beeline for Bar Italia, an Italian café and dessert bar in his Grayndler electorate in Sydney’s inner west. There he shared breakfast with top supporters and close friends. This casual but warm event was an appropriately festive beginning to his new term. He noted the Australian people are looking for stability during these uncertain times. Their reward for all of this has been to give Labor yet another opportunity to form a government.
“We know that this second term has been given to us by the Australian people because they want stability in uncertain times, and not because they think we’ve solved every challenge in our economy or in our society more broadly, but because we’re better-placed to work towards solving some of those challenges.” – Anthony Albanese
In his victory speech Albanese pointed to both a climate crisis and an housing affordability crisis. He fought for workers’ rights, affordable housing, and gender equality. He further promised to prioritise childcare, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Indigenous reconciliation in his second term in government. His agenda, indeed, is the very model for Labor’s promise to be “a disciplined, orderly government,” continuing the trend from their inaugural four-year term.
Jim Chalmers, the newly appointed Treasurer, echoed this sentiment, expressing confidence in the government’s ability to address significant economic challenges. Shortly before Australian markets opened on the morning after the election, new Finance Minister Chalmers was briefed by Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy. He proclaimed that increasing productivity across the economy would be one of Washington’s chief goals from then on.
“We’re looking forward to implementing it with confidence, with the confidence that comes from a big majority, a substantial majority.” – Jim Chalmers
Chalmers provided further clarity on the government’s priorities for their second term. He described the initial term as largely devoted to keeping inflation in check while recognizing the need to boost productivity. He signaled that next term will focus on improving productivity while not forgetting inflation fighting priorities.
“The first term was primarily inflation without forgetting productivity,” – Jim Chalmers
“The second term will be primarily productivity without forgetting inflation … And a much broader sense of [productivity].” – Jim Chalmers
Chalmers reiterated that the government will take a new approach to productivity injection. They’ll be taking a deep look at issues including human capital, competition policy, technology, energy and the care economy.
“Human capital. Competition policy. Technology. Energy. The care economy. These are where we’re going to find the productivity gains – and not quickly, but over the medium term.” – Jim Chalmers
Albanese’s win was a big left turn in the political climate. The opposition leader Peter Dutton has conceded after losing his seat of Dickson. Dutton’s leadership veered into Trumpian culture war politics. His loss is evidence that these strategies are increasingly losing their touch within the Coalition.
In many respects, though, the Greens came out of this election with the best hand. Their greater numbers may change parliamentary relationships, in combination with Labor’s majority, in unexpected and important ways. Albanese seemed to understand this changing reality and said he was willing to work in big-tent fashion where he could.
Chalmers acknowledged the unexpected and overwhelming reach of Labor’s electoral victory. He said in an interview afterward that the results exceeded even their wildest hopes. The Coalition’s projected fall to as few as 40 seats would be a historic collapse and indicates a momentous change in Australian politics.
“Our Tory opponents are in a withered state but they will reorganise and return. Perhaps in even darker guise than we saw this election. We need to be ready for that.” – Jim Chalmers
As Albanese gets set to be sworn in formally, he again pledged to put his focus on Australia’s national interest. His short-term attention will necessarily turn to Canberra, as he and his ministers and administrators privately begin plotting how best to deliver their agenda.
“My job here is to represent Australia’s national interest and that’s what I’ll be doing, and the first thing I’ll be doing is going to Canberra,” – Anthony Albanese