GREAT SCOTT
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pulled off one of the greatest election wins in Australia’s history
SCOTT Morrison will lead Australia for another three years with the Coalition pulling off a miracle federal election victory.
Not since the 1993 election, when Liberal opposition leader John Hewson lost the so-called “unlosable” election, has Australia witnessed such a shock election result.
Ahead of polling day, Labor was predicted to defeat the Coalition, which had been robbed of its majority after boundary changes and resignations.
But just nine months after being catapulted into the top job, Mr Morrison has been reelected, meaning he will serve as Prime Minister for a longer period than Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Tony Abbott or Malcolm Turnbull.
Early voting predicted the Coalition would need crossbench support to form government, but strong swings in Queensland and Tasmania could deliver an outright victory for the government.
Defying predictions, the Coalition also held on to marginal seats in Victoria that had been targeted by Labor.
Bill Shorten called Mr Morrison at 11.30pm to concede defeat and announced he would quit as Labor leader.
Addressing supporters in Melbourne, Mr Shorten said it had been a toxic and tough campaign. “Now that the contest is over, all of us have a responsibility to respect the result, respect the wishes of the Australian people and to bring our nation together,” he said.
“I wish we could have done it for Bob but it was not to be.”
At midnight, a jubilant Mr Morrison addressed the Liberal faithful gathered at Sydney’s Sofitel Wentworth saying he had “always believed in miracles”.
“How good is Australia? And how good are Australians?” Mr Morrison said.
“It has been those Australians who have worked hard every day, they have their dreams, they have their aspirations, to get a job, to get an apprenticeship, to start a business, to start a family, to buy a home, to work hard and provide the best you can for your kids.”
“These are the quiet Australians who have won a great victory tonight.
“Tonight is about every single Australian who depends on their government to put them first.”
In a humiliating blow, former prime minister Tony Abbott was dumped by voters in his Sydney seat of Warringah, bringing to an end his 25-year political career.
But a strong swing towards the Coalition in Queensland saved Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton who was under threat in his marginal seat of Dickson.
Last night former prime minister John Howard compared Labor’s loss to that of John Hewson in 1993. “There was a whiff of 1993 about the last couple of weeks,” Mr Howard said.
“One side have been ahead in the polls, the other had gained ground during the campaign.
“And I did believe very strongly that Bill Shorten had overplayed his hand on the class warfare.”
More than 16 million voters were expected to cast a ballot in yesterday’s federal election with a record 4.5 million people choosing to vote ahead of polling day.
The 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite also boosted the youth enrolment rate with a record 1.69 million voters aged between 18 and 24 voting.