Jacinda Ardern congratulates incoming Australian Prime Minister Albanese

Wellington: The New Zealand Prime Minister has congratulated Australia’s Anthony Albanese following Saturday night’s election.

The Australian Labor Party has won the election, seizing power from the Liberal/National Coalition. In his victory speech, Mr Albanese said he wanted to bring Australians together “to seek our common purpose and promote unity and optimism not fear and division”.

NZ PM Jacinda Ardern has congratulated him and acknowledged the outgoing Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Ms Ardern said she spoke with Albanese yesterday and looks forward to formally meeting him soon.

In a statement, Ms Ardern said they have met before and she has no doubt they will have “a strong working relationship that will serve both countries well”.

“Australia is our most important partner, our only official ally and single economic market relationship, and I believe our countries will work even more closely together in these tumultuous times,” she said in the statement.