PM-elect vows to repair Australia’s image
Albanese set to join Quad meet in Japan
Incoming prime minister Anthony Albanese vowed to reset Australia’s relations with the world and sweep aside the country’s reputation as a climate laggard yesterday, as he raced to form a government in time for a key Tokyo summit.
Fresh from a victory that ended a decade of continuous conservative rule, Mr Albanese signalled an era of fairer, greener and less pugilistic politics for Australia.
The 59-year-old Labor leader said Saturday’s election was a “big moment” in his life, but insisted he wanted it to be “a big moment for the country”.
“I do want to change the country,” he said as he waited to see whether his Labor party can command a majority in parliament or will need help from climate-minded independents.
Images of smouldering eucalypt forests, smog-enveloped cities and bleached-out coral reefs have made Australia a byword for climatefuelled destruction.
Under conservative leadership, the country — already one of the world’s largest gas and coal exporters — has also become synonymous with playing the spoiler at international climate talks.
But Mr Albanese put the world on notice that it should now expect a change.
He and key ministers are expected to be sworn in today, just in time to attend a summit with Japanese, Indian and US leaders — the so-called Quad.
“Obviously, the Quad leaders meeting is an absolute priority for Australia,” Mr Albanese said in his first post-election event yesterday. “It enables us to send a message to the world that there is a change of government.
“There will be some changes in policy, particularly with regard to climate change and our engagement with the world on those issues.”
Mr Albanese said he will also use the visit to Tokyo to have one-on-one meetings with US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“I will return to Australia on Wednesday, and then we’ll get down to business,” he added.
Foreign leaders welcomed Mr Albanese’s election, most notably Australia’s Pacific Island neighbours, whose very existence is threatened by rising sea levels.
“Of your many promises to support the Pacific, none is more welcome than your plan to put the climate first — our people’s shared future depends on it,” said Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.
The issue had plagued Australia’s relations with the region, where China is rapidly expanding its interests.
Official results showed Labor leading in 74 seats — almost within reach of the 76 required for a majority in the powerful 151-seat lower house. More than a dozen seats were still undecided.
For many Australians, the election was a referendum on polarising outgoing prime minister Scott Morrison.
His tumultuous tenure saw the country smashed by bushfires, droughts, floods and a pandemic, all of which shattered usually happy-go-lucky Australia’s sense of security and their faith in government.
Mr Morrison drew revulsion for playing down the impact of climate change on Australia’s ever-worsening disasters and insisting “I don’t hold a hose, mate” when asked to justify holidaying overseas during the bushfire crisis.
Voters responded at the ballot box with a sharp rebuke of his LiberalNational coalition — ousting top ministers from parliament and virtually expelling the party from major cities across Australia.