While his Liberal Party predecessor Scott Morrison was committed to the coal industry, he wanted to make Australia a “renewable energy superpower,” Albanese said. Climate policy was a key campaign issue for Labor after years of fires and floods in Australia.
In his victory speech, “Albo”, nickname of the 59-year-old head of the laboratory, announced the change in direction. “Together we can end the climate wars,” he told fans. “Together we can seize the opportunity to make Australia a renewable energy superpower.”
Main investments announced
During the election campaign, he had already promised large investments in “green” energy. “Yes, but how does he want to pay for all this?” asked the renowned “Sydney Morning Herald” on the Sunday after the election. After all, Albanese not only “inherited” a large budget deficit from Morrison, but also a huge national debt.
For the voted Liberal Morrison, the general election became a referendum on him, according to press commentary, for example in the “Sunday Telegraph”. The result became a “bloodbath” for his coalition with the National Party.
Morrison also leaves as party leader
After his defeat became known, Morrison also announced his resignation as leader of the Liberal Party. “This is a tough night for liberals,” said Morrison, who has been in the job since 2018. He congratulated Albanese on his victory over the phone. It was a privilege to “lead this great nation”.
Reuters/Loren Elliott ‘Tough night’: Morrison admitted defeat
A final result for Saturday’s election was not yet available on Sunday, votes were still being counted and it was unclear whether Albanese’s work would reach the 76 terms required for a majority in the 151-seat lower house of parliament.
New prime minister will be sworn in on Monday
A final result may only be available in a few days, he said on Sunday. Three million postal votes still had to be counted. However, Albanese is expected to be sworn in as the new head of government on Monday.
According to current calculations, the Labor Party has secured 72 seats in the House of Commons. According to these figures, Morrison’s coalition of Liberals and Nationals has only 55 seats and can no longer win a majority. Eleven seats go to the Greens and independent candidates.
One crisis chased the next
Many Australians blamed Morrison for the last three difficult years of crisis. These began in 2019, shortly after he took office, with massive fires in the east of the country that burned an area the size of Finland.
APA/AFP/Department of Fire and Emergency Services Western Australia/Sean Blocksidge In Australia, large bushfires have occurred several times in recent years
As soon as the fires were put out, the pandemic began. Severe delays in vaccinations led to prolonged lockdowns in the country’s major cities and a two-year border closure that separated family members and gave Australia a reputation as a hermit state. The economic consequences of the pandemic are also being felt by many, the unemployment rate is higher than in 48 years. Flooding in February caused severe damage along Australia’s east coast. The government faced allegations that it was too late and not doing enough to help the victims of the disaster.
Climate as the most important campaign theme
Furthermore, given the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, the Morrison government has been criticized for inadequate climate protection measures. The Conservative government wanted to continue exporting coal for as long as possible. However, surveys have repeatedly shown that the majority of the population would like more measures to combat climate change.
Morrison, however, was considered a promoter of the coal industry, from which the country obtains about 40% of its energy. He accused coal mining critics of wanting to condemn hundreds of thousands of people to unemployment. Many members of the liberals are also considered to be deniers of man-made climate change.
Albanese, who has been in the Chamber of Deputies since 1996, has vowed to make the fight against climate change a central focus of his term if elected. So far, however, his Labor Party’s position has not significantly differed from Morrison’s; Albanese also stated during the election campaign that the party would support new mines if they were “ecologically and economically viable”.