Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday, following a decisive victory in the May 3 national election. Albanese, who leads the Labor Party, described the win as a return to the largest center-left government since Australia’s federation in 1901.
The Labor Party’s success was largely driven by a backlash against global instability, particularly the foreign policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, which helped the party secure a surprise victory.
Meanwhile, the opposition Liberal Party faced a leadership change after their leader, Peter Dutton, lost his seat in the election. Sussan Ley was named the new leader of the Liberal Party, becoming the first woman to hold the position. The party’s losses in city seats, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, came as independent candidates advocating for climate action and gender equality gained support in recent elections.
Although the Australian Electoral Commission has yet to finalize vote counting in some areas, Labor has claimed at least 94 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, marking the largest Labor caucus since the nation’s formation.
Albanese and his ministers were officially sworn in during a ceremony at Government House in Canberra, conducted by Governor-General Sam Mostyn. Key roles such as Treasurer, Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade remain unchanged. New appointments include Michelle Rowland as Attorney-General, Murray Watt as Minister for the Environment, and Tanya Plibersek as Minister for Social Services.
Looking ahead, Albanese is scheduled to travel to Indonesia on Wednesday. He will also attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome on Sunday, where he plans to meet with leaders like European Union President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss trade.
Ley’s Leadership “Sends a Signal” to Women
Sussan Ley emphasized that her appointment as leader of the Liberal Party is a signal to Australian women, although she stated her leadership agenda would extend beyond gender issues. Ley acknowledged that the Liberal Party had let women down and noted the decline in female support for the party. She expressed her intent to address this issue by focusing on economic and tax reforms.
“The Liberal Party needs to meet modern Australia where they are,” Ley said, noting that government should always be formed in the “sensible centre.”
Ley, a former aerial stock pilot who raised three children on a farm, has been in parliament since 2001.
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