Sydney, May 4: The Labor Party has secured re-election in Australia, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese set to begin a second term. According to the Electoral Commission, Labor won 89 seats in the 150-member House of Representatives, comfortably surpassing the majority threshold.

Albanese becomes the first Australian prime minister in over two decades to win a second consecutive term. His party had previously won 77 seats in the 2022 election, defeating the then-incumbent Liberal-National coalition led by Scott Morrison.

This year, the opposition Liberal-National Alliance managed only 36 seats. Its leader, Peter Dutton, suffered a major political blow by losing his seat in Dixon—an outcome being described as one of the most significant electoral defeats in recent memory. Conceding defeat, Dutton said, “I take full responsibility for our failure to perform well.”

With polling held on April 28 and postal votes starting from April 22, final results are expected by May 3. In addition to the House of Representatives, 40 of 76 Senate seats were also contested. Senators serve six-year terms, with half the chamber renewed every three years.

Australia enforces compulsory voting for citizens aged 18 and above, with a fine of A$20 for non-compliance without valid reason. There is no minimum age requirement to become prime minister—only a parliamentary seat and majority support are required.

Anthony Albanese, leader of the Labor Party and Australia’s 31st prime minister, rose through grassroots activism after joining the party at age 16. A graduate in economics from the University of Sydney, he has represented the Inner West seat of Sydney since 1996, a long-time Labor stronghold. Born to an Irish mother and Italian father, Albanese made history by returning Labor to power in 2022 and now again in 2025.