Election live: Anthony Albanese to be prime minister, Scott Morrison concedes | news.com.au

Albo holds back tears as he thanks Australians

An emotional Anthony Albanese has delivered his acceptance speech at the Labor party in Sydney.

Mr Albanese was clearly trying to hold back tears as he walked on the stage with his partner Jodie Haydon.

"I say to my fellow Australians, thank you for this extraordinary honour. Tonight the Australian people have voted for change. I am humbled by this victory and I'm honoured to be given the opportunity to serve as the 31st Prime Minister of Australia," he said.

"My Labor team will work every day to bring Australians together. And I will lead a government worthy of the people of Australia.

"A government as courageous and hard working and caring as the Australian people are themselves."

The incoming Prime Minister said Scott Morrison called him earlier to congratulate him on his win and wish him well moving forward.

"Scott very graciously wished me well. And I thanked him for that and I wish him well," he said.

"And I thank him for the service that he has given to our country as Prime Minister."

Mr Albanese also acknowledge Jenny Morrison and Mr Morrison's two daughters for their "contribution and sacrifice".

'About to be one heck of a party': Labor HQ buzzing

Natalie Brown

Before Scott Morrison even started his concession speech, a resounding call started to ripple through the Labor HQ crowd: “Do you still believe in miracles?”

When the outgoing PM took to the stage, it was difficult to hear him at first under all the booing and jeering, which began first when he invoked the current crisis in Ukraine and grew louder with every reference he made to his time as leader after that. The biggest boo, admittedly, was left for Barnaby Joyce.

As Mr Morrison’s speech progressed, the crowd simultaneously cheered and hugged each other, and promptly lost their minds when he declared he’d called Anthony Albanese to congratulate him on his victory.

The atmosphere at Labor HQ is triumphant – everyone now waiting for the main event, with carts of alcohol being wheeled through the door because, as one reveller said, “it’s about to be one heck of a party”.

Scott Morrison officially confirms election loss

Ally Foster

Scott Morrison has officially conceded the election, confirming he has called Anthony Albanese to congratulate him on his win.

Speaking at the Liberal Party election night function at the Fullerton Hotel in Sydney, Mr Morrison wished the incoming Prime Minister the best of luck moving forward.

"Tonight, I have spoken to the Leader of the Opposition and the incoming Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. And I've congratulated him on his election victory this evening," he said.

"On a night like tonight it is proper to acknowledge the functioning of our democracy. I have always believed in Australians and their judgement and I've always been prepared to accept their verdicts and tonight they have delivered their verdict and I congratulate Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party and I wish him and his government all the very best," he said.

"Now there are many votes still to count, that is true. There are many pre-polls and postles that will still come in. But I believe it's very important that this country has certainty. I think it's very important this country can move forward.

Mr Morrison also confirmed he would be resigning as the leader of the Liberal Party.

"To my colleagues tonight, who have had to deal with very difficult news, and have lost their seats tonight, I as leader take responsibility for the wins and the losses. That is the burden and that is the responsibility of leadership," he said.

"As a result I will be handing over the leadership at the next party room meeting to ensure the party can be taken forward under new leadership which is the appropriate thing to do."

ScoMo reportedly calls Albo to concede

Ally Foster

Scott Morrison has reportedly called Anthony Albanese to concede the election.

10 News political journalist Stela Todorovic confirmed the Labor leader had spoken on the phone to his opponent.

"I can confirm that Scott Morrison has called Anthony Albanese. He has congratulated him and he has conceded that he has lost the election," she said.

The ABC and Nine News have also confirmed Mr Morrison has spoken to Mr Albanese.

It comes as Mr Morrison was pictured leaving Kirribilli House following the news that Anthony Albanese will be the next Prime Minister of Australia.

Morrison will 'take responsibility' for loss

Ally Foster

Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham has said he believes Scott Morrison "will take responsibility" for the election loss.

"I’m confident that Scott will take responsibility. But we all have to take responsibility, too," he said.

Mr Birmingham praised Josh Frydenberg for his "dignified display" when he spoke earlier from the seat of Kooyong.

"But what we saw from Josh before was he acknowledged the role of the team and we share together the successes that we’ve had as a government, and we’ve had some pretty amazing successes in coming through what has been a most trying time in Australia’s history and global history," he said.

"But we also have to share responsibility for the blame, too, where we have lost seats and where we have gone backwards. So I cop that on my shoulders and I’ve got no doubt that Scott, as the leader, will take it on his as well."

'Definitely difficult': Treasurer all but concedes Kooyong

Samantha Maiden

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has all but conceded defeat in the seat of Kooyong declaring he may now get more time to a better dad.

Flanked by his wife Amie, the Treasurer was moved to tears as he paid tribute to his family.

"So while it's mathematically possible that we win in Kooyong, it's definitely difficult,'' he said.

"But while votes are still being counted, I wanted to take this opportunity to be here with Amie to say a few thank yous. Thank you to the people of Kooyong.

"Thank you to the people of Australia. Thank you to my party and to my colleagues. But most importantly, thank you to my family.

"They say in politics that politicians are the volunteers and our families are the conscripts, and a truer word couldn't have been said. Because the fact is, I have
been supported every single day of this job by the most remarkable partner in life, in my wife Amie."

Earlier today, Mr Frydenberg said his son had told his wife, "Dad, a girl at school..
and don't forget, he's in prep…a girl at school says her mum is more important than you,'' he laughed.

"To which Amie replied, 'Blake, all mums are important!' And Amy has been the most extraordinary mum, and maybe after tonight I get a bit more time to try and be the most extraordinary dad."

Crowd awaits arrival of Albo

Natalie Brown

Labor HQ has broken out in subsequent “Albo”, “Labor” chants off the back of calls they’ve taken the election.

There’s a mounting air of anticipation – and now barely restrained excitement – as the crowd awaits the arrival of Anthony Albanese, the man who set to become Australia’s next prime minister.

Crowd members have been congratulating each other, hugging and shaking their fists in the air – broken only by a series of loud “boos” when Clive Palmer popped up on screen – moving closer to the stage as they hold out for Mr Albanese’s big moment.

Security meanwhile have cordoned off a crowd outside the party room, suggesting he’s not far away.

Labor majority now up to WA

Ally Foster

It now looks like it is up to Western Australia whether Labor forms a majority government.

Labor needs at least 76 seats to form a majority government, with the party currently at 72 seats.

All eyes are now on Western Australia as the votes continued to be counted.

Albo set to win the election

Ally Foster

Multiple media outlets have now claimed Anthony Albanese is on track to be the next Prime Minister of Australia.

Both the ABC and Nine have projected Labor to form the next government, making Mr Albanese the 31st Prime Minister of the country.

The Australian has claimed the Coalition has been "defeated", with Seven also projecting Labor to win.

"Anthony Albanese will be the 31st Prime Minister of Australia and these are the guys who got him in," Nine political reporter Chris O'Keefe said, referring to the room full of people at Labor HQ.

"Volunteers. Young Labor supporters. Albo is going to be the Prime Minister. He is a local lad. Grew up in the area. He's from the area. This is NSW and Australia Labor."

Labor's Jason Clare claimed "the teals are eating the Liberal Party alive".

Lots of excitement in Labor HQ

Natalie Brown

Word on the street is that Liberal HQ is lacking a vibe thus far, but that couldn’t be further from the truth across town at Labor’s launch.

There’s a jovial – borderline rowdy – energy on the ground here more akin to a Saturday at an inner west pub than an election event.

As the night carries on it’s also become increasingly harder to move through the crowd – Labor HQ is packed.

News.com.au has observed many a mullet and funky hat among the crowd, the food is getting snuffled up as soon as the servers leave the kitchen, and bar tables are stacked with cans of beer printed with prospective PM Anthony Albanese’s (circa 1994) face.

And while (current) shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers predicted it’ll be a long night, the ALP partygoers seem cautiously optimistic.