Federal election live: Albo secures majority Labor government

A batch of new seats have just been called for Labor, delivering Anthony Albanese 76 seats — giving him the seats needed to form a majority Labor government.

Anthony Albanese will officially be Australia’s 31st Prime Minister after he emerged victorious on Saturday night to end the Coalition’s almost decade-long hold on power.

Scott Morrison conceded defeat after a wave of key seats fell to Labor, the Greens and independents.

He will step down as leader of the party at the next party room meeting.

The results continue to come in this morning. See how your electorate voted here and follow along for the latest on the fallout.

Labor wins 76 seats to form majority government

Labor has enough seats to form a majority government, The Australian is projecting.

A batch of new seats were called this morning, giving Labor the 76 seats required and averting the prospect of a minority government.

Among the races called on Sunday were the Sydney seat of Bennelong, where Labor’s Jerome Laxale is the likely winner over the Liberals’ Simon Kennedy, and the Victorian seat of Deakin where Michael Sukkar has been unseated by Matt Gregg.

Gilmore was initially called for the ALP but has been put back among the seats in doubt as counting continued.

Four other seats remain in doubt – Lyons, TAS (ALP), Menzies, VIC (LIB), Moore, WA (LIB) and Sturt, SA (LIB).

It is a bitter blow for Scott Morrison and the Coalition which will hand over power to Labor for the first time in nine years.

Bloodbath in Melbourne fuelled election wipe-out

Labor’s fortunes last night changed with a Liberal wipe-out in Melbourne that all but decided the election.

A look at the electoral map shows it clearly — a sea of red seats that experts say reflects a rejection of the Morrison Government which chastised Victorians during the pandemic.

Morrison, then-Health Minister Greg Hunt and outgoing Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, repeatedly urged Labor Premier Daniel Andrews to follow in NSW’s footsteps and “open up”, despite Victoria suffering a deadly second wave that cost 800 lives.

The ABC’s Patricia Karvelas wrote last year about the stark contrast in the treatment of NSW and Victoria.

“There’s little question that the language dished to both states was spectacularly different,” she wrote.

Frydenberg denies his lockdown commentary was a major factor in his defeat. Talking to Ryan supporters last night and they were still angry about that

— Richard Willingham (@rwillingham) May 22, 2022

Jason Thompson, a professor at the University of Melbourne, wrote last night that “Victoria and WA — two diametrically opposed states on any other day — are going to deliver this because their leaders unapologetically focused on protecting citizens’ health and welfare for the last two years, not just the economy”.

Liberal Senator Jane Hume told Nine’s election panel that her party had a strategy to play on what was perceived to be discontent among Victorians at long longdowns.

“We thought there would be a bigger Dan Andrews effect in Victoria and there hasn’t (been),” she said.

Melbourne is a sea of red.

“We have had such negative feedback about those harsh lockdowns in Victoria, and we thought that may play out in those outer suburban areas. Clearly, they haven’t.”

The Labor Party’s primary vote actually went down in Victoria by roughly 4 per cent — something Labor MP Richard Marles said the party would “unpack”.

But he said popular independents running in Victoria received strong support and that led to a splintering of the primary vote across the board.

That can be seen in key Liberal seats that fell to independents. Frydenberg, whose seat in Kooyong was once safe for the Liberals, is headed to independent Monique Ryan.

The same happened in Goldstein where Tim Wilson was overcome by former ABC journalist-turned-independent Zoe Daniel. It must be noted that Wilson has yet to concede despite Daniel delivering her victory speech on Saturday night.

The Greens held on to the seat of Melbourne where Adam Bandt has strong support.

The mood in Melbourne is clear — and it is reflected in a sea of red.

Just Alan Tudge’s seat of Aston remains for the Liberals in Melbourne. What was once Liberal heartland is no more, and whoever steps in as party leader must address that shift immediately.

Deves standing firm after being crushed in Warringah

Controversial Liberal candidate Katherine Deves was wiped out in the election race for Warringah on Sydney’s northern beaches but the so-called “captain’s pick” says she is going nowhere.

Deves, who was selected by the PM to represent the party in the electorate that takes in Manly and some of Sydney’s most sought-after real estate, was beaten easily by independent Zali Steggall.

Deves suffered a 6.6 per cent primary swing away from the Liberals in Warringah — a result that is worse than Tony Abbott performed at the last election.

Katherine Deves and Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Picture: Jeremy Piper

But the aspiring politician says she is not being disuaded by the result.

Speaking to Sky News, she said the moderates at a federal level “have been eviscerated and the Liberal Party needs to get back to its traditional values”.

“There is going to be a reckoning at a federal level. I would not be surprised if it happens at a state level.”

She said she was ready to withstand “the storm” and run again.

“I am not going anywhere,” she said.

France delivers final blow to Scott Morrison

Remember when Scott Morrison scapped a deal with France to purchase submarines?

Well, France has not forgotten.

The country’s outgoing foreign affairs minister Jean-Yves Le Drian responded to news that Morrison’s run as Australian Prime Minister is over.

“I can’t stop myself from saying that the defeat of Morrison suits me very well,” he said.

He described the decision by Morrison’s team to scrap a deal worth $AU90 billion last year and award a contract instead to the United States as: “Brutality and cynicism, and I would even be tempted to say of unequivocal incompetence.”

French president Emmanuel Macron used the broken deal to accuse Morrison of lying to him, a suggestion the outgoing PM has rejected.

Bishop reveals what cost Morrison the election

Former Liberal Party frontbencher Julie Bishop has delivered a harsh lesson to outgoing Prime Minister Scott Morrison about exactly what cost him the election.

Speaking on Nine’s broadcast of the election on Saturday night, Bishop said Australia’s women were behind the result.

“Women did not see their concerns and interests reflected in a party led by Scott Morrison in coalition with Barnaby Joyce,” she said.

“We have no mentioned at this point the impact of Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins, they changed the narrative when they exposed an ugly side to the workplace in Canberra. That resonated with women.”

Mostly female “teal” independents helped shift the balance of power after rolling high-profile Liberal MPs.

Julie Bishop said Australian women had turned on the former PM.

Among them was Zoe Daniel who appears to have defeated Tim Wilson in the former Liberal stronghold of Goldstein and Allegra Spender who beat Dave Sharma in Wentworth.

Dr Monique Ryan appears poised to win in Kooyong where Josh Frydenberg has held control of the safe Liberal seat.

The result, delivered by women, was largely predicted in a news.com.au State of the Nation poll published 12 days ago.

It showed just 22 per cent of women aged over 18 said they intended to vote for the Coalition, compared to 31 per cent for Labor.

This compares with results ahead of the 2019 election when the vote was more evenly split — 25 per cent of women said they would support the Coalition, and 27 per cent backed Labor.

Albanese addresses jubilant supporters at victory party

If you missed it, incoming PM Anthony Albanese made an emotional speech to family, friends and supporters at a party in Grayndler last night.

Albanese took to the stage amid chants of “Albo, Albo”, and immediately thanked Australia for the “extraordinary honour”.

“Tonight the Australian people have voted for change. I am humbled by this victory. And I am 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 hardworking and caring as the Australian people are themselves.”

He thanked Morrison for his “gracious” congratulations and for his service, before acknowledging his own humble beginnings.

“My fellow Australians, it says a lot about our great country that a son of a single mum who was a disability pensioner, who grew up in public housing down the road in Camperdown, can stand before you tonight as Australia’s Prime Minister,” he said.

Anthony Albanese will be Australia’s next Prime Minister. Picture: Wendell Teodoro / AFP

“During this campaign I have put forward a positive, clear plan for a better future for our country. And I have shared the two principles that will form a government that I lead. No-one left behind because we should always look after the disadvantaged and the vulnerable.

“But also no-one held back, because we should always support aspiration and opportunity.”

Earlier in the night, the outgoing PM fronted his supporters to concede defeat, acknowledging that it was a “difficult night for Liberals and Nationals around the country”.

“Tonight, I have spoken to the Leader of the Opposition, and the incoming Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and I’ve congratulated on his election victory this evening,” Mr Morrison said.

“In this country, at a time like this, when we look around the world, and particularly when we see those in the Ukraine fighting for their very freedom and liberty, I think on a night like tonight, we can reflect on the greatness of our democracy.”

Who will be next Liberal Leader?

At one stage on Saturday night, Labor’s Ali France looked set to continue the trend of key Liberal frontbenchers losing seats.

She was ahead of Peter Dutton in the Brisbane seat of Dickson but things change quickly.

This morning there are several reports that Dutton will inherit the leadership role left behind.

Outgoing Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, once tipped to take over from Morrison, appears very likely to lose his job on the back of a huge swing towards independent Monique Ryan in Kooyong.

A tearful Mr Frydenberg all but gave his concession speech flanked by family, admitting after 10pm it would be “difficult” to hold on even as he said there were more votes to be counted.

“So while it’s mathematically possible that we win in Kooyong, it’s definitely difficult,” he said.

FPeter Dutton arrives at his party in Brendale on Saturday. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“To be the deputy leader of our party has been an enormous privilege and to serve as Scott Morrison’s deputy, a person of great decency, a person who loves his family, a person who is of deep faith and a person who has shown extraordinary leadership in extraordinary time.

“So I thank Scott Morrison for what he has done for our country to leave Australia in a stronger position than when he found it.”

Mr Dutton, who has held his seat since 2001, told supporters it was a “terrible day” for the Liberal Party.

“We have, as a Liberal family, suffered a terrible day today,” he said.

“And there are colleagues around the country, good people, who have potentially lost their seats. There are still thousands and thousands of postal votes and pre-poll votes to count. So there’s some hope in some of those seats. In many, the race is very tight.

“I want to acknowledge the pain they’re going through tonight, their families, their supporters.”

Want more results? This is how every electorate voted

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