Sad images emerge from Liberal HQ, as Labor projected to win

There are tears and heads in hands at the Liberals HQ election night party — as Anthony Albanese wins the election.

There are tears and heads in hands at the Liberal Party election night function as news of Anthony Albanese’s election win spread.

Labor will form the next government, making Mr Albanese the 31st Prime Minister of the country.

The news has not gone down well at the Fullerton Hotel in in Sydney’s CBD where Liberal supporters have gathered, and images show despair among the party faithful.

There were tears at the Liberal party election night at The Fullerton Hotel in Sydney. Picture: Jason Edwards

News that the Coalition government had been defeated did not go down well. Picture: Jason Edwards

News.com.au was told to head back to the media section while the attendees commiserated the election result in peace.

At the beginning of the night, the large function hall was sparse, with few people attending and sad jazz music punctuating the near-silence.

However, just as the event was filling up, TV screens blared out the news — there is no way the Coalition can win this election.

A Liberal supporter reacts as he watches the television broadcast during the Liberal Party election night event. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

There was devastation in the room. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The chatting – and even smiles and laughter – did not cease nor even falter at the news among the Liberal crowd, which could indicate they had resigned themselves to this fate.

Liberals were already remembering Scott Morrison in the past tense, with one saying in an overheard conversation “he won the unwinnable election, he led this country through the pandemic”.

Several Liberals could be heard whinging that “conservatives are now the minority”.

Smashing glass was heard at one point.

Food remained largely uneaten while drinks in hand could be seen in most of the event attendees.

A few people were still wearing shirts of now-defunct Liberal candidates, like North Sydney’s Trent Zimmerman and Wentworth’s Dave Sharma.

Others had covered said shirts with jackets.

Viewers still wait with bated breath for Scott Morrison’s arrival at the event.

Anthony Albanese’s son and campaign ‘good-luck charm’ Nathan. Picture: James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Albo’s son and ex celebrate at Labor function

Meanwhile, the mood is very different at the Labor Party function.

Anthony Albanese’s son and campaign “good-luck charm” Nathan has arrived at the Labor Party’s official election night function in Sydney.

The 21-year-old was pictured entering the Hurlestone Park RSL where Labor supporters are beginning to celebrate as the vote count indicates Scott Morrison is unlikely to be able to form government.

In an interview with news.com.au this week Mr Albanese said he had spoken to his son every day of the campaign.

“I do have a way of making sure that I talk to my son every day,’’ he said.

“And that to me is a good-luck charm. He’s still studying. He’s completing his degree. He’s 21.

“We’re close, we live together. He also spends time at his mother’s. But I’m very proud of him. He’s developed into a very fine young man, and he will be out there campaigning for me right up until Saturday at 6pm as well.”

Nathan Albanese arrives at the Labor Party election night event at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club. Picture: James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Nathan Albanese and his mother Carmel Tebbutt. Picture: Tim Hunter

Earlier, sad images emerged from inside the Liberal HQ in Sydney — while Labor’s function has attracted a full house.

The Coalition has booked out a room in the Fullerton Hotel to watch the results come in, but even at almost 8pm live images on TV show there is hardly anybody there.

A side-by-side image on Channel 9 showed that, at the same time, Labor’s election night event was packed out.

Labor's election night function looking a little livelier than the Liberal's function. Picture: Channel 9

Labor’s Election Night function starting to fill up with people at the Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Scenes from the Liberal Party Election Night function at the Fullerton Hotel Sydney on election night. Picture: Nigel hallett

News.com.au reporter Alex Turner-Cohen is at the Liberal Party function and described the mood as “subdued”.

“This could be nervousness with polls tipped for a hung parliament or a Labor win. However, the underwhelming vibe could also be a combination of the jazz music, the lack of drinks to go around and the vast empty space in the function room — with many more bums on seats expected for tonight,” she wrote.

“Liberals huddle together, chatting and laughing but eyes forward, ready for when the TV screens flicker over to the result. One man was clearly already trying to drown his sorrows, smashing his drink just before 9pm.”

The mood is ‘subdued’ at the Liberal Party function. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The Liberal Party wait for Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Jenny Morrison and daughters Abbey and Lily. Picture: Jason Edwards

Meanwhile at the Labor function in Sydney’s Hurlestone Park, news.com.au reporter Natalie Brown says the vibe couldn’t be further from than that of the Liberal Party’s function.

Labor supporters reacts as they watch the television broadcast during the Labor Party election night event at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club. Picture: James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Anthony Albanese supporters gather at the Labor headquarters. Picture: Wendell Teodoro / AFP

There’s a jovial – borderline rowdy – energy on the ground. Picture: James D. Morgan/Getty Images)

“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,” she said.

“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.”

Small crowd gathering at the Coalition’s election night party in Sydney #AusVotes22#auspolpic.twitter.com/XuFQ8iprCg

— Dan Jervis-Bardy (@D_JervisBardy) May 21, 2022

About to come to you LIVE from Liberal HQ - 📺 tune in at 6.30pm for the full @SBSNews election coverage. pic.twitter.com/Kv9NXgBSGQ

— Shuba Krishnan (@ShubaSKrishnan) May 21, 2022

Originally published as Sad images emerge from Liberal HQ, as Labor projected to win