On May 3, Anthony Albanese secured a second term as Australia’s prime minister, leading the center-left Labor Party to an outright majority. In his victory speech, Albanese assured that his party would not take the trust placed in them "for granted.” He added, “Because together we are turning the corner…with no one held back and no one left behind.” The politician is fond of saying he was raised with three great faiths: the Catholic Church, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and the Australian Labor Party. Born and raised by a single mother in public housing in Sydney, Albanese, now 62, often references his working-class roots. He grew up believing his father had died before his birth, only to later discover he was the result of a brief romance aboard a cruise ship. He eventually reconnected with his father decades later. Albanese joined the Labor Party in his 20s and was elected to Parliament in 1996. A veteran of internal party battles and factional disputes, he is one of Australia’s longest-serving MPs. He served in senior roles under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard before becoming party leader in 2019. The first term Albanese rose to power in 2022 with promises to tackle climate change, repair global alliances, and offer economic relief post-Covid. His early moves included legislating more ambitious climate targets and repairing strained ties with Beijing and Paris—two major diplomatic wins. He also sought to address the housing crisis, pledging to build 1.2 million new homes and introducing schemes to help lower-income Australians afford housing. Measures included rental assistance, tax cuts, and rebates, but critics said reforms didn’t go far enough. Despite high initial approval ratings, cost-of-living pressures—driven by inflation and sluggish economic growth—soon overshadowed his achievements. The most politically damaging blow came in 2023 with the failed Indigenous Voice referendum. Intended to recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the constitution and establish an advisory body, the initiative was overwhelmingly rejected. Though the campaign wasn’t led by the government, Albanese was its most prominent supporter. Foreign policy Albanese stabilised relations with China, ending years of trade tensions and securing high-level dialogue, and reconciled with France after a submarine contract debacle under Scott Morrison. The Israel-Gaza war tested his diplomacy. Initially backing Israel’s right to defend itself, his government later called for a permanent ceasefire and recognised the need for Palestinian statehood once Hamas was defeated. The shifting stance drew fire from both conservatives and pro-Palestinian activists. Albanese has promised new investments in Medicare to make GP visits free for most Australians, further student debt relief, and continued climate action. Now heading into a second term, Albanese faces the task of delivering on his promise to leave no one behind. (With inputs from The Guardian, BBC)
