Albanese Re-elected as Labour Defeats Liberals Amid Parallels to Trump’s MAGA Campaign

• Australian voters have opted for stability over radical change, handing the Liberals a fate reminiscent of the Canadian Conservatives’ decline.
• The Liberal Party had proposed constructing civilian nuclear power plants across Australia and pledged to take a strict stance against China.
• Trump’s tariffs triggered economic instability in Australia, and the perception of the Liberal leader emulating Trump with a MAGA campaign further alienated the voters.
• Under the Labour government, Australia’s relationship with China has improved as it aimed to import Chinese raw materials and maintain stable trade relations.

The centre-left Labour Party in Australia has won the general election by securing 87 seats out of the total 150. This is the first time Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the Labour leader, has been able to retain office for a second consecutive term. Labour has defeated the Liberal Party headed by Peter Dutton, who took over the leadership after the party’s loss under former Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2022.

Similar to the Canadian election, it was anticipated that the Liberals would not only perform well but possibly win the election, especially as Labor struggled to accelerate the Australian economy, control Chinese influence over Pacific countries, and negotiate better trade deals following the return of President Trump. Liberal Party leader Dutton stated that, had he been Prime Minister, he would have negotiated a better deal for Australia with President Trump.

The Liberal Party presented its manifesto for the general elections, themed “Make Australia Great Again,” echoing President Trump’s slogan. They proposed constructing seven civilian nuclear power plants across Australia and pledged to take a strict stance against China. Interestingly, until January 2025, the Liberal Party was leading in the polls. An unofficial poll conducted before January showed the Liberals ahead by 8% compared to Labour.

However, within just three months following President Trump’s return, the Liberals lost the election. The key differentiator appeared to be President Trump himself. Trump’s tariffs triggered economic instability in Australia, and the perception of the Liberal leader emulating Trump with a MAGA campaign further alienated the voters. Australian voters have opted for stability over radical change, handing the Liberals a fate reminiscent of the Canadian Conservatives’ decline.

Now that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been re-elected, he has stated that he will work to negotiate better trade deals for Australia and improve relations with China by removing the tariffs introduced under former Prime Minister Scott Morrison. He has also pledged to strengthen ties with Pacific countries.

It is important to note that since Labour’s return to power, Australia’s relationship with China has gradually improved. Labour has aimed to import Chinese raw materials and maintain stable trade relations, which has largely succeeded. However, this bilateral cooperation comes at a cost: China is steadily increasing its maritime influence, not only across Pacific nations but also near Australian waters.

At last month’s ORF Raisina Conference, the Australian Navy Chief Admiral revealed that Chinese ships have begun entering Australian maritime waters, a development not seen for decades. This poses a major challenge for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who must now balance economic interests with Australia’s geopolitical and security concerns regarding China.

Aayush Pal

Aayush Pal is a freelance writer on contemporary geopolitical developments. The views expressed in his work are entirely his own.