Great aversion to Trump helps Australian Labor party to historical victory

The Labor party of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has won the Australian elections with an overwhelming majority. The party has achieved at least 85 of the 150 seats in parliament. « Australians have chosen to cope with global challenges in the Australian way; with an eye for each other and by building together on the future, » said party leader Albanese, also known as ‘Albo’, to a crazy room.

The victory is largely due to the president in the White House: Donald Trump. The choice of the conservative opposition party to be inspired by the rhetoric and policy plans of Trumps government has unpacked dramatically. The Liberal-National Coalition is likely to fall from 53 to 41 seats. Peter Dutton, the leader of the conservative Liberal party, has lost his own seat even after 24 years.

That was different at the beginning of the year. Then the Liberal party hoped to hitch a ride on Trumps success. Plans were presented that were very similar to those from the White House, such as a ministry for government efficiency, the dismissing of officials and a ban on working from home. That turned out to be anything but a winning strategy. In recent weeks, Peter Dutton tried to distance himself from Trump, by denying that he was inspired by him. « I don’t know Donald Trump, » he said two weeks ago during a debate with Labor leader Anthony Albanese.

Host war

It was not enough to convince the Australian population. Since Trump has unleashed a global trade war, Australians’ confidence has taken a dive. A recent poll shows that the trust of the Australian population in the US has not been that low in the last twenty years. More than sixty percent think that Trumps victory is bad for Australia.

Albanian referred to that fatal error of the conservatives during his victory speech. « We are not looking for our inspiration abroad, we don’t have to beg, borrow or copy anywhere. We find it here, in our values ​​and our people. »

The profit for Labor was in the air early in the day. The feast of democracy is taken very literally in Australia. It is tradition to set up party tents at the polling stations where people can get a ‘democracy sausage’ after they have cast their vote.

On the barbecue next to the polling station in Coogee, a neighborhood in Sydney on the beach, the sausages, eggs and bacon are simmering. There are also home -baked cookies and muffins for sale. The proceeds go to charity. « I love election day. The community comes together here, people go picnic, someone has taken the trouble to bake brownies. You don’t want to miss that, » says local resident Trish Fraerty (70).

Priceless homes

Not only the worries about international tensions and a trade war played a role. Also on the domestic themes that are important for most Australians, the conservative party did not have a good answer, such as worries about the high costs of living, priceless homes and expensive healthcare.

Labor offered more clarity. For example, the party promised to invest 8.5 billion Australian dollars (almost five billion euros) in strengthening public health care. Starters in the housing market are helped and Albanian promised to have one hundred thousand new, affordable homes built.

That is a matter of younger voters, who are in the majority for the first time in years compared to the baby boom generation. Gen-Z and Millennials in particular played an important role during these elections. The 22-year-old girlfriends Alexia Dermatis and Lilia Boag Humphreys did not find it a difficult choice. « We both voted for Labor. I mainly because of gender equality and climate, » says Boag Humphreys. « We both rent in Sydney, and it is far too expensive. Something really needs to be done about housing crisis, » adds Dermatis.

The economy and lower energy prices were also high on the agenda. The conservatives wanted to build nuclear power stations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But that came to them for a lot of criticism. It would take too long, be dangerous and too expensive, many critics stated. Labor has promised to invest more in green energy.

Electoral system

The conclusion of analysts is that Labor has conducted a much better, substantive campaign on all fronts. However, the overwhelming victory must be seen in perspective. Of the eighteen million Australians who went to the polls, around six million did not vote for one of the two large parties. But because of the Australian system – where, for example, the second and third preference of voters can also count – those voices have nevertheless ended up at Labor. Nevertheless, Labor leader Anthony Albanese shone on the election evening of self-confidence. « Australia has opted for justice, equality and respect for each other. »

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