Australia’s center-left government convincingly won reelection Saturday, driven partly by anger over President Donald Trump’s disruptive trade war. The country’s 62-year-old prime minister, Anthony Albanese, struck a tone of unity in his victory speech, alluding to his opponent’s failed policies.
Albanese’s campaign was fueled by the tariffs imposed by Trump on Australia’s aluminum and steel, which had driven voters toward him. In contrast, his conservative opponent, Peter Dutton, had echoed Trump-like policies, but ultimately lost seats due to missteps and a series of embarrassing mistakes.
The election was marked by a significant shift in public opinion, with Labor appearing on track to increase its majority in the lower chamber of Parliament from 78 seats to at least 87. The party needed 76 to win, and one of the seats they picked up was Dutton’s, a shock that underscored Trump’s impact.
The trade war has had a profound effect on Australia’s politics, with analysts noting that it has made “Albanese’s boringness quite an appealing commodity.” The country’s long-standing dependence on US military might and economic ties to China also played a significant role in the election outcome.
As Albanese prepares to guide Australia through a potentially protracted US-China trade war, he will have to balance his progressive domestic agenda with the need to manage the strategic triangle between Washington, Beijing, and Canberra. The pace and ambition of this agenda have been criticized in the past, but Albanese’s slow and steady approach has paid off.
The election result was an extraordinary reversal from six months ago, when Albanese trailed in the polls after a major defeat. However, he has demonstrated a newfound strength, buoyed by his ability to connect with voters on cost-of-living issues, a crucial aspect of his campaign strategy.
With Trump’s trade war dominating the headlines, Australian politics will continue to be shaped by its impact. As the country moves forward, it remains to be seen how Albanese will navigate this complex landscape and deliver on his progressive agenda.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/03/australia-labor-albanese-trump-election