Scott Morrison addressed a heartbroken crowd of Liberal Party supporters with a concession speech after reaching out to Anthony Albanese to extend his congratulations. Labor has claimed victory, marking their return to power for the first time since 2013.
Albanese is set to be Australia’s 31st Prime Minister, having secured at least nine seats from the Liberals. However, he may still require backing from the Greens and independents to form a stable government.
Standing with his wife Jenny and their two daughters in Sydney, Morrison addressed the devoted Liberal attendees, stating, “This evening, I reached out to the Opposition Leader and soon-to-be Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.”
“I extended my congratulations to him on his electoral success tonight,” he continued.
“My faith in Australians and their judgment has always been unwavering, and I have always been ready to accept their decisions,” Morrison added.
“Tonight, they have spoken, and I offer my congratulations to Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party. I wish him and his new government all the best moving forward.”
Scott Morrison has delivered a concession speech to devastated Liberal supporters after calling Anthony Albanese to congratulate him on Labor winning power for the first time since 2013
Scott Morrison has delivered a concession speech to devastated Liberal supporters after calling Anthony Albanese to concede
‘I have always believed in Australians and their judgement and I’ve always been prepared to accept their verdicts,’ Mr Morrison said
Nationally there was a two-party swing of 2.3 per cent from Liberal to Labor with nine Coalition seats looking set to switch to the ALP
Mr Morrison, a Christian who prays every day, paid tribute to his family, saying: ‘I still believe in miracles as I always have.
‘And the biggest miracles as I said three years ago were standing beside me and here they are again tonight with Jenny and my daughters. They are the greatest miracle in my life.’
Mr Morrison said he will step down as Liberal leader at the next party meeting, with Defence Minister Peter Dutton favourite to take over.
The teal independents – funded by multi-millionaire climate investor Simon Holmes a Court – decimated the Coalition in Sydney and Melbourne while the Greens also won a seat in Brisbane from the Liberals who suffered an 11 per cent collapse in their primary vote.
Nationally there was a two-party swing of 2.9 per cent from Liberal to Labor with at least nine Coalition seats looking set to switch to the ALP, including Chisholm and Higgins in Melbourne, Boothby in South Australia, Reid in Sydney and Robertson on the NSW Central Coast.
There was a massive swing against the Liberals in Western Australia with the seats of Swan, Pearce, Hasluck and Tangney – which had a big 11 per cent margin – turning red.
The independents have won at least five Liberal seats, picking up Wentworth, North Sydney, Mackellar, Kooyong and Goldstein and are ahead in Curtin in Perth.
Independent Dai Le beat ALP heavyweight Kristina Keneally in the formerly safe Labor seat of Fowler.
Labor supporters cheered as they celebrated winning power for the first time since losing in 2013
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s supporters gathered as it looked likely he would lose his seats in a bloodbath for the Liberals
There were jubilant scenes at Labor headquarters in Sydney after the party won from Opposition for only the fourth time since World War II
Nationally there was a two-party swing of 2.3 per cent from Liberal to Labor. Pictured: Labor headquarters in Sydney
Hundreds of Labor supporters cheered as the results looked good for the ALP, with Scott Morrison losing power
The Greens have won the Brisbane seat of Ryan from the Liberals, with a two per cent boost in their national vote to 12 per cent. They are on track to take Griffith from Labor and Brisbane from the Liberals.
Liberal heavyweight Josh Frydenberg has all but conceded to independent Monique Ryan although Peter Dutton appears to have fended off a challenge from Labor’s Ali France.
‘Maybe after tonight I get a bit more time to try and be the most extraordinary dad,’ Mr Frydenberg said.
The Treasurer talked up his achievements in Government including saving 800,000 jobs with the JobKeeper wage subsidy during the Covid-19 pandemic and seeing the unemployment rate drop to 3.9 per cent.
‘To be the deputy leader of our party has been an enormous privilege,’ he said.
Mr Frydenberg paid tribute to Mr Morrison, saying he is a ‘person of great decency, a person who loves his family, a person who is of deep faith and a person who has shown extraordinary leadership in extraordinary times.
He added: ‘So I thank Scott Morrison for what he has done for our country to leave Australia in a stronger position than when he found it.’
Labor supporters watch early election results at a reception at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club in Sydney
Supporters celebrate as initial results come in for WA at the election party for Zaneta Mascarenhas, Labor candidate for Swan
Independent Dr Monique Ryan is greeted by her supporters (pictured) at the Auburn Hotel, in the seat of Kooyong, Melbourne
Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters (left) and Senate candidate Penny Allman-Payne react to favourable election results. The Greens may win two seats in Brisbane
Liberal heavyweight Josh Frydenberg (pictured) has all but conceded to independent Monique Ryan
Peter Dutton managed to hold on to his seat of Dickson in Brisbane. He is pictured with his son and wife
‘Teal’ independent Zali Steggall held on to Warringah under challenge from Liberal women’s sport campaigner Katherine Deves.
‘The feedback very much was people are really frustrated,’ Steggall told the ABC.
‘Cost of living issues but also climate change simply did not feature in the policies and platforms from the major parties.’
North Sydney Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman lost to independent Kylea Tink, Dave Sharma lost to Allegra Spender in Wentworth and Zoe Daniel has dethroned Liberal Tim Wilson in Goldstein.
Liberal Jason Falinski has lost his Sydney seat of Mackellar to independent Sophie Scamps.
Former NSW minister Andrew Constance was ahead of Labor in Gilmore. The Labor seat on the NSW south coast is seen as a must-win for the Coalition. The Liberals looked set to hold the crucial Tasmanian seats of Bass and Braddon.
Former Labor Minister and power broker Graham ‘Richo’ Richardson called the election result early as a win for Labor following swings to the ALP in the Liberal-held seats of Reid and Bennelong.
‘We’re home,’ he said on Sky just before 7pm. ‘Let’s crack the champagne.’
Defence minister Peter Dutton casts his vote in his electorate of Dickson in Brisbane on Saturday afternoon
Scott Morrison (second right) kicked back in relaxed clothing in Kirribilli House after the polls closed
After polls closed, Scott Morrison stripped off his suit and was seen in casual dress with a no-collar shirt and a jumper as he chatted to colleagues inside Kirribilli House in Sydney.
Meanwhile, a make-up artist was seen entering Anthony Albanese’s home in Marrickville, inner-west Sydney.
Mr Morrison was hoping to win the Coalition a fourth straight term in office. High inflation and the rising cost of living are key issues.
Earlier on Saturday Australian voters in marginal seats were bombarded with an 11th hour text message from the Liberal Party about the arrival of two asylum seeker boats, just hours before polls closed.
Mr Morrison was accompanied by wife Jenny and daughters Lily and Abbey as he slipped his ballot into the box at Lilli Pilli Public School, Sydney’s south, on Saturday
Mr Albanese addressed a crowd of excited supporters outside the polling booth in Marrickville promising he would remain ‘one of the people’
The texts, which are being sent as a ‘news alert’ refer to an ‘illegal’ boat that was intercepted by Border Force officials allegedly trying to enter Australia.
‘BREAKING: Australian Border Force has intercepted an illegal boat trying to reach Australia. Keep our borders secure by voting Liberal today,’ the text read.
Mr Morrison also warned more people smugglers will come to Australia under a Labor government as the prime minister and Mr Albanese cast their votes.
A second boat was intercepted on Wednesday by the Sri Lankan Navy before it reached Australian waters.
Daily Mail Australia understands there have been up to 30 asylum seeker boats intercepted by ABF this year alone – none of which prompted a text message alert.
A fishing vessel carrying dozens of people (pictured) has been stopped by the Sri Lankan navy amid warnings that people smuggling could ramp up after election day
Labor has emerged as the favourite among bookies with payout rates dropping from $1.55 on Friday to $1.32 on Saturday.
The timing of the boat arrival prompted theories that the arrival of the boat was no accident and had somehow been planned ahead of time as an election stunt.
An unsolicited text message was sent to residents urging them to vote Liberal
Among those discussing the theory was 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame, who wrote that the boat arriving ‘on the eve of an election’ was ‘a chilling a coincidence’.
‘As well as being xenophobic, this vitriolic, fear-mongering rhetoric is blatant propaganda designed to undermine opponents,’ she wrote.
‘Our nation is better than this.
‘Whatever the truth is in this case, people are not pawns. People are people.’
Mr Morrison made one last pitch to voters to re-elect him as prime minister, confirming a boat sailing from Sri Lanka had been intercepted – and saying that only he could protect the country from more people smugglers.
Mr Albanese cast his vote at Marrickville Town Hall in his home seat of Grayndler as he was watched on by his son Nathan, partner Jodie Haydon and cavoodle Toto
‘I can confirm that there’s been an interception of a vessel en route to Australia,’ Mr Morrison said.
‘That vessel has been intercepted in accordance with the policies of government and they’re following those normal protocols and I can simply say this.
‘I’ve been here to stop this boat but in order for me to be there to stop those that may come from here, you need to vote Liberal and Nationals today.’
The Australian Border Force released a statement the boat was likely attempting to ‘illegally’ enter Australia after it was reported it came ‘very close’ to the west coast of Christmas Island.
The messages prompted the Australia Electoral Commission to tweet that ‘electoral laws don’t prohibit text messages sent by candidates or political parties’.
Labor has emerged as the favourite among bookies with payout rates dropping from $1.55 on Friday to $1.32 on Saturday
