In Melbourne, Australia, Anthony Albanese is striving to become the first prime minister in over two decades to lead his political party to a consecutive electoral triumph as the nation prepares to vote on Saturday. The last leader to achieve such a victory was John Howard, who secured a fourth straight win in 2004, marking him as Australia’s second-longest serving prime minister. However, his defeat three years later ushered in a politically unstable period in which the country saw six different prime ministers.
“There are many undecided voters out there. We face a significant challenge, as no one has been re-elected since 2004,” Albanese remarked to reporters on Friday. His center-left Labor Party holds significantly different views from the conservative Liberal Party on energy policies and the approach to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. While Labor advocates for transitioning from fossil fuel power to renewable energy, the conservatives propose building nuclear reactors as part of their strategy.
Anthony Albanese, age 62, grew up under humble circumstances as the only child of a single mother who relied on a pension due to a disability. They lived in public housing in Sydney. His campaign promises that no Australian would be left out or disadvantaged under his governance. One of Albanese’s key objectives was a 2023 referendum aimed at establishing the Voice, an Indigenous body in the constitution advising Parliament on matters impacting Indigenous Australians. Although they represent 4% of the population, they are among Australia’s most disadvantaged ethnic groups. However, the referendum was rejected, leading critics to accuse the government of prioritizing minority issues amid an inflation crisis affecting the majority.
Albanese faced scrutiny for his personal life, as the first Australian prime minister to get engaged while in office after proposing to his partner, Jodie Haydon, on Valentine’s Day last year. Although they planned to marry before the election, party advisors were concerned that a wedding could negatively impact his re-election amidst the cost of living issues. Consequently, the couple postponed their nuptials until after the election but intend to wed before year’s end.
Media attention also focused on Albanese’s purchase of a waterfront home at Copacabana Beach, north of Sydney, for 4.3 million Australian dollars ($2.7 million). This acquisition, largely highlighted in the press, came amid widespread struggles with affordable housing in the nation. “I know what it means to struggle. I’m aware I am fortunate,” Albanese commented regarding his real estate investment.
Since the ousting of John Howard after his long tenure ended in 2007, there have been a procession of individuals occupying the role of prime minister, including Kevin Rudd, who served two non-consecutive terms. Many who guided their parties to electoral wins were later dismissed due to poor public approval ratings. The only leader to complete a full term was Scott Morrison, assuming office nine months before the 2019 election following Malcolm Turnbull’s removal, until Albanese’s electoral win in 2022.
Albanese’s potential to be re-elected could be attributed to recent changes in Labor’s internal policies that make it more challenging to unseat a standing prime minister. When Kevin Rudd reascended to leadership in 2013, he secured a rule change requiring a 75% majority of Labor lawmakers, rather than a simple majority, to elect a new leader. Additionally, non-elected party members with paid membership have been given a voice in these decisions. Rudd, who was ousted in 2010 following a challenge by his deputy, Julia Gillard, secured this procedural shift. Gillard was elected by fellow lawmakers unopposed and later, in 2013, was challenged by Rudd in a similar ballot which he won with 57 votes to 45.
Rudd’s modifications transformed the process of ousting a leader into one that necessitates extended periods and extensive consultations, moving beyond parliamentary bounds. Reflecting similar sentiments, the Liberal Party has refined their own regulations since the last prime ministerial replacement in 2018.