Australia's conservative PM concedes election defeat
Agence France-Presse
Posted at May 21 2022 11:46 PM
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison admitted defeat in national elections Saturday and said he was stepping down as leader of his conservative Liberal Party.
"Tonight I have spoken to the leader of the opposition and the incoming prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and I have congratulated him on his election victory," Morrison said.
The 54-year-old outgoing leader, who won an election three years ago that he termed a "miracle", said he took responsibility "for the wins and the losses".
"That is the responsibility of leadership and as a result I will be handing over the leadership," Morrison said.
Noting that voter support had fallen for the major parties, the prime minister said Australians had suffered "great upheaval" over the past few years, which have been marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, drought, bushfires and floods.
"It has imposed a heavy price on our country and on all Australians. And I think all Australians have felt that deeply," he said.
Morrison's voice cracked with emotion as he thanked his wife Jennifer and his daughters, "the loves of my life".
"I have no doubt under strong leadership of our coalition, three years from now I am looking forward to the return of a coalition government."
UK looks to climate action with Australia's new PM
Boris Johnson tells his counterpart that he will collaborate on 'shared challenges'
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday congratulated Anthony Albanese on his election as Australia's new leader, vowing to work together on trade, military ties and climate change.
"Our countries have a long history and a bright future together," Mr Johnson said in a message to the Labor party leader, according to Downing Street.
Mr Johnson shares a centre-right ideology with Australia's defeated leader Scott Morrison, and their conservative parties have looked to the same electoral strategists for advice.
But the pair differed on climate change, a defining issue of the Australian election.
"As thriving likeminded democracies we work every day to make the world a better, safer, greener and more prosperous place," Mr Johnson told the incoming Australian prime minister Mr Albanese.
The UK leader hailed a new post-Brexit free-trade agreement between their countries, and a defence partnership also involving the United States that will see Australia deploy nuclear-powered submarines for the first time.
Pledging to collaborate with Albanese on "shared challenges", Mr Johnson said the "only distance between us is geographical".
In a nod to China's growing assertiveness, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted that Britain would also work with Albanese's new government "for a free and open Indo-Pacific".
The British Labour party also enjoys close links to its Australian counterpart, working together at elections with both parties enduring a decade in the political wilderness.
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