Albanese Projected to Win Second Term as Australian PM

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been projected to win re-election, becoming the nation's first leader in over two decades to secure back-to-back victories. Projections suggest the Labor Party will likely retain, and possibly increase, its majority in parliament, with significant swings against the opposition Coalition. While some uncertainty remains about whether Labor will form a majority or minority government, analysts and former ministers are confident in a majority outcome. The election follows a campaign marked by voter concerns over the pace and ambition of Labor's reforms, with commentators urging Albanese to use his new mandate to pursue more transformative change. If successful, Albanese will be the first Labor leader to win consecutive terms since Bob Hawke in 1990, highlighting the significance of this result in recent Australian political history. The outcome is seen as both a validation of Labor’s approach and a challenge to deliver substantial progress during the second term.