Anthony Albanese will become the first prime minister since John Howard to win two successive elections, with Peter Dutton losing his seat of Dickson.
Anthony Albanese will become the first prime minister since John Howard to win two successive elections, with Peter Dutton losing his seat of Dickson.
At time of publication, Labor looked to be heading towards a majority government – before the first WA results had even been released.
Speaking to a cheering crowd at Labor HQ in Sydney, Mr Albanese said voters had chosen Australian values.
"Australians have chosen to face global challenges the Australian way, looking after each other, while building for the future and to serve these values, meet these challenges, seize these opportunities and build that better and stronger future," he said.
"I thank Peter for his generous words at the end of what has been a very hard for campaign, and I want to take this opportunity to wish Peter and Carolyn and their family all the very best for their future.
"We are all Australian. Let us work together to build our national unity on the enduring foundations of fairness, equality and respect for one another."
Meanwhile, Peter Dutton has lost his own seat of Dickson, with Labor’s Ali France ahead with 57.5 per cent of the two-party preferred vote at time of publication.
It represents a 9.2 per cent swing against Peter Dutton, and is the first time an opposition leader has lost their seat at a federal election.
Mr Dutton has held the seat since 2001, with Ms France now successful in her third attempt to win it for Labor.
Labor holds 55.3 per cent majority in the nationwide two party preferred vote estimate.
Speaking during a concession speech at Liberal HQ in Brisbane, Peter Dutton conceded he had lost not just the election, but his seat as well.
"One of the great honours of being the leader of this party is that we've met people from every side, every corner, collective breadth of this country," he said.
"And there are many amazing stories, people who have sacrificed, people who are doing it hard at the moment. And I've always wanted in public life the best for our country, the best for Australia.
"I will acknowledge now we didn't do well enough during this campaign, that much is obvious tonight, and I accept full responsibility for that. Earlier, I called the Prime Minister to congratulate him on his success tonight."
In WA, the first vote counts are beginning to roll in.
The newest WA electorate of Bullwinkel is too close to call, with both Labor's Trish Cook and Liberal Matt Moran within one per cent on two party preferred vote.
Kate Chaney - the Climate 200 backed independent and daughter of former Woodside boss Michael Chaney - has beaten Liberal Tom White to retain the seat of Curtin, currently holding a 3.6 per cent lead.
The current result represents a 2.3 per cent swing to Ms Chaney.
The Liberals look likely to lose the seat of Moore - a seat for which incumbent Liberal Ian Goodenough was not preselected by the Liberal party, instead replaced by Vince Connelly on the party ticket.
Mr Goodenough ran as an independent and attracted some 10 per cent of the primary vote.
Labor's Tom French looks likely to win the seat, currently holding a 4 per cent margin.
Labor's Sam Lim has won the seat of Tangney, currently holding a 9.2 per cent margin over Liberal candidate Howard Ong.
Anne Aly, also Labor, has won the seat of Cowan, currently holding a 15.4 per cent margin over Liberal candidate Felicia Adeniyi, while Labor's Matt Keogh will retain his seat of Burt, currently holding a 15.5 per cent margin over Liberal Sean Ayres.
This story was last updated at 8.30pm AWST on May 3.
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