Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, positioned himself neutrally with regard to former President Donald Trump during his re-election campaign. He expressed trust in the U.S. democratic process, rarely mentioning Trump by name, and redirected discussions toward domestic issues.
Despite this, the return of Trump to U.S. power seemed to influence the dynamics of Australia’s election, leading to a significant victory for Albanese and his center-left Labor Party. Voter sentiments appeared to reflect an underlying anti-Trump stance, contributing to the party’s triumph.
Australia has not faced as severe consequences from Trump’s policies as other allies, such as Canada. Consequently, neither Albanese nor opposition leader Peter Dutton felt pressure to address Trump directly, as the nation's main trading partner is China, diminishing the impact of Trump’s tariffs.
However, Trump’s influence was palpable throughout the campaign, particularly as voters expressed concern over a cost-of-living crisis. Dutton’s alignment with some of Trump’s principles earned him derogatory nicknames, highlighting the negative perception of Trump among Australian voters.
Political experts noted that Trump’s tariff policies reinforced voters' rejection of Dutton and his conservative campaign, leading to a stronger embrace of centrist politics and a surprising electoral success for Albanese, who is now expected to secure a substantial majority in the House of Representatives.
Dutton’s campaign faced criticism, described as ineffective and poorly organized. The defeat was particularly striking, as he lost his long-held seat to Labor’s Ali France, marking a significant shift in his constituency.
Many voters, while not entirely supportive of Albanese, cited Dutton’s association with Trump as a decisive factor in their voting choices. Concerns about Trump-like rhetoric influenced public sentiment, indicating a reluctance to adopt similar political styles. Dutton’s disconnect with voters, particularly women, was further exacerbated by an unpopular policy proposal to mandate office attendance for government workers.
The results of the election also revealed that while Labor won decisively, they did not secure a majority of first-choice votes, indicating a desire among voters for the party to expand its agenda beyond minor reforms.
The electorate’s preference for more substantial change suggests that Labor will need to address these expectations in its governance moving forward.