This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-61546470
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Anthony Albanese: Australia's new PM sworn in ahead of Quad meeting | Anthony Albanese: Australia's new PM sworn in ahead of Quad meeting |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Anthony Albanese (centre) was sworn in alongside key cabinet members (from left) Jim Chalmers, Penny Wong, Katy Gallagher and Richard Marles | Anthony Albanese (centre) was sworn in alongside key cabinet members (from left) Jim Chalmers, Penny Wong, Katy Gallagher and Richard Marles |
Anthony Albanese has been sworn in as Australia's new leader and will fly immediately to an international summit. | Anthony Albanese has been sworn in as Australia's new leader and will fly immediately to an international summit. |
Mr Albanese's Labor Party defeated Scott Morrison's conservative government in an election on Saturday. | Mr Albanese's Labor Party defeated Scott Morrison's conservative government in an election on Saturday. |
It remains unclear whether Mr Albanese will form a majority or govern with the support of crossbenchers. | |
The prime minister left for Tokyo on Monday to meet the leaders of the so-called Quad nations - the US, India and Japan. | |
Earlier in the day, he was sworn in with four key cabinet members, including new Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who is travelling with him to Japan. | |
Richard Marles is the new deputy prime minister and employment minister, Jim Chalmers is treasurer, and Katy Gallagher is attorney-general and finance minister. | |
It is Australia's first Labor government in almost a decade. The party has won 72 lower house seats but counting continues to determine whether they can get the 76 needed to form a majority. | It is Australia's first Labor government in almost a decade. The party has won 72 lower house seats but counting continues to determine whether they can get the 76 needed to form a majority. |
But the primary vote for both major parties fell - almost a third of Australians put the Greens, independents and other minor parties as their first preference. | |
The moment that changes Australia | |
The Quad group is seen as largely aiming to counter growing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region. | The Quad group is seen as largely aiming to counter growing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region. |
It will meet on Tuesday following recent diplomatic tensions in the Pacific, after the Solomon Islands last month signed a security pact with China. | It will meet on Tuesday following recent diplomatic tensions in the Pacific, after the Solomon Islands last month signed a security pact with China. |
Penny Wong is the first overseas-born person to be foreign minister | |
The US and Australia hold fears the deal could allow China to build a naval base there. | |
Australia defends Solomons ties after PM's tirade | Australia defends Solomons ties after PM's tirade |
In a statement ahead of the meeting, Mr Albanese said: "The Quad Leaders' Summit brings together four leaders of great liberal democracies - Australia, Japan, India, and the United States of America - in support of a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific." | |
Ms Wong - Australia's first overseas-born foreign minister - signalled they would bring "new energy and much more to the table" on climate action, after "a lost decade". | |
Climate change played a huge role in the election result, with a surge in support for candidates wanting urgent action. | |
Mr Morrison's government had committed to a 2030 emissions reduction target of 26%-28% - about half that of the UK and US. Mr Albanese's government has a target of 43%. | |
The Greens have picked up seats in Queensland, usually considered a conservative heartland | |
The Greens are expected to pick up four lower seats, adding to seven climate-focused independents. They could put pressure on Labor to take even stronger action, especially if it fails to reach a majority. | |
Mr Morrison's unpopularity and his party's stance on climate have been blamed by some Liberal MPs for wiping out their vote. | |
Losses included senior party figures, including deputy leader Josh Frydenberg, in traditional Liberal strongholds. | |
Mr Morrison stepped down as party leader on Saturday and former defence minister Peter Dutton is the favourite to succeed him. | |
Mr Dutton - from the party's right - has been a controversial figure at times. Some question whether he could rebuild Liberal support in more progressive, metropolitan areas. | |
More on Australia's election: | |
Scott Morrison runs out of miracles | |
How Australia is becoming more unliveable | |
This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
WATCH: New Australian PM says climate action "shouldn't be controversial" | WATCH: New Australian PM says climate action "shouldn't be controversial" |