Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Concedes

The Associated Press reports:

Australia’s prime minister conceded defeat after an election Saturday that could deliver a minority government. Scott Morrison acted quickly despite millions of votes yet to be counted because an Australian prime minister must attended a Tokyo summit on Tuesday with U.S., Japanese and Indian leaders.

“I believe it’s very important that this country has certainty. I think it’s very important this country can move forward,” Morrison said. “And particularly over the course of this week with the important meetings that are being held, I think it’s vitally important there’s a very clear understanding about the government of this country,” he added.

The New York Times reports:

Anthony Albanese and his opposition Labor Party ended nine years of conservative government in Australia on Saturday, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison conceded defeat of the coalition he led.

A handful of races were still too close to call, but early results showed Labor winning at least 72 seats of the 76 needed to form a government. Alliances with independent and minor-party victors would give it a majority if it does not reach 76 seats by itself.

“Tonight, the Australian people have voted for change,” Mr. Albanese said in his victory speech in Sydney, during which he also repeated a theme of his campaign.

CNBC reports:



The Greens and a group of so-called “teal independents”, who campaigned on policies of integrity, gender equality and tackling climate change, put on a strong showing, tapping voter anger over inaction on climate change after some of the worst floods and fires to hit Australia.

The new parliament looks set to be much less climate-skeptic than the one that supported Morrison’s pro-coal mining administration.

In results so far, Labor had yet to reach 76 of the 151 lower house seats required to form a government alone. Final results could take time as counting a record number of postal votes is completed.