On a night of elation for the Albanese Labor government,as it won a second term in officeand secured an improved majority, there were words of jubilation.
For theCoalition, experiencing a pulverising defeat, the tone was solemn.
In between was everything from squawking chicken metaphors to scalding words attacking the Coalition for having run the “worst campaign in living memory” and discussions of the ownership of the Maga chant.
Let’s take a look back at the quotes that stood out – triumphant and humbled – this evening.
Someone who was barely able to contain their joy from quite early on in the evening was the treasurer, Jim Chalmers. He described the party’s leader, Anthony Albanese, as having “every right to feel emotional about it”.
On the penultimate day of the campaign, Liberal frontbencher Jane Hume said it was too early to discuss replacing Peter Dutton as“you do not read the entrails until you have gutted the chicken”. Hume repeated that proverb on Saturday evening, telling Channel Seven’s panel they were “already reading the entrails before the chicken is gutted” by ignoring postal vote results, to which former the Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten interjected:
Opposition leader Peter Dutton, addressing Liberal crowds in Brisbane, conceded the Coalition’s defeat as well as his own in the seat of Dickson to Ali France. He said:
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, addressed the Labor faithful at the Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club, telling them:
Liberal National party senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price attracted controversy aftersaying “make Australia great again” during the campaign, strongly evoking Donald Trump’s Maga chant. Speaking to the ABC, Price refused to take responsibility for playing any part in the Coalition’s loss, and accused ABC host Sarah Ferguson of slinging mud for bringing up the chant, as well as aphoto uncovered of Price wearing a Maga hat.
As the Coalition looks to the future after this loss, Liberal senator James McGrath said it would be “dangerous” for theCoalitionto hold similar positions to the Trump administration.
Greens leader Adam Bandt claimed credit for Labor beating Peter Dutton in Dickson:
Former Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten was asked by Channel Seven about how he’s feeling, knowing how it feels to lose after 2019, “having a little more freedom to say what he thinks” retiring from politics at the end of this term: