Who is Australia’s new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese?

Australia has ushered in a new political era with the appointment of a new leader.

Anthony Albanese prevailed in the 2022 election, beating incumbent Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The longtime politician has been a prominent name in Australian politics for many years and now finds himself in the top job.

But who is he and what are his main policies?

Here’s everything you need to know about Anthony Albanese.

Anthony Albanese is a 59-year-old politician who was born in Sydney to a single mother.

He is a member of the left-leaning Labor party, which he joined as a student.

Mr Albanese, known colloquially as ‘Albo’, was first elected to Australia’s House of Representatives in 1996 and remains one of the country’s longest-serving politicians.

During his career in politics, he has served as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Manager of Business Operations, and in several other Shadow Cabinet positions.

After Labor was defeated in the 2018 Australian election, then-leader Bill Shorten resigned and Mr Albanese became the only person nominated for the role.

He was unopposed as Labor leader and subsequently became opposition leader against Scott Morrison of the centre-right Liberal National Coalition.

The two leaders faced each other in the 2022 election, with Mr Albanese and Labor marking a crucial victory.

The victory meant Mr Albanese, who was born to an Italian father, becomes the first Italian-Australian to hold the role of Prime Minister.

Mr. Albanese has remained left-leaning throughout his career.

He is seen as an advocate of Australia’s free healthcare system, as well as an outspoken supporter of the LGBT community and climate issues.

During the campaign for the 2022 general election, Mr Albanese displayed stronger middle position politics, which appealed to Conservative voters who had turned against the Labor Party in the 2019 election.

This includes backing the policy of barring asylum seekers from entering Australia by boat, as well as focusing on national security and China.

But he firmly believes the party is investing money in the care sector, childcare and Australia’s flagging manufacturing industry.

Mr Albanese was also praised for his decision to hold a referendum on enshrining an advisory body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – known as the Indigenous Voice to Parliament – in the country’s constitution.

He has also been vocal about the impact that being raised by a single mother in public housing had on his progressive beliefs.

Mr Albanese thanked Australians for choosing him as their new leader in a victory speech on May 21.

Commenting on his upbringing, he explained that this is a big moment for the country and for him personally.

He said: “It says a lot about our great country that a son of a single mother who was a disabled pensioner and grew up in social housing in Camperdown can stand before you tonight as Australia’s Prime Minister.

“All parents want more for the next generation than they had. My mother dreamed of a better life for me.

“And I hope my life’s journey inspires Australians to reach for the stars.”

Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party’s victory marked the end of Scott Morrson’s Premiership in the country.

Mr Morrison was Prime Minister of Australia from August 2018 to May 2022.

Though millions of votes are yet to be tallied, the former prime minister conceded defeat to Mr Albanese on May 21 because Australia had to send a leader to a Tokyo summit between US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Ministers Narendra Modi.

During his concession speech, Mr Morrison said: “Tonight I spoke to the leader of the opposition and the new Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and tonight I congratulated him on his election victory.

He added: “I have always believed in Australians and their judgment and have always been willing to accept their judgments.

“And tonight they have delivered their verdict and I congratulate Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party and wish him and his government well.”