Liberal Party Faces Historic Defeat in Australian Election

Australia's opposition Liberal Party suffered a historic defeat in the federal election, with leader Peter Dutton losing both the election and his own parliamentary seat—an unprecedented outcome. Labor, under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, achieved a landslide victory, particularly dominating in major metropolitan areas such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide, and making significant gains in Victoria. The Liberals are now facing calls for a comprehensive review of their strategy, with party figures acknowledging a disconnect with urban and suburban voters and the need to better listen to Australians. Labor's success in Victoria was attributed to its defense of key infrastructure projects and effective distancing from unpopular state-level politics, while the Liberals failed to pick up any new seats and risk losing their remaining metropolitan footholds. The election results have prompted soul-searching within the Liberal Party, as several prominent MPs, including Keith Wolahan and Michael Sukkar, lost or are likely to lose their seats, signaling a need for major internal reform. Albanese characterized Labor's victory as a mandate for unity over division, highlighting the electorate's rejection of the opposition's campaign tactics.