Scott Morrison was re-elected May 18 as Prime Minister of Australia, securing another three-year team for the Liberal-National coalition following an intense five-week campaign against Bill Shorten and the Labor party.
“I have always believed in miracles,” he told Liberal supporters with his wife and daughters by his side, after Labor leader Bill Shorten conceded defeat.
“I’m standing with the three biggest miracles of my life here tonight and tonight we have been delivered another one.”
The hundreds of Liberal supporters gathered in the ballroom of the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel cheered wildly as Morrison entered the room.
Morrison thanked Bill Shorten for his “kind words” and wished him and his family well, and God’s blessings.
Morrison dedicated the victory to the people he calls the “quiet Australians”.
“… it’s always been about them. It’s always been for those of you watching this at home tonight, for me and for my government, for all of my team, it’s all about you,” he said.
Morrison, who became prime minister less than nine months ago after the Liberal party rolled Malcolm Turnbull, Morrison promised to return to work straight away.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re going to get back to work for the Australians that we know go to work every day, who face those struggles and trials every day,” he said.
“They’re looking for a fair go and they’re having a go and they’re going to get a go from our government.”
The coalition will be returned to government after winning at least 74 of the 76 seats needed to form a majority in parliament.
A number of seats are still in doubt, but Mr Morrison acknowledged those candidates who won their seats – and singled out Queensland, where Labor failed to make an impact.
“How good’s Queensland?” he said, to chants of Queensland from the crowd. “I never thought I’d hear that in this room in NSW this close to Origin.”
He thanked his family, candidates and Liberal party administrators and the coalition partners, the Nationals, and singled out Tony Abbott who lost his seat of Warringah.
Morrison concluded his speech with “God Bless Australia.”
Preliminary results are below. Counting will continue on Sunday, May 19.
Winners
- Scott Morrison
- Zali Steggall (defeated Tony Abbott in Warringah)
- Fiona Philips (Labor, Gilmore)
- Phillip Thompson (LNP, Herbert)
- Melissa McIntosh (Liberals, Lindsay)
- Terry Young (LNP, Longman)
- Sarah Richards (Liberals, Macquarie)
- Bridget Archer (Liberals, Bass)
- Gavin Pearce (Liberals, Braddon)
Losers
- Bill Shorten
- Tony Abbott (lost seat of Warringah)
- Clive Palmer (didn’t pick up any seats)
- Ross Hart (Labor, Bass)
- Justine Keay (Labor, Braddon)
- Warren Mundine (Liberal, Gilmore)
- Cathy O’Toole (Labor, Herbert)
- Diane Beamer (Labor, Lindsay)
- Susan Lamb (LNP, Longman)
- Susan Templeman (Labor, Macquarie)
- Fraser Anning
Likely State of the Parliament
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
- Liberal National Party 74
- Labor 65
- Other 6
- (6 seats in doubt. Liberals ahead in 3, Labor ahead in 2, Independent ahead in 1)
SENATE
NSW
- Coalition 2, likely 3
- Labor 2
- Greens, likely 1
VIC
- Coalition 2, likely 3
- Labor 2
- Greens, likely 1
QLD
- Coalition 2, possibly 3
- Labor 1, possibly 2
- Final seat between Greens and One Nation
SA
- Liberals 2, likely 3
- Labor 2
- Greens, likely 1
TAS
- Liberals 2
- Labor 2
- Greens, likely 1
- Jacqui Lambie, possibly 1
ACT
- Liberals, likely 1
- Labor 1
NT
- Liberals 1
- Labor 1
This page is subject to further updates