Australia outlines US-China as priority

AUSTRALIA'S Labour government will prioritise dealing with the “dark shadow” of the US-China trade war following its resounding re-election victory, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said yesterday, after a campaign that hilighted concerns over US trade policy and the global economy.

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Labour Party leader Anthony Albanese, Australia’s first prime minister to win a second consecutive term in two decades, promised in remarks yesterday that he would run a disciplined and orderly government, stressing that Australians had voted for unity.

The centre-left Labour Party appeared likely to expand its majority in parliament to at least 86 seats from 77, the Australian Broadcasting Corp projected, after most polls had suggested it would struggle to keep its slim hold on the 150-seat lower house. About three-quarters of votes have been tallied, with counting to resume today.

Echoing an election in Canada less than a week earlier, Australia’s conservative opposition leader, Peter Dutton, lost his seat as voters, who initially focused on cost-of-living pressures, grew increasingly concerned over US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs and other policies.