Anthony Albanese had a lot to say when he got on stage to declare victory – but one of the most powerful messages he had for the Australian people went completely unspoken.
The Prime Minister joined his loyal supporters at Labor’s election party in Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club, Sydney, to celebrate his monumental win on Saturday night.
Addressing the country, he stood proudly beside three flags: the Australian national flag, the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag.
It is a clear statement from Albanese on his view of the country’s future – and a stark contrast to the country that Peter Dutton had envisioned.
The Prime Minister has displayed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags with the Australian flag at press conferences since he became prime minister in 2022.
But Dutton has previously said the nation should identify with one flag, and that he would appear only under the national flag of Australia if elected Prime Minister.
‘I’m very strongly of the belief that we are a country united under one flag,’ he said.
‘If we’re asking people to identify with different flags, no other country does that, and we are dividing our country unnecessarily.’
Anthony Albanese (pictured) gave his victory speech standing beside the national, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on election night
The Prime Minister promised to ‘govern for every Australian’ in his second term
Albanese promised to ‘govern for every Australian’ in his speech, making a clear statement about a future of inclusivity for the nation.
The PM also made a point of listing his promise to deliver on commitments to First Nations people in his speech, which was welcomed with applause from the crowd.
He said he would continue to lead a government ‘that supports reconciliation with First Nations people’.
‘Because we will be a stronger nation when we close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians,’ he said.
The Prime Minister also delivered a defiant Acknowledgement to Country after a week of fraught debate around Welcome to Country ceremonies.
‘I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet,’ he said, to huge applause and cheers from the crowd.
‘And I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging today – and every day.’
