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SYDNEY: Incoming prime minister Anthony Albanese vowed to end Australia’s reputation as a climate laggard and reset relations with the rest of the world Sunday, as he raced to form a government in time for a key Tokyo summit.
Fresh from an electoral victory that ended a decade of conservative rule, Albanese signalled an era of fairer, greener and less pugilistic politics for Australia.
“I want to change the country,” the 59-year-old centre-left leader said. “I want to change the way that politics operates in this country.”
It is still unclear whether Albanese’s Labor Party will win enough parliamentary seats to form an outright majority, or whether he will have to turn to independents or smaller parties for support.
But “Albo” and key ministers are expected to be sworn in on Monday to be able to attend a summit with Japanese, Indian and US leaders — the so-called Quad.
Albanese said the summit was “an absolute priority” for Australia and an opportunity “to send a message to the world”.
He said partners overseas can expect wholesale changes “particularly with regard to climate change and our engagement with the world on those issues”.
In recent years, images of smouldering eucalypt forests, smog-enveloped cities and blanched-out coral reefs have made Australia a poster child for climate-fuelled destruction.
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Under conservative leadership, the country — already one of the world’s largest gas and coal exporters — has also become synonymous with playing the spoiler at international climate talks.
Albanese has vowed to adopt more ambitious emissions reduction targets and make the sun-kissed continent-nation a renewable energy superpower.
After the summit and bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Albanese said he would return to Australia on Wednesday.
“Then we’ll get down to business,” he said.
Foreign leaders have already started to welcome Albanese’s election, most notably Australia’s Pacific Island neighbours, whose very existence is threatened by rising sea levels.
“Of your many promises to support the Pacific, none is more welcome than your plan to put the climate first — our people’s shared future depends on it,” said Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.
Others will be watching closely to see if Albanese’s premiership brings a less hawkish tone on China, and whether ministerial meetings with Beijing resume after more than two years in hiatus.
