The day after the election in Australia, the reasons for the Conservatives' crushing defeat are becoming increasingly clear.

In Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's social democratic Labor Party has further expanded its historic election victory. While not all votes had been counted the day after the vote, it is already clear that Labor has significantly exceeded its absolute majority of 76 votes in the 150-member lower house. The last time the party governed with such a large margin was 80 years ago, according to the Australian broadcaster ABC.

The conservative coalition of Liberals and Nationalists, on the other hand, suffered a crushing defeat and achieved one of the worst results in its history: according to various calculations, it has barely reached 40 seats so far. Other small parties and independent candidates received about a dozen seats by Sunday afternoon (local time).

Albanese's challenger, Peter Dutton (54), even surprisingly lost his own seat in Dickson, Queensland, which he had held for more than 20 years. Speculation has already flared up in the country about who will succeed him as leader of the Liberal Party.

Australian media were harsh in their criticism of the loser. "Dutton's defeat in his own constituency of Dickson epitomized a disastrous night for his coalition," commented broadcaster 9News. Dutton had hoped to write a chapter in history. "In the end, he remained a footnote."

Albanese – known as "Albo" for short – is now the first head of government in more than 20 years to serve a second term. "Thank you, Australia," the 62-year-old wrote on Platform X.

In his acclaimed victory speech on Saturday evening, he emphasized that Australia had chosen optimism and determination in a time of global uncertainty. On Sunday, he was celebrated by supporters in his Sydney constituency.

In commentary, Australian media drew comparisons to the election results in Canada, where the Conservatives suffered a defeat a few days earlier for similar reasons as in Australia. Dutton, who had led in the polls until February, was accused of being too close to the policies of US President Donald Trump during the election campaign – as was the case previously with the leader of the Canadian Conservatives, Pierre Poilievre. Poilievre had also lost his own parliamentary seat.

"The parallels between the two countries, both close allies of the United States, are unmistakable," wrote the Sydney Morning Herald. "Trump's radical and, in many ways, frightening return to office has breathed new life into the center-left parties and become a dynamite for conservative politicians."

Dutton emphasized that he takes full responsibility for the election debacle. "We didn't run a good campaign, that's obvious tonight," he told disappointed party members.

The ABC also criticized the Conservatives' "chaotic election campaign." Dutton, they argued, had focused too long on national security, defense, and border protection. "This may have blinded him to the need to seriously address economic policy." The high cost of living and the lack of affordable housing were central issues for the population in this election.

Meanwhile, polling stations were crowded all day on Saturday, despite compulsory voting in Australia. Many people went straight from the beach to the polling station in their swimming trunks—in typical Aussie fashion.

In front of many polling stations, people could fortify themselves with a democracy sausage after casting their vote. "Democracy Sausages" have a long tradition in elections Down Under and are a kind of national symbol, like koalas or the Sydney Opera House. It's a sausage in a bun, optionally with onions and ketchup. The proceeds go to charity.

The tradition is now popular far beyond the borders of Down Under - even in icy regions: At the Australian research station Casey Station in Antarctica, scientists were also supposed to be given democracy sausages after voting by telephone.