Australia's new Labor govt secures majority in Parliament

Australia's new Labor government has secured a majority in Parliament. The centre-left party, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, defeated Scott Morrison's conservative coalition in an election on 21st of this month. A record vote for independents and minor parties had made it uncertain whether  Albanese would govern in his own right. Now, Prime Minister Albanese has the 76 lower house seats needed, after victories in tight races. However, in the Senate, where Albanese's government will need crossbench support to pass laws.
About a third of Australians voted for candidates outside the major parties, with support surging for the Greens and independents running on climate platforms. Albanese has promised a constructive relationship" with the expanded crossbench, despite not needing to rely on their votes in the House of Representatives. Two seats there remain undecided. The veteran politician, who heads Australia's first Labor government in almost a decade, has promised to adopt more ambitious emissions reduction targets. His government is also aiming to shore up ties in the Pacific in the face of growing Chinese influence. In the last 40 years only one government - under John Howard in 2004 - has won a Senate majority. Meanwhile, Australia's main opposition party has named prominent conservative Peter Dutton to succeed Scott Morrison as leader, after a bruising election loss.Mr Dutton - the former defence minister - was elected unopposed by Liberal MPs.The Liberal-National coalition had governed for almost a decade.