TRANSCRIPT
- Prime Minister addresses Australians as he claims victory in the 2025 federal election.
- Opposition leader Peter Dutton accepts responsibility for party's loss as he concedes defeat.
- And in the NRL, the Warriors defeat the Cowboys.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has claimed victory in the federal election.
With more than 70 per cent of the votes on election day counted, Labor is forecast to win the required 76 seats in the lower house to form government.
The Australian Electoral Commission seats says it has claimed 73 seats - and is close to winning 8 more.
The Coalition is projected to pick up 40 seats, as its primary vote plunged to almost historic lows.
Mr Albanese says he will waste no time implementing his campaign promises as a second-term prime minister.
"Serving as your Prime Minister is the greatest honour of my life, and it is with a deep sense of humility and a profound sense of responsibility that the first thing that I do tonight is to say thank you to the people of Australia for the chance to continue to serve the best nation on earth."
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Opposition leader Peter Dutton has conceded defeat, after losing his seat of Dickson to Labor's candidate, Ali France.
It was France's third attempt at winning the Queensland seat off Mr Dutton, which he has held for the past 24 years.
Mr Dutton says the result is not the outcome his party hoped for - and he reflected on the work of the Coalition over the past three years.
"We did not do well enough during this campaign, that much is obvious tonight and I accept full responsibility for that. Earlier, I called out the Prime Minister to congratulate him on his success tonight. It is an historic occasion for the Labor Party and we recognise that."
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The count for the Greens vote continues, with the party leader Adam Bandt celebrating their biggest national vote in history and saying they are in a position to win between one and four seats.
In a statement, he conceded that with the Liberal vote crashing to historic lows, Labor will win two seats held by the Greens on the back of Liberal preferences in Griffith and Brisbane.
Mr Bandt says he expects to be re-elected in his seat of Melbourne, adding the party is well-positioned in the seats of Ryan, Wills and Richmond.
He says the Greens have increased their vote nationally and seen swings towards them of nearly 10 per cent in target seats across the country.
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Relatives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza have called for the removal of Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his government.
Since the beginning of March, Israel has cut off Gaza from all aid, leading to what is believed to be the most severe shortage of food, medicine and other supplies in nearly 19 months of war with Hamas.
Israel says the goal of its blockade is to pressure Hamas to free the remaining 59 hostages in Gaza.
But Zahiro Shahar Mor, nephew of hostage Avraham Munder, says this strategy of bloodshed and deprivation has only endangered his uncle.
"The only way to bring all our hostages home is by kicking Netanyahu and his government of bloodshed to the curb. This government will not bring them home! They have sentenced them to death! To becoming MIAs! The only way to bring them home is by replacing this government. That has become perfectly clear after five hundred and seventy-five days."
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At least seven people have been killed after medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières says its facility in a remote part of South Sudan was targeted in an aerial bombardment.
Fangak County Commissioner, Biel Butros Biel, told The Associated Press that a 9-month-old child was among the dead in the aerial attack.
He added that at least 25 people were wounded, though an assessment of the damage was ongoing.
Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors without Borders, has released a statement condemning the attack on its hospital, which is says is the only source of medical care for 40,000 residents, including many people displaced by flooding.
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In sports, the Warriors have held off against a second-half surge from Cowboys, with the New Zealand club securing its equal-best start to an NRL season.
The Warriors led 30-12 with 24 minutes to play before the Cowboys rallied, Andrew Webster's side hanging on for dear life to win 30-26 on Saturday at Brisbane's Magic Round.
Earlier today, the Newcastle Knights defeated the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The NRL's Magic Round continues throughout the weekend in Brisbane, with the Tigers and Dragons facing off tonight.
