Anthony Albanese’s experience showed, but a truly terrible Trump-inspired Coalition campaign helped

Despite predictions of an inevitable slide into minority for Labor, Albanese’s election victory demonstrated voters aren’t interested in appeals to the fringes

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Just as Australians were returning from the calm of summer holidays, Labor and the Coalition both held their breath as Donald Trump took the presidential oath of office in Washington.

With a federal election year under way and the Albanese government desperate to restart Labor’s flagging political prospects, Trump’s victory had emboldened conservatives in the Coalition and right-wing minor parties. Along with sections of the Australia media, they pushed for a version of Trump’s unapologetic politics here.