Australia's Albanese claims election victory

Australia's Anthony Albanese claimed a historic second term as prime minister on Saturday in a dramatic comeback against once-resurgent conservatives that was powered by voters' concerns about the influence of US President Donald Trump.

Peter Dutton, leader of the conservative Liberal party, conceded defeat and the loss of his own seat - echoing the fate of Canada's conservatives and their leader whose election losses days earlier were also attributed to a Trump backlash.

Supporters at Labor's election party in Sydney cheered and hugged each other as Albanese claimed victory and said his party would form a majority government.

"Our government will choose the Australian way, because we are proud of who we are and all that we have built together in this country," Albanese told supporters.

"We do not need to beg or borrow or copy from anywhere else. We do not seek our inspiration from overseas. We find it right here in our values and in our people."

Albanese is the first Australian prime minister to win consecutive terms in two decades. He said Australians had voted for fairness and "the strength to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need". The Australian Electoral Commission website projected Labor would win 80 of 150 seats in the House of Representatives, increasing its majority, with 90% of polling places counted. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) projected 85 seats for Labor, 41 for the Liberal and National coalition, with nine for independents and another 15 too close to call. Dutton - whose Liberals had been leading in opinion polls as recently as February until he became dogged with comparisons to Trump - said he had phoned Albanese to congratulate him.

"We didn't do well enough during this campaign. That much is obvious tonight, and I accept full responsibility for that," Dutton said in a televised speech. Dutton, a former policeman with a reputation for being tough on crime and immigration, said he had spoken to Labor's candidate in the seat of Dickson he had held for two decades, and congratulated her on her success.