SYDNEY, 23 May 2022, (TON): Australia’s Labour Party leader Anthony Albanese was sworn in as the country’s 31st prime minister, promising a journey of change as he vowed to tackle climate change, rising living costs and inequality.

Labor returns to power after nine years in opposition as a wave of unprecedented support for the Greens and climate-focussed independents, mostly women, helped end nearly a decade of rule by the conservative coalition in Saturday’s general election.

While votes are still being counted and the makeup of government has yet to be finalized, Albanese was sworn in so he could attend a key meeting of the “Quad” security grouping in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Albanese, raised in public housing by a single mother on a disability pension, was sworn in by Governor-General David Hurley at a ceremony in the national capital, Canberra.

Albanese told “it’s a big day in my life but a big day for the country, when we change the government.”

“I want to channel the opportunity that we have to shape change so that we bring people with us on the journey of change. I want to bring the country together.”