analysisThe Liberals have a deep problem in Australia's capital cities, while Albanese joins Labor greatsCBy Casey BriggsTopic:Elections1h ago1 hours agoSun 4 May 2025 at 3:21amYou have to go back to the wartime government of John Curtin to find a better Labor two-party preferred result. (ABC News: Brendan Esposito)abc.net.au/news/albanese-history-two-party-preferred-election-win-labor-pantheon/105249446Link copiedShareShare articleAnthony Albanese has entered the Labor pantheon. While the count is still preliminary, Labor looks to have beaten the two-party-preferred result of Kevin Rudd in 2007 (52.7 per cent), of Bob Hawke in 1983 (53.2 per cent), Gough Whitlam in 1972 (52.7 per cent) and Ben Chifley in 1946 (54.1 per cent). Rudd, Hawke, Whitlam, Chifley. A list of Labor greats that Albanese would be happy to rub shoulders with. You have to go back to the wartime government of John Curtin to find a better Labor two-party preferred result. As of Sunday morning, Labor has won at least 85 seats, with another three likely wins. The government is leading in another five seats, meaning it has a credible pathway into the mid-90s. The opposition has at least 36 seats and a pathway to the mid-40s, but will end up with less than half Labor’s seat total. The Coalition’s catastrophe is perhaps most evident in Tasmania where they have suffered a swing of more than 8 per cent. The Coalition now holds no lower house seats on the apple isle. Capital city pain for the CoalitionThe Liberal Party has also been wiped out of metropolitan Adelaide, most of Melbourne, and they’ve gone backwards in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. To return to government, the Liberals need to work out how to win back voters in the cities. Beyond Dutton's loss, this is a chance for a new type of politicsPhoto shows Albanese for Tingle columnLabor learned the lesson that it needed to focus on the concerns of voters. The Coalition did not.Three years ago, the Coalition bled support in urban areas. It lost all of its seats overlooking Sydney Harbour, and seats in wealthy parts of Melbourne and Perth. That problem has deepened now. Most of the independents that claimed those seats have, with the benefit of incumbency, strengthened their support. The hung parliament scenario that may have put an increased spotlight on them — perhaps drawing them closer to a Labor minority government — has not come to pass. Peter Dutton’s clearly-telegraphed strategy was to focus on regaining territory in outer metropolitan areas, perhaps hoping that the inner-city independents would self-combust and that would encourage their base to come home. That strategy has spectacularly failed. Menzies MP Keith Wolahan, who looks to have lost his seat, told Insiders this morning that it's clear his party has "an issue in urban Australia". "Most people live in cities, so we need to turn our mind to that like we have never done before," he said. "We need to really dig deep and think about who we are and who we fight for and who makes up Australia." The swings to the government are larger in the capital cities than the country, and the swing is broadly consistent across both the inner and outer metropolitan areas: just under four per cent. What lessons will be learned? Labor is welcoming at least six new Queenslanders to the caucus room, including two who have defeated members of the Greens and one regional seat: Leichhardt in the far north. The government’s biggest winner of all is Ali France, who managed after three attempts to unseat now-former opposition leader Peter Dutton. These are some serious gains in a state where Labor has experienced massive struggles federally. But it’s also worth noting that this is still a state where the Liberal-National Party dominates. It’s the only state in the country where the Coalition is currently ahead in two-party-preferred terms, and the opposition still holds a majority of seats in Queensland. Loading Where does Coalition power remain?So as they cast around for a new leader, look at where power lies in the Coalition party room. A large chunk — nearly half — of the opposition’s lower house MPs in the next parliament hail from Queensland. The other challenge is to win back the cities, without much representation there. The Liberals come out of this election far more wounded than the Nationals, which on the latest count is only at risk in two seats. So the country party will presumably grow its numerical influence in the joint partyroom in the next parliament. We will have to wait to see what that means for the direction the opposition chooses to go, and the lessons it chooses to learn from this loss. Election essentials:Federal election updates and live resultsHow Labor carved a path to a landslide victoryWhat was the result in your seat? Look up the map of your regionPosted 1h ago1 hours agoSun 4 May 2025 at 3:21amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesLabor victory a 'win for the ages'Topic:ElectionsPhoto shows Smiling Albanese with a coffee at a table with trees behindLiberals begin dissection after ruinous lossTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows Liberal Party launch in SydneyYour 4-minute guide to the federal election resultsTopic:ExplainerPhoto shows Anthony Albanese holds up his hands to calm the crowd.Labor set for easier Senate as Pocock, Lambie risk being sidelinedTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows David Pocock sits behind Jacqui Lambie while she speaks in the senateWhat was the result in your seat? Look up the map of your regionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows An illustration of the map of Australia with multicoloured lines behind itPopular nowAlbanese gets warm welcome in electorate as Coalition confronts worst-ever resultLIVEPhoto shows Smiling Albanese with a coffee at a table with trees behindLabor set for easier Senate as Pocock, Lambie risk being sidelinedTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows David Pocock sits behind Jacqui Lambie while she speaks in the senateNo clear favourite as Liberals weigh Dutton successorTopic:Liberal Party of AustraliaPhoto shows A composite image of Andrew Hastie, Sussan Ley, Angus Taylor and Dan TehanRelated topicsALPAustraliaAustralian Federal ElectionsElectionsPolitical LeadershipVotingTop StoriesLabor victory a 'win for the ages'Topic:ElectionsPhoto shows Smiling Albanese with a coffee at a table with trees behindLiberals begin dissection after ruinous lossTopic:Federal GovernmentYour 4-minute guide to the federal election resultsTopic:ExplainerLabor set for easier Senate as Pocock, Lambie risk being sidelinedTopic:ElectionsWhat was the result in your seat? 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