Australia woke up today to a new Labor government led by Prime Minister-elect Anthony Albanese. A strong economy with low unemployment, and some notable foreign policy successes, including

leading the global response to China, signing a trade deal with the UK, and the Aukus nuclear submarine agreement, were not enough to save outgoing prime minister Scott Morrison. He was

plagued by scandals, from heading off on holiday to Hawaii as Australia was ravaged by bushfires, to allegations about covering up sexual assault in parliament and complaints about the slow

delivery of vaccines.

At the last election Morrison was able to terrify the electorate with the prospect of a high tax, left-wing Labor government. That was enough to keep metropolitan socially liberal seats;

just as fears about Jeremy Corbyn saved many Tories in London and the south east. This time, however, a different leader, wielding a similar playbook to Keir Starmer, championed inoffensive

policies and waged a viciously negative campaign about Morrison’s leadership.

Now the Liberals are on track to lose prosperous inner-city heartlands including Kooyong, the seat held by party founder Robert Menzies. These are being won by so-called “teal” blue-green

independents, focussing on issues like climate change, integrity in politics and gender equality. This is not a million miles away from the threat Boris Johnson faces as socially liberal

Tories switch to the Liberal Democrats in “Blue Wall” seats.

More broadly, Morrison’s Liberals failed to give people in outer suburban and regional areas a reason to vote for them after nine years of lacklustre government, shared between three prime

ministers with little sign of a principled agenda.

The result is no great endorsement for Albanese and Labor. They have the most seats and will form a government, helped by swings in Western Australia, yet failed to make substantial inroads

in many “left behind” suburban and regional areas. Public opinion is realigning away from the major parties. Labor’s primary vote is down, while the left-wing Greens performed well, picking

up unexpected places such as Griffith in Queensland, the former seat of Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd. Meanwhile, conservative populist parties such as One Nation and the United Australia

Party, received almost one in 10 votes. Their support increased after harsh lockdowns and vaccine mandates.

The overall signal from the Australian people is disillusionment and exhaustion. This was an overwhelmingly dull campaign, with no great agenda from either major party or excitement for the

future.

“Australia is a lucky country run mainly by second-rate people who share its luck,” social critic Donald Horne opined back in 1964. This has never quite been true; in the past, strong

leadership has delivered a winning mixture of democratic institutions, a largely free economy and a prosperous society. Nevertheless, this election would suggest that Australian politicians

remain more than happy to coast on their good fortune.

The challenges will mount in the coming years, from China’s rise in Australia’s region to inflation and lacklustre wage growth. Facing many of these problems, Boris Johnson will need more

than luck if he is to avoid a similar fate.

Matthew Lesh is head of public policy at the Institute of Economic Affairs