Anthony Albanese made no mention of the Queen or God when he was sworn in as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister, one of a series of major symbolic differences from his predecessor Scott Morrison.
In another change, the Labor leader opened his first news conference as prime minister only after his staff replaced two of the three Australian flags behind the podium in Parliament’s Blue Room with Aboriginal and Strait Islander emblems. Towers.
Albanese will also take Foreign Minister Penny Wong with him to meet international leaders at the Quad Summit in Japan, contrary to the normal convention of such a meeting where the Prime Minister would go alone.
The three changes mark a significant departure from the way Morrison did things and came as a surprise to many Australians despite Albanese saying he wants to change “how politics is done” in Australia.
Anthony Albanese (left) opted for a civil statement when he was sworn in as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister.
The first clear difference between Mr Albanese and Mr Morrison was evident when Mr Albanese was sworn in as prime minister.
“I, Anthony Norman Albanese, solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that I will well and truly serve the Commonwealth of Australia, its land and its people in the office of Prime Minister,” the new leader said.
Albanese made a civil statement, rather than a religious promise, and chose not to utter the traditional “so help me God” that is sometimes a feature of these events.
The difference could not be starker from what former Prime Minister Scott Morrison said almost five years ago.
Mr Morrison pledged: “I, Scott John Morrison, swear that I will well and truly serve the people of Australia in the office of Prime Minister and that I will bear true and true allegiance to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia , God help me.’
Morrison is a devout Christian, while Albanese spoke little of his religious views during the election campaign.
He has described himself as a “non-practicing Catholic”, having been educated at St Joseph’s Primary School, Camperdown, and St Mary’s Cathedral College. He has previously said that faith is a personal matter for him.
It didn’t go unnoticed by the media when Albanese made another change on his first day. Before his first speech as sworn leader, staff replaced two of the three Australian flags behind the podium at Parliament House with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.
Staff replace two Australian flags in the Blue Room of Parliament with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander insignia on Monday.
The monumental change comes after the Labor Party announced it had taken a step forward to “deliver on the promise of the Uluru Heart Declaration”, which would see the introduction of an indigenous “Voice to Parliament”.
“I look forward to leading a government that makes Australians proud,” Albanese told reporters on Monday.
“A government that does not seek to divide, that does not seek to have differences but rather seeks to unite people for our common interest and our common purpose.”
Shortly after, Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong boarded a plane to travel to Japan, where they will meet international leaders at the Quad Summit.
The couple will meet US President Joe Biden, host leader Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Albanese came under fire last week for his plans to swear in himself and Wong immediately after the election result so that the pair could attend the Quad Summit, which starts tomorrow.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags will now be behind new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured with his front bench) during press conferences in Parliament.
He argued it would not be time for the Labor group to meet in Canberra to elect ministers, as required by party rules.
It is also unusual for a Prime Minister to take the oath of office and then leave the country immediately.
Mr Albanese told The Australian last week: ‘We are not anticipating the outcome (of the election) but, clearly, Australian officials have asked us what our intention would be and we have indicated that if we are successful, the intention would be to go.’
“If we are successful on Saturday, my intention is to attend the Quad leaders’ meeting to represent Australia (as prime minister),” Mr Albanese said. “If it is not clear, we will seek advice.”
Albanese’s preemptive comments were criticized by senior Liberals, including Peter Dutton, who could become the new Coalition leader within days. Dutton said it was unusual for Albanese to take his Foreign Secretary on a leadership trip.
He accused Albanese of making a costly mistake similar to that made by former opposition leader Bill Shorten, who had booked removalists to move into The Lodge days before the 2019 election.
“It seems to me that he is taking people’s support for granted,” Dutton told 2GB last Wednesday.
“Already packing your bags and preparing your passport to go abroad before the final votes are counted reminds me a lot of what Bill Shorten did.”
“To assume that you have already become prime minister, or are about to become prime minister, I think is arrogance to a large extent.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and newly appointed Foreign Minister Penny Wong headed to Japan for the Quad Summit.
What Scott Morrison’s last day in office was like at the church
Scott Morrison, on the other hand, spent his first day out of work on Sunday attending his weekly Pentecostal service where he addressed his fellow parishioners with tears in his eyes.
“It doesn’t matter if you are a prime minister, a pastor, run a business, teach in schools or work in the police,” he told the audience at Horizon Church in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire.
‘Each of us is called to trust and obey. And that is the life of faith to which He calls us. This is how we live our faith every day, regardless of what your job is, and how to express it in the way you do.’
Outgoing Prime Minister Scott Morrison broke down in tears while addressing his church on Sunday (pictured).
‘You have given us a great foundation from which we were able to walk what has been a very difficult path, I must tell you, over the last four years.
‘I’m very pleased that the last thing I say as Prime Minister is here. So I’m not going to trust my own words.’
Morrison gathered his thoughts before quoting a passage from Habakkuk 3:17.
‘Even if the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, even if the yield of the olive tree fails and the fields produce no food, even if the sheep are cut off from the fold and there is no gain in the stalls, but I will triumph in the Lord. ‘, he read.
‘I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.’
Anthony Albanese (pictured with Governor General David Hurley) decided not to utter the traditional “so help me God” at the end of his swearing-in.