Australia's new leader has vowed to take the country in a new direction, with a big shift in climate policy. Anthony Albanese, who won Saturday's election, mentioned that Australia could become a renewable energy superpower. Mr Anthony is to be sworn in as PM on Monday.

Climate change was a key concern for voters, after three years of record-breaking bushfire and flood events. Vote counting is still going on, and it is unclear whether Labor can get 76 seats to secure a majority in the 151-member lower house of parliament. If the election results in a hung parliament, Greens and independents - who have been campaigning for radical climate change action - could wield greater influence in framing the new government's policies on the issue.

Speaking to the reporters, shortly after his election victory, Mr Albanese, said: "We have an opportunity now to end the climate wars in Australia. Australian business knows that good action on climate change is good for jobs and good for our economy, and I want to join the global effort. "Mr Albanese, who will be heading Australia's first Labor government in almost a decade, also promised to adopt more ambitious emissions targets. However, he has so far refused calls to phase out coal use, or to block the opening of new coal mines.
Mr Albanese will fly to Tokyo on Monday for a summit with the leaders of Japan, India and the US, known as the Quad. As he will be representing Australia as its prime minister, he will be sworn into office before his departure.

"Obviously the Quad leaders meeting is an absolute priority for us," he told journalists on Sunday.

“It's an opportunity for us to send a message that there is a change of government and that there will be a change of policies on things like climate change”, he said.