By Renju Jose

SYDNEY, Reuters – Australia’s Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese was sworn into office Monday to become the new Prime Minister of Australia. He promised a “journey for change”, vowing that he would tackle rising living expenses and climate change.

Albanese and Richard Marles (deputy Labor leader) and three important ministers-in-wait – Penny Wong for foreign affairs, Jim Chalmers to treasurer, Katy Gallagher for finance – will all be inducted at Canberra’s ceremony.

Wong and Albanese will then travel to Japan on Monday for a meeting of “Quad”, a security group based in Tokyo.

Albanese said that it was a significant day in his life, but also a major day for the country when the government is changed. He spoke to reporters from outside his Sydney suburb home.

“I would like to use the chance that we have, to make change happen so we can bring others along on this journey of transformation.” “I want to unite the nation.”

Albanese indicated that he talked to Joe Biden the U.S. President on Sunday and is looking forward to meeting him on Tuesday at the Quad Summit, along with India’s prime ministers. He will fly back to Australia Wednesday.

After nine years of opposition, Labor will be retaken as the government’s representative. This wave of support for Greens and climate-focused independents (mostly women) helped to end almost a decade of conservative rule.

Labor’s campaign highlighted Albanese’s working-class credentials. Albanese, a boy who was raised in public housing and supported by one mother on a disabled pension, is portrayed as an unifier of pragmatic ideas.

The Centre-left Labor remains four seats shy of the majority of 76 seats in the 151 seat lower House. Television channels also report that there are at least a dozen races close to calling. Some forecast that Labor could win enough seats to run the country on its own.

With the record number of postal votes being counted on Sunday, official results might not come until several days later.