“Serving as your prime minister is the greatest honour of my life,” he said at the Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club in Sydney’s inner-west.

“It is with a deep sense of humility and a profound sense of responsibility that the first thing that I do tonight is to say thank you to the people of Australia for the chance to continue to serve the best nation on Earth.”

After making an Acknowledgement of Country, Albanese said Australians have voted “for fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all”.

“For the strength to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need,” he said.

“In this time of global uncertainty, Australians have chosen optimism and determination.”

Albanese raised his Medicare card in the air, saying: “This card is not Labor red or Liberal blue, it is green and gold.”

“It is a declaration of our national values in our national colours.”

He thanked Opposition leader Peter Dutton for “his generous words at the end of what has been a very hardfought campaign” and wished him and his family all the best for the future.

The Labor leader thanked all of the party’s candidates, before singling out Ali France, who un-seated Dutton in his outer-Brisbane seat of Dickson.

Joined by fiancée Jodie Haydon and son Nathan, Albanese said: “We do not seek our inspiration from overseas.

“We find it right here in our values and in our people.”

Albanese said he was making a “solemn pledge” to the Australian public.

“We will not forget that we will never take it for granted, repaying your trust will drive a government each and every day of the next three years, our government.”

— Veronica Lenard