The new Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanisi, promised on Sunday to end Australia's reputation as a country that lags on climate change and redefine relations with the rest of the world, as he struggled to form a government in time for a major summit in Tokyo.
As reported by Agence France-Presse, fresh from an election victory that ended a decade of conservative rule, Albanisi signaled an era of fairer, greener and less aggressive politics for Australia.
"I want to change the country," the 59-year-old centre-left leader said. "I want to change the way politics works in this country."
It is not yet clear whether Albanisi's Labor Party will win enough parliamentary seats to form an outright majority or whether it will have to turn to independents or smaller parties for support.
However, Albo, as his supporters call him, and key ministers are expected to be sworn in on Monday so they can attend a summit, known as the Quad, with Japanese, Indian and American leaders.
Albanisi said the summit was "an absolute priority" for Australia and an opportunity "to send a message to the world".
He said overseas partners could expect big changes "in particular in terms of climate change and our engagement with the world on these issues".
[BR][BR]In recent years, images of smoldering eucalyptus forests, smoggy cities and bleached coral reefs have made Australia's rounds as evidence of the destruction fueled by climate change. The country is one of the world's biggest exporters of gas and coal.
Albanisi has pledged to adopt more ambitious emissions reduction targets and make the sunburnt continent-nation a renewable energy superpower.
After the summit and bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Albanisi said he would return to Australia on Wednesday.
"Then we'll get into the deep end," he said.
Foreign leaders have already begun to welcome Albanisi's election, notably Australia's Pacific island neighbours, whose very existence is threatened by rising sea levels.
"Of your many promises to support the Pacific, none is more welcome than your plan to put climate first - our people's shared future depends on it," said Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.
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