What has the Albanese Government achieved so far?

Since winning office in May 2022 and securing a stronger mandate at the 2025 election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led one of the most legislatively active federal governments in recent memory. With a commanding majority in the House of Representatives, Labor has pushed through structural reforms across workplace law, climate policy, health, child care, housing and integrity. The question is not whether the government has acted, but whether those actions have translated into outcomes voters can clearly feel.

Workplace relations has been the government’s most ambitious reform area. Through its Secure Jobs, Better Pay changes and subsequent industrial relations legislation, Labor reshaped bargaining rules, tightened definitions around casual employment and labour hire, and strengthened employee protections. Supporters argue the changes aim to reverse a decade of wage stagnation and insecure work. Critics say the growing regulatory complexity risks burdening small and medium businesses. Regardless of the debate, these reforms are structural and long term in impact.

On cost of living, Labor redesigned the Stage 3 tax cuts in early 2024, redirecting more benefit toward low and middle income earners rather than higher income brackets. It also delivered multiple rounds of energy bill rebates, extended Medicare bulk billing incentives, and expanded child care subsidies, lifting the maximum subsidy to 90 percent for lower income families. These policies have provided tangible relief to many households. However, persistent inflation, high rents and elevated mortgage repayments mean many Australians still feel under pressure. Relief has been real, but so has the squeeze.

Climate policy has also shifted under Albanese. The government strengthened the safeguard mechanism covering major industrial emitters and committed to more ambitious emissions reduction pathways, while maintaining support for renewable investment and energy transition projects. At the same time, it has had to balance climate ambition with short term cost concerns, hence the reliance on electricity rebates. Labor argues it is managing both transition and affordability. Opponents argue energy prices remain politically sensitive and the transition is not yet delivering visible savings.

Housing remains the government’s biggest vulnerability. Labor established the Housing Australia Future Fund to help finance social and affordable housing and signed a National Housing Accord targeting 1.2 million new homes over five years from mid 2024. Yet rental stress and house prices remain dominant public concerns. Construction constraints, planning bottlenecks and migration driven demand have limited short term improvements. The government can point to frameworks and funding, but voters are still waiting for broad market relief.

In health, Labor has focused on Medicare. Bulk billing incentives for children and concession card holders have increased free GP visits for priority groups. The government presents this as rebuilding Medicare after years of pressure. Access, however, remains uneven, especially for working adults without concession status. Progress is measurable, but not universal.

On integrity, the government delivered the National Anti Corruption Commission, fulfilling a major election promise. It also responded to the Robodebt Royal Commission with commitments to administrative reform and accountability. Yet controversy around some early decisions of the new watchdog has complicated Labor’s clean government narrative.

Foreign policy and defence have largely followed a continuity model with sharper regional engagement. Labor has continued implementation of the AUKUS security partnership while pursuing more stable diplomatic engagement with China and deeper Pacific relationships. Economically, it legislated the National Reconstruction Fund to channel investment into priority industries, signalling a more active industrial policy approach.

The defining political moment of Albanese’s first term was the failed Indigenous Voice referendum in October 2023. The defeat was a major setback for the Prime Minister personally and politically. While the government has continued Indigenous policy work, the referendum loss remains a defining chapter of the term.

So what has the Albanese government achieved so far? It has legislated extensively, reshaped workplace law, expanded social supports, advanced climate frameworks, established a federal integrity body, and secured re election with a strengthened majority. Where it faces its toughest judgment is housing affordability and overall cost of living, areas where policy action has not yet translated into broad public relief. The second term will determine whether its structural reforms begin delivering outcomes that feel as substantial as the legislative agenda behind them.

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