The recent federal election saw an embarrassing end to nine years of Coalition rule – the party of austerity, bigotry, climate devastation, and union busting which has been met with grassroots resistance (with no help from Labor) at every step. It was the Liberals’ worst electoral results in their history.

But this is no coronation for Albanese and the Labor party. Though the major parties have some policy distinctions, Labor made itself more like the Liberals this election by pandering to racism and transphobia and supporting fossil fuels. This right wing strategy gave them their lowest vote since the Great Depression. There has never been an elected government since the introduction of suffrage with such weak support from working-class voters.

The Greens ran a clear campaign to kick out the Liberals, platforming climate action, better Medicare, and affordable housing, winning their highest ever vote, a large factor in Labor’s “success.” They picked up new seats in both houses and enjoyed swings in Lismore, Melbourne, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, and some fossil fuel communities. This result is an encouragement for the left in its push against the jobs vs. climate wedge. However, it was not enough to grant the Greens the balance of power, so their legislative influence will remain minor.

The independents were also massive winners of the election as they devoured the Liberals’ middle-class base. Climate 200 Independents succeeded in 9 lower house seats and in the ACT Senate on a platform of milquetoast climate action, anti-corruption, women’s inclusion, and opposing the religious freedoms bill.

The far right have also been shown as losers in this election, with a general swing against One Nation despite running in an increased number of seats. Liberal defector Craig Kelly came fourth in his seat, and despite a Senate seat for Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party in Victoria due to the crash in the Liberal vote, support has otherwise failed to truly grow in contrast to the slightly more progressive splits in the Liberals’ base.

On paper, this is the most progressive parliament in most people’s living memory, with a Prime Minister in the so-called Socialist Left faction, a strong Greens result, and a weakened Liberal party. But Labor is no friend to the worker. The ALP takes money from the bosses, votes with the Liberals 87% of the time, and has stated that it wishes to keep its distance from the unions, climate action, and queer issues. The only way we can truly take advantage of these shake-ups in parliament is through struggle on the streets and at our workplaces, as we take the fight to Albanese with as much determination as we did Morrison.