No one does political commentary like the Aussies, so now that Scotty from marketing is out of the top seat and Anthony "Albo" Albanese is in, we've compiled some of the top social media memes from the Australian election.
While it's not yet clear what type of coalition Australia's Labor party might put together this term, yesterday's sweeping change in political favour across the Tasman resoundingly voted the Liberal-National coalition out.
Throughout the election the parties and their supporters increasingly made deliberate use of memes and social media in their campaigns, hoping to strike viral gold.
Images of the recognisable figureheads Anthony Albanese and Scott Morrison became common currency for traded jibes, stock photo library models promising a utopian future were paraded about in party advertising, and pop culture references were aimed at generating a flush of nostalgia and affection.
One from the punters, ringing in the new champs as the results came through:
Remember to turn your clocks 70 years forward on Sunday - as we exit the 1950s #auspol#ausvotes
Its unlikely that we'll see many more meaningful results tonight.
My Labor minority govt prediction was pretty close and may yet prove correct, with Labor still needing 4 more seats for majority govt.
What did surprise me was the huge swings to Labor in WA.
— Avid Commentator 🇦🇺 (@AvidCommentator) May 21, 2022
Best movie quote meme, used in this meme by the Liberals: "Mama always said voting Labor was like a box of chocolates. You never know what tax you're gonna get'.
Photo / Facebook / Australian Liberal Party
Best capture of an awkward moment: a photographer on the campaign trail caught this series of shots as a safety sign reading "If you mess up, 'fess up" was covered up with a safety vest shortly before Scott Morrison posed for the camera at a factory in Townsville:
The most viral moment, has been reproduced in so many iterations that we've gone back to the source for Scott Morrison's accidental rugby-style tackle of a child on Wednesday, during a football game in Tasmania.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison crashes into a child during soccer training in Tasmania on campaign trail - ABC News https://t.co/RZ3CJR4O4W
— Australian Labor (@AustralianLabor) May 12, 2022
The long game: 2021 Australian of the Year and campaigner against sexual abuse Grace Tame was earlier this year lambasted for not smiling in her meeting with the PM Scott Morrison, but did have a grin posing with Albanese after the Coalition's defeat:
During the election a fair few pundits recycled some traditional greats from ScoMo's time in office, with some dusting off their for-charity fundraiser Merry Crisis t-shirts by Scott Marsh for their visit to the polling booths:
The Labor party made a direct play for votes from people with current Covid-19 infections, reminding them they could vote and isolate at the same time.
One Nation will protect your right to choose your diet, whether it’s meat, veggies or any combination.
We oppose the Food Summit’s recommendations of restricting the world to just one bite of red meat per day. We will not “shut up and eat the bugs”. pic.twitter.com/SH6IxqQKyL
