SYDNEY — Early vote counts in Australia’s general election on Saturday indicate the ruling Labor Party is on track to secure a second consecutive term — a feat not achieved in the country since 2004.

With 33.5% of the vote counted, Labor was leading with over 70 seats in the 151-seat House of Representatives, nearing the 76-seat threshold needed to form a majority government.

More than 18 million Australians cast their ballots under the country's compulsory voting system.

If the trend holds, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will become the first leader in two decades to win re-election, cementing Labor’s political momentum.

In a major upset, opposition Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton has reportedly lost his Queensland seat of Dickson to Labor’s Ali France, according to projections by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). It would be the first time in Australian history that an opposition leader fails to retain their seat in a general election.

Dutton addressed party members following the projected loss, saying, “We didn’t do well enough during this campaign. That much is obvious tonight and I accept full responsibility.”

Dutton’s campaign faced sharp criticism over past Islamophobic comments and accusations of emulating U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric and political style. — Agencies