Albanese Champions ‘Progressive Patriotism’ as Model for a Divided World

The prime minister also rejected the ‘culture wars’ being fought in Australia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivers a victory speech at the Labor Party’s election night event in Sydney, Australia on May 3, 2025. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared Australia’s approach to unity can serve as a global model for navigating religious and racial tensions, describing it as a national “project” with international relevance.

Riding high on his election victory, Albanese said in an interview on May 14 that the country’s multicultural harmony stands in stark contrast to rising division elsewhere.

“This is a project, if you like, that’s not just about strengthening Australia, but also being a symbol for the globe in how humanity can move forward,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Calling himself a believer in “progressive patriotism,” the prime minister said Australians should be proud of the nation they built.

“At a time where there’s conflict in the world, where people are often divided on the basis of race or religion, here in Australia, we can be a microcosm for the world that says that we’re enriched by our diversity, that we have respect for people of different faith, that we try to bring people together, that we don’t bring turmoil overseas and play out that conflict here, either, and that’s really important.”

PM Touts Medicare as ‘Progressive Patriotism’

In explaining “progressive patriotism” Albanese said it means “speaking of things the Australian way, not looking towards any other method or ideology from overseas to try to copy.”

“If we get this right, we can be increasingly successful,” he added.

As an example, Albanese pointed to Medicare, which he said exemplifies Australian values and equal care for all.

“I see that as something that puts us apart from other countries. It’s a health system that says that whether you’re Kerry Packer, a billionaire, or myself after serious car accident, or my mum, an invalid pensioner who on Mother’s Day in 2002 ended up at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in emergency after having an aneurysm, you get the same care.”

Culture Wars ‘Unproductive’, Says PM

Albanese rejected culture wars as divisive and “unproductive,” arguing that the last election made it clear. He added that people supported the party which seeks to unite Australians.

“And that’s why things like culture wars so unproductive, because they seek to pit people against each other,” he said.

He stressed that Labor is the party that reflects the fabric of the nation.

“I think that our destiny is to try to be the natural party of government, rather than look for dividing people,” he said.

Asked whether he has repositioned Labor at the centre of Australian politics, Albanese described it as “centre-left.”

“But we very much are concerned about social justice. We see there is a role for the state in improving people’s lives, but we also very much believe in markets, and that markets are a democratic mechanism as well, through the economy of expression.”

The opposition faced frequent criticism for engaging in supposed “culture wars” during campaigning, a label often used to prevent the Liberal Party or other groups from promoting conservative causes or learning from conservative movements in the United States.