Anthony Albanese, known as a pragmatic politician willing to work outside ideological lines, is a man of humble origins and quite proud of the fact. 

The 59-year-old, nicknamed Albo, was raised in social housing by a single mother on a disability pension.

His referred to his own upbringing in his victory speech and reiterated his key pledge to leave no Australians behind.

"It says a lot about our great country that a son of a single mum who was a disability pensioner, who grew up in public housing… can stand before you tonight as Australia's Prime Minister," he said.

"I hope that my journey in life inspires Australians to reach for the stars, " he added.

Mr Albanese said his mother, Maryanne Ellery, was determined to ensure he had opportunities that she never did. With her support, he became the first in his family to finish school and go to university.

He has said creating a better world for his own son, Nathan, is the inspiration behind his public life. Mr Albanese separated from his wife of 19 years in 2019 but partner Jodie Haydon joined him on the campaign trail.

He has been a Labour Party stalwart since his 20s. When he was only 12 years old, he says, he helped to organise a rent strike that kept his mother's public housing property from being sold off to developers which was his first step towards the world of politics.

Mr Albanese has been a leading voice of the Party's left faction, but since becoming leader has positioned himself more towards the centre.

This has included going soft on his support of more aggressive climate action policies while taking a more aggressive stand on China and national security.

He has also backed Australia's controversial policy to turn back any asylum seekers arriving by boat – something he once publicly opposed.

Mr Albanese stayed true to his Labour roots, however, in promising big spending on the country's troubled aged care sector, cheaper childcare, and reinvigorating the manufacturing industry.

Labour has pledged to hold a referendum on enshrining in the constitution an Indigenous Voice to Parliament – an advisory body that would give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a role in shaping policies that affect them.

He is a strong defender of Australia's free healthcare system, an advocate for the LGBT community and a passionate rugby league fan.