Anthony Albanese elected new Opposition leader following Labor's shock defeat

Anthony Albanese
Anthony Albanese is the new leader of the Australian Labor Party. Photo credit: Getty

After a shocking defeat at last week's election, Australia's Labor Party has a new leader.

Anthony Albanese was elected as Bill Shorten's replacement on Monday (local time). He was the only nominee.

The Sydney MP says he's honoured to be given the opportunity to lead the party he's belonged to since he was 15.

"Thank you to members of caucus, rank and file members and affiliates for your support," he said on social media.

"Together we can return our great party to government in three years time."

Labor is reeling from the May 18 federal election, in which polls predicted they would sweep to power. But Australians decided they wanted more of the same, handing Scott Morrison's Liberal-led conservative coalition a miracle victory.

Shorten, who was the leader of the Opposition for six years, told supporters he would step down as leader after the election.

Labor's entire front bench could also be set for a shake-up, AAP reports.

Albanese, 56, will likely lead alongside Victorian MP Richard Marles as deputy, who was also the sole nominee for the job.

It will be Labor's first all-male leadership team since 2001, with the exception of a brief three-month stint in 2013 after Kevin Rudd rolled Julia Gillard, Australia's first female Prime Minister.

Newshub.