He says Scott Morrison “graciously” wished him well and thanked the outgoing prime minister for his service.
He again reprised his background as a son of a single mother and said it said something about Australia that he could stand before supporters as the next prime minister of Australia.
“Every parent wants more for the next generation than they had ... and I hope that my journey in life inspires Australians to reach for the stars.”
He was continually interrupted by rowdy Labor supporters and called for order in the room.
“I intend to run an orderly government and it starts here, so behave,” he ordered.
“I want to bring Australians together, I want to seek our common purpose and promote unity and optimism, not fear and division.”
“No one gets here by themselves and I wouldn’t be standing here tonight without the support and hard work of so many people,” he said, singling out Senator Wong and deputy Labor leader Richard Marles.
He said he would be sworn in on Monday morning so he and the foreign minister could travel to the Quad Leaders’ meeting in Tokyo.
“And I want the leaders of the economic team to start work as well,” he said.
He thanked the “true believers” of the Labor Party and said the parliamentary party stood on their shoulders.
“I said during the campaign that I’ve been underestimated my whole life and, while that this true, I’ve also been lifted up by others who saw something in me.
“I am here not to occupy the space but to make a positive difference every day,” he said.
He thanked his girlfriend, Jodie, for coming into his life and sharing the journey.
She said, “I love you”, and they shared a kiss on the cheek.
Albanese then thanked his “proudest achievement”, son Nathan, 21, and his ex-wife, Carmel Tebbutt.
He said he hoped people in public housing were watching because it showed that “in Australia, the doors of opportunity are open to us all and like every other Labor government we’ll just widen that door a bit more”.
“Friends, we have made history tonight and tomorrow, together we begin the work of building a better future,” he said.