SYDNEY, May 22 (BBC) - Australia’s Labor party leader has claimed victory in the national election after Prime Minister Scott Morrison conceded defeat even as the votes are still being counted, ending nearly a decade of conservative government.

“The Australian people have voted for change. I am humbled by this victory,” Labor leader Anthony Albanese told his supporters in Sydney on Saturday after leading his party to victory following nine years in opposition.

“I think people have had enough of division, what they want is to come together as a nation and I intend to lead that,” Albanese said earlier in the day.

Labor has so far secured 72 seats, four seats short of the majority in the 151-member lower house of the parliament, according to partial results.

The centre-right coalition, led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, has so far secured 51 seats. Morrison conceded defeat late on Saturday even though vote counting was still under way.

Final results could take time as the counting of a record number of postal votes is completed.