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Australian PM calls election for August 21
Source: Agencies |
July 17, 2010, Saturday
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AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Julia Gillard called an election today for August 21, with the poll to be fought over policies on economic management, climate and border protection.
Australia's first female prime minister was appointed three weeks ago by the ruling Labor party as the government faced electoral defeat and has resurrected voter support to put Labor narrowly ahead in opinion polls. Conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott needs to win only nine seats to form government with four independents or 13 seats to take office outright.
"Today I seek a mandate from the Australian people to move Australia forward," Gillard told a news conference.
"Moving forward means moving forward with budget surpluses and a stronger economy," said Gillard, who toppled leader Kevin Rudd in a party coup on June 24.
Australia's robust economy, which dodged recession in 2009 and emerged strong from the global financial crisis, will be key to the 2010 election. And Gillard has said she would seek re-election on a platform of creating jobs.
But while the government has said it will return a budget surplus by 2013, opinion polls show voters view the opposition as better economic managers, despite Labor steering the economy through the global financial crisis and avoiding recession.
The opposition has also vowed to return to a budget surplus and keep a cap on government spending.
"Racing for the centre," said the headline of a story in The Australian newspaper comparing Gillard and Abbott.
Yet, voters will be given stark choices:
* Gillard plans to introduce a 30 percent mining tax, raising A$10.5 billion (US$9.12 billion) from 2012, and Abbott has vowed to dump it.
* Gillard believes a carbon price to fight climate change is inevitable, with a emissions trading scheme possibly brought in after 2012-13, Abbott does not.
* Gillard has proposed a possible East Timor regional asylum processing centre to stop boatpeople arriving in Australia, Abbott plans to reopen Pacific island detention camps.
"We are ready to govern," opposition leader Abbott said in a speech today which focused on jobs. He said conservative parties would abandon a policy of tough labor laws, conceding it lost them power in 2007.
"Trust will only be restored by demonstrating, over time, that the coalition again has the steady hands in which people's job security and pay and conditions can once more safely rest."
ELECTION ABOUT LEADERSHIP
David Briggs of pollster Galaxy Research said the focus of the election will be leadership, in particular the performance of new Prime Minister Gillard.
"It is about Julia Gillard and it is the election for Labor to lose," Briggs told Reuters.
Newspaper's editorial did not endorse either Labor or the Liberal-National opposition, but the Sydney Morning Herald called Gillard the "hollow woman" who in three weeks as leader has given little indication of where she would take Australia.
"Voters deserve to pass judgment not just on her as prime minister, but on the tumultuous events that saw her grab the job...," said the Herald.
While voters will be given policy choices, they will also face two contrasting personalities in Abbott and Gillard.
Abbott is a pugnacious and socially conservative Catholic, who once trained for the priesthood, and is opposed to same sex marriages and abortions.
Gillard in contrast does not believe in God, is unmarried but has a long-time partner, and is childless.
But both Gillard and Abbott are skilled, intelligent politicians, whose campaign skills may prove the key to who wins the election.
"I think it will be a tight election. I think it will go down to the wire," said Financial Services Minister Chris Bowen.
Australia's first female prime minister was appointed three weeks ago by the ruling Labor party as the government faced electoral defeat and has resurrected voter support to put Labor narrowly ahead in opinion polls. Conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott needs to win only nine seats to form government with four independents or 13 seats to take office outright.
"Today I seek a mandate from the Australian people to move Australia forward," Gillard told a news conference.
"Moving forward means moving forward with budget surpluses and a stronger economy," said Gillard, who toppled leader Kevin Rudd in a party coup on June 24.
Australia's robust economy, which dodged recession in 2009 and emerged strong from the global financial crisis, will be key to the 2010 election. And Gillard has said she would seek re-election on a platform of creating jobs.
But while the government has said it will return a budget surplus by 2013, opinion polls show voters view the opposition as better economic managers, despite Labor steering the economy through the global financial crisis and avoiding recession.
The opposition has also vowed to return to a budget surplus and keep a cap on government spending.
"Racing for the centre," said the headline of a story in The Australian newspaper comparing Gillard and Abbott.
Yet, voters will be given stark choices:
* Gillard plans to introduce a 30 percent mining tax, raising A$10.5 billion (US$9.12 billion) from 2012, and Abbott has vowed to dump it.
* Gillard believes a carbon price to fight climate change is inevitable, with a emissions trading scheme possibly brought in after 2012-13, Abbott does not.
* Gillard has proposed a possible East Timor regional asylum processing centre to stop boatpeople arriving in Australia, Abbott plans to reopen Pacific island detention camps.
"We are ready to govern," opposition leader Abbott said in a speech today which focused on jobs. He said conservative parties would abandon a policy of tough labor laws, conceding it lost them power in 2007.
"Trust will only be restored by demonstrating, over time, that the coalition again has the steady hands in which people's job security and pay and conditions can once more safely rest."
ELECTION ABOUT LEADERSHIP
David Briggs of pollster Galaxy Research said the focus of the election will be leadership, in particular the performance of new Prime Minister Gillard.
"It is about Julia Gillard and it is the election for Labor to lose," Briggs told Reuters.
Newspaper's editorial did not endorse either Labor or the Liberal-National opposition, but the Sydney Morning Herald called Gillard the "hollow woman" who in three weeks as leader has given little indication of where she would take Australia.
"Voters deserve to pass judgment not just on her as prime minister, but on the tumultuous events that saw her grab the job...," said the Herald.
While voters will be given policy choices, they will also face two contrasting personalities in Abbott and Gillard.
Abbott is a pugnacious and socially conservative Catholic, who once trained for the priesthood, and is opposed to same sex marriages and abortions.
Gillard in contrast does not believe in God, is unmarried but has a long-time partner, and is childless.
But both Gillard and Abbott are skilled, intelligent politicians, whose campaign skills may prove the key to who wins the election.
"I think it will be a tight election. I think it will go down to the wire," said Financial Services Minister Chris Bowen.
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