China National News Wednesday 30th January, 2013
CANBERRA - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard Wednesday surprised everyone in the country by suddenly declaring polling dates set for Sep 14 this year, kicking off one of the longest election campaigns in history.
Gillard, the first female prime of the country, broke the tradition of announcing poll dates only a few weeks in advance.
The election will mark the end of a hung parliament led by Gillard in which the Labour government survived on the support of independent and Green party members of parliament.
"Announcing the election date now enables individuals, investors and consumers to plan their year," Gillard said as she stunned the media contingent during an address at the National Press Club in Canberra
She said her intention in calling the election dates early was to give certainty.
"It gives shape and order to their year. I do this not to start the nation's longest election campaign: quite the opposite. It should be clear to all which are the days of governing and which are the days of campaigning."
"Time is not for wasting. So decisions have to be made about how we use our time this year."
Australian parliament will be dissolved Aug 12 as Australia's federal term of government runs for three years.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott whom Gillard accused of sexism and misogyny in a fiery speech to parliament last October welcomed the announcement
He said his party was "so ready".
"This election will be about trust," he said. "Who do you trust to reduce the cost of living pressures? Who do you trust to boost small business security? And who do you trust to secure our borders?"
Gillard took over from Kevin Rudd as prime minister in a 2010 party coupAustralian PM advances poll dates to September
CANBERRA - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard Wednesday surprised everyone in the country by suddenly declaring polling dates set for Sep 14 this year, kicking off one of the longest election campaigns in history.
Gillard, the first female prime of the country, broke the tradition of announcing poll dates only a few weeks in advance.
The election will mark the end of a hung parliament led by Gillard in which the Labour government survived on the support of independent and Green party members of parliament.
"Announcing the election date now enables individuals, investors and consumers to plan their year," Gillard said as she stunned the media contingent during an address at the National Press Club in Canberra
She said her intention in calling the election dates early was to give certainty.
"It gives shape and order to their year. I do this not to start the nation's longest election campaign: quite the opposite. It should be clear to all which are the days of governing and which are the days of campaigning."
"Time is not for wasting. So decisions have to be made about how we use our time this year."
Australian parliament will be dissolved Aug 12 as Australia's federal term of government runs for three years.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott whom Gillard accused of sexism and misogyny in a fiery speech to parliament last October welcomed the announcement
He said his party was "so ready".
"This election will be about trust," he said. "Who do you trust to reduce the cost of living pressures? Who do you trust to boost small business security? And who do you trust to secure our borders?"
Gillard took over from Kevin Rudd as prime minister in a 2010 party coupAustralian PM advances poll dates to September
