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Australia election:
Tony Abbott defeats Kevin Rudd
7 Sep BBC
Australia's opposition has crushed the governing Labor party in a
general election that has returned the Liberal-National coalition to
power for the first time in six years.Early projections show Labor
winning 55 seats compared with the coalition's 91.
Liberal leader Tony Abbott said he looked forward to forming a
competent and trustworthy government.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd earlier admitted defeat and said he would
not stand again for the Labor leadership.The main election issues were
the economy, reducing the number of asylum seekers arriving by boat, and
a tax on carbon emissions.Mr Rudd called the election after defeating
Julia Gillard in a leadership challenge in June, amid dismal polling
figures that showed Labor on course for a wipe-out.Under Mr Rudd, Labor
initially saw its figures improve. But Mr Abbott, who enjoyed the
strident support of Rupert Murdoch's newspapers, then widened the gap
again.
“From today I declare Australia is under new management and Australia
is now open for business”, Mr Abbott told a cheering crowd as he
delivered a victory speech.He said that he would put the budget back
into surplus, and boats bringing migrants from Asia would stop.He added
that support for Labor was at its lowest ebb for 100 years, and said the
results showed that the Australia people would punish anyone who took
them for granted.Mr Rudd said he had phoned Mr Abbott and wished him
well.ÓI gave it my all but it was not enough for us to win,” he said.
But he was pleased that Labor was preserved as a “viable fighting force
for the future”.
Mr Rudd retained his seat in the Brisbane constituency of Griffith
but said he would not re-contest the Labor party leadership because the
Australian people “deserve a fresh start”.ÓI know that Labor hearts are
heavy across the nation tonight. As your Labor leader I accept it as my
responsibility,” he said.With two-thirds of the votes counted, the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation said the coalition had secured 85
seats in parliament and was on course to win 91. Labor had secured 54,
with a predicted final tally of 55.In the previous parliament, Labor
relied on the support of independents and the Greens for its minority
government, with 71 seats to the coalition's 72.
Mr Abbott took on the leadership of the flagging Liberal-National
coalition in 2009.A Rhodes scholar who once wanted to be a Roman
Catholic priest, Mr Abbott has pledged to repeal both the mining and
carbon taxes introduced by Labor.He has also promised a raft of budget
cuts, including reducing the foreign aid budget by A$4.5bn ($4bn,
£2.6bn).But he says he will fund an expanded paid parental leave
scheme.The economy has been at the heart of campaigning.
Mr Abbott will be charged with managing the transition as the mining
and resources boom subsides, amid slowing demand from China and slumping
commodity prices.
Ahead of the polls, his coalition highlighted bitter Labor
infighting, seeking to portray itself as the more stable party.And
former Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke blamed the internal divisions for
Labor's defeat.
ÓI really believe this was an election that was lost by the
government rather than one that was won by the opposition,” he said.
Julia Gillard, meanwhile, congratulated the Labor candidate who
succeeded her in her seat, as she bowed out of politics.And in something
of an upset, billionaire Clive Palmer - who founded the fringe Palmer
United Party appeared on course to win a seat in parliament. |
