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Opposition Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd celebrates the victory of Labor Party in the Federal election in Brisbane, Nov. 24, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)
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CANBERRA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Australian Labor
Party ousted Prime Minister John Howard's 11-year-old government in the general
election on Saturday with the view for a change.
Kevin Rudd won the election as a new leader amongst
the long-heard voices for the change of government, when voters complained on
Howard's reforms in industrial relations and rising interest rates.
Howard's reliance on the country's economic
achievements did not help his re-election campaign as before, as Rudd pointed to
the failure of transferring the benefits of a booming economy to the families.
Rudd asked, "the economy is strong, but why life is
hard?"
Rudd promised that when in power, he will, among
other things, scrap the unpopular Workplace Agreements, and to "get the balance
right between fairness and flexibility in the workplaces of the nation."
He highlighted projects in education and health care,
the two areas where he has been long ahead of Howard in public opinion polls.
Climate change has been in the focus of election
debate as Rudd vowed to rectify the Kyoto Protocol the Coalition has refused to
ink in fear of a possible impact on Australia's economy. A cut of greenhouse gas
emissions by 60 percent by 2050 is also on Labor's agenda.
Although there is not much difference between Labor
and Coalition on foreign affairs, Rudd wants a staged withdrawal of Australia's
combat troops from Iraq by mid next year.
In contrast, Howard, as a closest ally of U.S.
President George W. Bush, would keep the soldiers there "as long as they are
needed."
It is expected a Labor government will seek to
promote Australia's influence in the South Pacific, as Rudd has criticized
Howard's regional policy.
Labor plans to build a regional center of
civil-military cooperation and use it as a platform to train police and
coordinate regional assistance missions.
Earlier in the polling day, about 13.6 million voters
across Australia chose from 1,421 candidates for all the 150 seats in the House
of Representatives and 40 of the 76-member Senate.
As the count of votes still continues, the exact
number of seats Labor has won in the parliament remains unknown, but analysts of
local TV stations which broadcast at the national tally room put it above
80.
Counting of votes begins for
Australian federal election
CANBERRA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Counting of votes began for
Australia's federal election on Saturday, which expects to be a cliffhanger.
Votes from southeastern states will be the first to be
counted after the close of polls at 6:00 p.m. local time (0700 GMT), with the
other states and territories in different time zones set to follow. Full story
Australian federal election kicks
off
CANBERRA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Australians go to the polls
on Saturday to elect the country's 42nd parliament, while the latest poll
suggests a cliffhanger.
The Newspoll opinion survey published on Saturday showed
opposition Labor Party leads the ruling Coalition by a narrowing gap of 52 to
48. Full story
Backgrounder: facts and figures about
Australia's 2007 general election
Profile: Kevin Rudd, contender for
next Australian PM
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