by Vienna Ma
CANBERRA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The first full day of the Australian federal election campaign began with both sides of politics promising nothing short of a spectacle over the next five weeks, local media reported on Sunday.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Saturday announced the election for August 21.
According to Australian Associated Press, Gillard kicked off Labor's full-blown campaign on Sunday in Brisbane, while federal opposition leader Tony Abbott will do the same for the Coalition in Sydney.
Gillard has kicked off her first full day of election campaigning in a traditional way, by cuddling countless babies in a Brisbane park.
Gillard and her deputy Wayne Swan attended an event welcoming the babies in suburban Chermside, Brisbane of Australia on Sunday morning.
Gillard told the crowd that it was not the day for big political speeches even though the election was "in train".
"But I would say to the mums and dads who are here, that what I want to see for their children's future is a country where every child ... is going to have a great quality of education."
