Australians vote with Abbott set for landslide win

[Terpe]

Millions of Australians voted in national elections Saturday with conservative challenger Tony Abbott heading for a thumping victory over Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.


Source:-
http://www.rappler.com/world/regions...ections-abbott

[bigmarco]

I think I quite like the idea of compulsory voting in General Elections.

[Terpe]

I think I quite like the idea of compulsory voting in General Elections.

I wonder how our political scene might change with that... minimum 90% turnout.

[jake]

I think I quite like the idea of compulsory voting in General Elections.

I agree.
The problem is in most countries the choices are not that good. Most politicians are a big turn off for me, with their promises that never materialize.

How about managers running countries? If they perform well they get a good bonus at the end of the year. Perform poorly and they get minimum wage

[jake]

Tony Abbot is a pommy immigrant. Do you think the UK will ever have an immigrant prime minister?

[bigmarco]

Tony Abbot is a pommy immigrant. Do you think the UK will ever have an immigrant prime minister?

Probably not for a good while yet. I think I'm right in saying we've never had a practising Jewish or Catholic Prime Minister as yet.
Religion is probably more important than race for obvious reasons.

[bigmarco]

I agree.
The problem is in most countries the choices are not that good. Most politicians are a big turn off for me, with their promises that never materialize.

How about managers running countries? If they perform well they get a good bonus at the end of the year. Perform poorly and they get minimum wage

Perhaps if we made it compulsory but had a none of the above box to show your displeasure at what was on offer

[jake]

Perhaps if we made it compulsory but had a none of the above box to show your displeasure at what was on offer

. Who would run the country?!

[jake]

Probably not for a good while yet. I think I'm right in saying we've never had a practising Jewish or Catholic Prime Minister as yet.
Religion is probably more important than race for obvious reasons.

At least the UK and the Philippines have had a female politician running the country.
Unlike the USA which will never choose a female president in our lifetime. Modern country

[Dedworth]

Rudd has received a well deserved thrashing - just like the UK it'll take years to repair the damage Labour has done

[Terpe]

Australia election: Tony Abbott defeats Kevin Rudd

Tony Abbott: "From today I declare that Australia is under new management"

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.

The coalition was on course to win 88 seats, compared with 57 for Labor.

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 how to tackle an expected economic slow-down, whether to keep a tax on carbon emissions, and how to reduce the number of asylum seekers arriving by boat.

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 stop boats bringing migrants from Asia.

He added that support for Labor was at its lowest ebb for 100 years, and said the results showed that the Australian people would punish anyone who took them for granted.

Mr Rudd said he had phoned Mr Abbott and wished him well.

"I 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".

"I know that Labor hearts are heavy across the nation tonight. As your Labor leader I accept it as my responsibility," he said.

With most of the votes counted, the Australian Election Commission predicted a large majority for the Liberal-National coalition.

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.

Assange misses out

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.

"I 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.

The outsider candidates had mixed fortunes at the polls.

Billionaire Clive Palmer, famous for his attempt to build a new version of the Titanic based on the original designs, appeared on course to win a seat in parliament.

However, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange looked set to miss out on a Senate seat in Victoria, where the final place was claimed by Rick Muir of the Australian Motoring Enthusiasts Party.

More than 14 million people were expected to vote in Saturday's election. Voting is compulsory in Australia.

Polling closed in eastern states at 18:00 (08:00 GMT) and in Western Australia two hours later

Source:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24000133

[fred]

Perhaps if we made it compulsory but had a none of the above box to show your displeasure at what was on offer

I definitely don't agree with compulsory voting but its easy enough to spoil a ballot if it was law.
I think that Aussies that don't vote get fined about $20.00.
Its all wrong IMO.

[Dedworth]

Great comment from Rupert Murdoch

"Aust election public sick of public sector workers and phony welfare scroungers sucking life out of economy.Others nations to follow in time"

[Arthur Little]

Millions of Australians voted in national elections Saturday with conservative challenger Tony Abbott heading for a thumping victory over Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

... ruddy great defeat for Rudd!

[Arthur Little]

I think I'm right in saying we've never had a practising Jewish or Catholic Prime Minister as yet.

I think Jim Callaghan was Catholic ... wasn't he ...

[Terpe]

I think Jim Callaghan was Catholic ... wasn't he ...

I don't believe there has ever been a self confessed and Roman Catholic baptised Prime Minister.

Benjamin Disraeli came from a Jewish family. Not sure what his beliefs were whilst he was (twice) Prime Minister.

Of couse, Ed Miliband is of Polish Jewish descent. Who knows if being PM is in his future

[Dedworth]

Who knows if being PM is in his future

I hope and pray not

[Terpe]

I hope and pray not

I have a feeling he may not be 'running'

[Dedworth]

I have a feeling he may not be 'running'

Running scared his more his forte