Election Special: Australia September 10th 2010

It's already been an unprecedented year for Australian politics. In June, Kevin Rudd was ousted by his own party, completing an astonishing fall from dizzying heights of public popularity. He's been replaced by Australia's first female prime minister, Julia Gillard, who's facing off against the pugnacious Tony Abbott. With two outsize characters, the stage is set for a lively campaign, and The Diplomat is placing readers at the heart of the action with in-country bloggers, key issue analysis and daily breaking headlines—everything you need to stay on top of the action.

DIPLOMAT DISPATCHES

Anthony Fensom

Main contributor

Anthony Fensom

Communications consultant and freelance writer

Julia Rabar
Editorial assistant with The Diplomat

  1. ‘Kevin 747’ Flies Again

    By Anthony Fensom

    Kevin 747 Flies Again

    Labor’s coup plotters and political fix-it men have been suitably rewarded in Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s newly unveiled ministerial line-up. Yet if winners are grinners, the broadest smile was planted on former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s face as he announced his new, plum post as foreign minister at a pr ... Read more

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  2. History Made, Finally

    By Anthony Fensom

    History Made, Finally

    Australia's Julia Gillard has made history by becoming the country's first elected female prime minister, after two rural independent lawmakers announced their support for a Gillard government on Tuesday afternoon.

    The stand-off, following the August 21 election, that delivered the country's first hung Parliament in 7 ... Read more

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  3. Gang of Three’s Reform Revolution

    By Anthony Fensom

    Gang of Three’s Reform Revolution

    Australia’s system of parliamentary democracy may never quite be the same again following reforms initiated by the ‘gang of three’ rural independents. As the nation impatiently awaited a decision by the three key lawmakers on which side of politics they would support, the political kingmakers announced changes to the ch ... Read more

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  4. Waiting Game Nearly Over?

    By Anthony Fensom

    Waiting Game Nearly Over

    Australia’s political waiting game may be nearing an end, after veteran Labor incumbent Arch Bevis conceded that he was unlikely to defend his seat of Brisbane from the Coalition candidate Teresa Gambaro. Should the result be confirmed, Labor would retain 72 seats in the lower house—4 short of the 76 required for government&m; ... Read more

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  5. Continued Deadlock Still Worrying

    By The Diplomat

    Australia’s federal election has now gone into its second week of political deadlock. A report yesterday by the AFP, observes that both Prime Minister Julia Gillard and challenger Tony Abbott continue to try and win the fav ... Read more

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TOP CANDIDATE PROFILES

  1. Bob Brown

    Bob Brown

    A doctor by training, Brown worked as a general practitioner before becoming involved in Tasmania’s environmentalist movement in the early 1970s. After joining the United Tasmania Group, Australia’s first ‘green’ party, in 1972, he became the first Green to be elected to...

  2. Julia Gillard

    Julia Gillard

    Welsh-born Julia Gillard is the 27th and current Prime Minister of Australia, having come to power in June 2010 after Kevin Rudd stood down. Gillard has been MP for Lalor since 1998. After Labor was defeated in the 2001 election, Gillard was elected...

  3. Tony Abbott

    Tony Abbott

    Tony Abbott has been leader of the opposition since 2009 and has represented the seat of Warringah since 1994. After the 2007 election defeat of the Howard Government, Abbott was Shadow Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs until...

  4. Warren Truss

    Warren Truss

    Warren Truss has been leader of the National Party since being elected in 2007 and has been the Member of Parliament for Wide Bay since 1990. Truss was appointed Shadow Minister for Trade, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government by...

WHERE THE PARTIES STAND

  1. Education

  2. Immigration and Border Control

  3. Economic Policy

  4. Health Care

  5. Environment

Country Snapshot COUNTRY SNAPSHOT

Australia

Capital City
Canberra
Population
Population: 21.5 million (July 2010 est.); World Rank 54
Life Expectancy
82 years Male: 79 years Female: 84 years (2009 est.)
Language
English 78.5%, Chinese 2.5%, Italian 1.6%, Greek 1.3%, Arabic 1.2%, Vietnamese 1%, other 8.2%, unspecified 5.7% (2006 Census)
Leadership
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Quentin; Bryce Head of Government: Prime Minister: Julia Eileen Gillard
GDP
$824.3 billion (2009 est. by PPP); World Rank 19
> View the full data