Australian Elections Called for Next Month

Outside the Beltway

Australian Elections Called for Next Month

Steven L. Taylor

August 4, 2013

Comments

Via the BBC: Australian PM Kevin Rudd calls election for 7 September

Rudd became Prime Minister in June when he defeated the previous PM, Julia Gillard in a leadership fight.

The analysis at the piece suggests the opposition Conservatives are the favorites going into the election:

Kevin Rudd didn’t have to call the election so soon. Constitutionally, the deadline for doing so was not for a few more months. But right now the Prime Minister clearly feels he has some momentum so the sooner the better.

Coverage from the ABC: Federal Election 2013.

4 responses to “Australian Elections Called for Next Month”

Andre Kenji

August 4, 2013 at 1:51 pm

Kevin Rudd ousted Gillard precisely because polls did show that she had no chance at all of defeating Abbott, the Conservative Leader.
Matthew Shugart

August 4, 2013 at 2:59 pm

Thereby scheduling the election one week earlier than it had originally been called for, and atoning for a major slap at the Jewish community by Gillard.

The polls have this election far, far closer than was the case when Gillard was still PM. She was leading the Labor Party to a possibly historic landslide defeat. Now it is competitive and, even if Labor loses, it is quite likely the Senate will continue to have no majority, with Greens holding the balance.

Note: The opposition is conservative with a small c, but Liberal with a capital L. Technically, it is the Coalition (of Liberals and other center-right parties, mainly National).
Andre Kenji

August 4, 2013 at 4:15 pm

It can be argued that you don´t need Conservatives when you have Rudd and Gillard doing their job:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/australia-signs-deal-to-send-boat-people-to-papua-new-guinea-8721292.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/australians-funding-pngs-feared-cops-20130803-2r65w.html
Rakesh

August 5, 2013 at 2:48 am

http://www.india2australia.com/dumb-and-dull-candidates-making-australian-election-a-farce/