'Labor' wins Down Under!



The Australian Labor Party has won the 2007 General Election ending the 11-year premiership of John Howard and the Liberal Party!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7109692.stm

Another one of Bush's friends has been toppled and congratulations to Kevin Rudd who will now become Prime Minister of Australia.



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Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#1)

This is brilliant news, I second NorthernMonkey's congratulations.

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#2)

I will wait to see if he is Labor or New Labour, we have two different Labours now.

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#3)

I think you'll find him to be new Labour. He wants Australia to become a Republic and more of a SE Asian power rather than be seen as tied too closely to America and Britain. The fact that he speaks fluent Mandarin might even help in his dealings with China and Japan.

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#4)

Not Japan...

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#5)

The ALP is an odd party. There are genuine left-wingers like Julia Gillard, but there are others like Rudd, who don't even fit under a 'New Labour' banner, he's got some pretty conservative views

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#6)

Excellent news.

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#9)

That's true - Rudd's not too keen on gay rights for example but hopefully that will change as time goes on. I think he had to 'mellow' his views to ensure election but perhaps he can be a little more bolder now.


Still anyway, he can be no worse than Howard!

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#10)

Did'nt seems to "mellow" on Iraq.

He won on a troops out of Iraq platform.

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#11)

Muj you're absolutely right. Iraq. A lesson for Brown.
And Howard lost because the people simply got tired of him, even though economy was bouyant. A lesson for Brown. And Howard was 67 yrs old. A lesson for all our Ming-like bed blockers who simply won't hang up their boots, call it a day, and move on. 

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#18)

That's an astonishingly ageist comment Swatantra - I'm surprised at you of all people as you frequently post about equality.

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#25)

I'm surprised at myself really! But I've seen too many hangers-on in the Party who don't know when their time is up. Every politician should be restricted to 3 terms followed by a break of one term, before they can come back. They might well find the rest does them and their constituents a power of good, and they develop interests elsewhere, not to want to come back. 

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#26)

we have term limits

they're called elections.

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#23)

Well lets see if age is a reason for being a rotten leader whats Browns excuse. dementia.

Ah who gave us a loan who sent me money. am I the leader.

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#14)

not true at all, he won because there was an anti-Howard sentiment, and because of interest rate rises and the contraversial Workchoices. Troops out of Iraq was a popular platform, but not the dealbreaker for the Australian electorate

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#7)

Strewth! A bonzer result me cobbers...


Apols but I'm over the moon and the cherry on the cake could be Howard losing his seat as well as the election.

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#8)

Fair dinkum!

"Its the unions wot won it" (#12)

I am sure that the whole Australian Labour movement deserves praise for what appears to have been a well thought out and united sensible political campaign.

However, is also good news for the trade unions in Australia who have been at the receiving end of some pretty vicious anti-union government policies in recent years.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) have just published some interesting research on the result which suggest that Industrial Relations (IR) was amongst the most important issue for nearly 80% of Labour voters (45% said it was their single most important issue). The Unions also appear to have played a major role in mobilising their members to come out and vote.


Hope Brown has a read

Re: "Its the unions wot won it" (#13)

There was no need for the Unions to get their members out, voting is compulsary in Australia.

Re: "Its the unions wot won it" (#15)

Ah true, but who will they vote for?

Re: "Its the unions wot won it" (#19)

Looking at the polling, the union campaign was very significant indeed. It shifted a main theme of the campaign onto the Industrial Relations legislation issue - an issue that Howard couldn't win the argument on (though one where people originally hadn't thought it that significant - and where Labor were too scared of alienating employers to challenge more strongly), and it kept up the pressure through really powerful TV ads, which were able to reach and convince many outside traditional union circles. Howard outspent the union ad campaign about 20 to one with his own govt counter-ads, but they didn't make a lot of difference to his ratings - any week the union ads ran, his approval ratings plummeted. You can see the ads at the campaign site: http://www.yourrightsatwork.com.au

Re: "Its the unions wot won it" (#20)

sorry - didn't mean to shout in bold! (comment box a little confusing in firefox - at least to thickos like me)

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#16)

I was at the ALP party in central London when the results were coming in at 9.30 in the morning. I didn't leave the pub until 11:00pm. A great night.

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#17)

A good night was had by all!

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#21)

Great news for New labour, but for how long.

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#22)

Rudd has only committed to withdrawing "combat" troops from Iraq - he fully intends to keep the larger contingent, working in a "security" capacity in place.  He also has not signified any intention of withdrawing Australia's troop commitment in Afghanistan.


On a brighter note it now seems certain Howard has lost his seat to Maxine McKew, a former ABC newsreader - I wonder how long before Cameron recruits Fiona Bruce to run in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath?!?!


Even if he's "New" Labour, anything, particularly on immigration rights, has to be an improvement on Howard.

Re: 'Labor' wins Down Under! (#24)

Well lets hope their New labour is not like our New labour..