|
MAKING HIS EXIT after conceding defeat to the Labor Party, outgoing Prime Minister John Howard (centre) waves as he leaves the stage with his family. -- PHOTO: AP
|
LABOR Party leader Kevin Rudd swept to power in Australian elections yesterday, ending an 11-year conservative era and promising major changes to policies on global warming and the Iraq war.
'Today Australia has looked to the future,' said Mr Rudd, a Mandarin-speaking former diplomat, in a victory speech, to wild cheers from hundreds of supporters.
'Today the Australian people have decided that we as a nation will move forward...to embrace the future together, to write a new page in our nation's history.'
Striking an inclusive note, he vowed to be 'a prime minister for all Australians, a prime minister for indigenous Australians, Australians who have been born here and those who have come from afar to contribute to the great diversity of our great nation'.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation predicted that Labor would win with 53 per cent of the vote, compared to 47 per cent for the Liberal-National coalition.
That would give Labor 86 seats in the 150-seat Lower House of Parliament, well above the 76 it needs to take power, leaving the coalition with 62 seats, down from the 86 it won in 2004.
The win brought a humiliating end to the career of outgoing Prime Minister John Howard, Australia's second-longest-serving leader.
He conceded defeat to Mr Rudd mid-evening. Shortly afterwards, Mr Howard told supporters that he wished his successor well.
'We bequeath to him a nation that is stronger and prouder and more prosperous than it was 11 years ago,' he said.
Fighting back tears, he said: 'I have led a government that has taken this country from deep debt to strong prosperity and has reformed the Australian economy and has left it the envy of the world.'
Mr Howard had banked on his record of economic management, arguing that his government was mostly responsible for 17 years of unbroken growth, but he failed to read the signals from voters that he had stayed perhaps a little too long in office.
Mr Rudd, on the other hand, played skilfully a dual message: that he is a fiscal conservative and a forward-looking, younger leader in tune with voters' desire for change.
For instance, he has promised to sign the Kyoto Protocol on limiting greenhouse gases, a break from Mr Howard, whose resistance to the agreement alienated a growing environmentally-concerned electorate.
Mr Howard's ultimate undoing was almost certainly his workplace reforms, which undermined union power and forced employees to sign individual contracts with management. It was the one major difference between the two parties, with Labor promising to repeal the legislation.
Mr Rudd also campaigned on a pledge to pull Australian troops from Iraq and to strike a more independent course, unlike the staunchly pro-US Mr Howard.
Even so, experts said yesterday that given his experience in foreign policy, Mr Rudd is likely to adopt a nuanced approach.
In his victory speech last night, he sent 'greetings...to our great friend and ally the United States', as well as Asian and other nations.
The Bush administration sent its congratulations.
'The United States and Australia have long been strong partners and allies and the President looks forward to working with this new government to continue our historic relationship,' said a White House spokesman.
rogmaynard@compuserve.com
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM AP
|
