September 10, 2013

Tony Abbott, the leader of Australia’s Liberal Party, has claimed victory for the Coalition in federal elections. The Coalition consists of the Liberal Party and the National Party. (Contrary to its name, the Liberal Party is a center-right political party.)  Abbott defeated Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who became prime minister in June, after ousting then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard as leader of the Australian Labor Party. Rudd had also served as prime minister from 2007 to 2010.

Tony Abbott  (The Office of Tony Abbott MHR)

The Coalition will hold 91 seats in the next Parliament, compared with the Labor Party’s 54 seats. “From today, I declare that Australia is under new management and that Australia is once more open for business,” stated Abbott, repeating his election pledges–the repeal of a controversial carbon tax; an end to illegal immigrants entering the country; and an effort to place the national budget on a sound footing for a “believable surplus.”

Additional World Book articles:

• Australia 2010 (a Back in Time article)
• Australia 2012 (a Back in Time article)

June 26, 2013

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today ousted the current prime minister, Julia Gillard, as leader of the Australian Labor Party. By a vote of 57-to-45, Rudd retook the leadership of the party and, thus, returns as prime minister. Rudd stated that he resumes the office “with humility, with honor, and with an important sense of energy and purpose.”

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (© Commonwealth of Australia)

Rudd’s overthrow of Gillard comes ahead of a general election due in September, which polls show Labor could lose. However, Rudd is more popular with voters than Gillard, and political experts suggest that Labor will perform better in the election under his leadership.

Julia Gillard of the Australian Labor Party became the first female prime minister of Australia in 2010. (© Graham Denholm, Getty Images)

Pundits noted that Rudd’s return to leadership is the latest twist in a long and bitter rivalry between the two politicians. Once close friends and colleagues, Gillard overthrew Rudd as prime minister in 2010 in what has been widely described as an act of ruthless political ambition. Since his overthrow, Rudd has been said to have worked unceasingly to destablize Gillard’s government.

Additional World Book articles:

• Parliament
• Australia 2010 (a Back in Time article)
• Australia 2012 (a Back in Time article)