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Australia’s hung government concluded today, Gillard confirmed PM
Australia’s extended wait for the formation of a new government ended today, with Prime Minister Gillard’s Labour Party winning the race by a fraction to form a minority government, getting the support of three independent lawmakers and one Green MP.
The opposition Conservative coalition conceded today that its prospects of being elected to power are looking slim, as Labour now has a one-seat majority in the 150-seat parliament.
In the run up to the inconclusive elections, Labour announced that it will go ahead with implementing a mining tax, a $38 billion (approximately €30 billion) national telecoms project and restart works towards a carbon market.
After polls on August 21, Labour and the opposition Conservatives finished short of 76 seats needed to form a majority administration in the 150-seat lower house.
Until yesterday, Labour had 74 seats, including an alliance with one Green MP and an independent lawmaker, while the Conservatives had 73 seats. The three remaining independent lawmakers held the power in their hands to decide which party would form an administration.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard called the general election after she deposed of her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, in a party-room coup in June to become the nation's first female leader.
Labor came to power in 2007 after 12 years of conservative rule. No Australian government had been voted out of office after just one term in office since 1931, in the time of the Great Depression.
