Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
12 February 2012 - 7:56 pm NZ time
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Australian Election 2010 News
- Gillard sworn in as Australian PM
- Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her new-look frontbench have been officially sworn in by the Governor-General in Canberra on Tuesday.
- Rudd takes top role in new Australian government
- Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is to be Foreign Minister in the country's new government.
- Independent rejects offer of ministerial post
- One of the Australian independent MPs who aligned with Labor to keep Prime Minister Julia Gillard in power has turned down her offer of a ministerial portfolio.
- Now Gillard has to decide who gets what job
- The Liberal and Labor parties are gathering in Canberra on Thursday for the first time since the Australian election on 21 August, with senior figures angling for jobs on the frontbenches.
- Testing times ahead, admits Gillard
- The Labor government will face its toughest term in modern history after winning just enough votes to form a minority government, admits Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
- Labor accused to trying to back out of tax deal
- The new Labor Government is being accused of trying to back out of a deal to hold a comprehensive tax summit, one day after clinging to power with the support of two key independent MPs.
- Most voters want another election - billionaire
- Queensland mining billionaire Clive Palmer says the majority of Australians want another federal election and resent being "held hostage" by the independent trio.
- PM congratulates Gillard on election result
- New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says Australian residents will be pleased a government is now settled and he is sending his congratulations to prime minister Julia Gillard.
- Australian Labor back in by the thinnest majority
- Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's Labor Party has won another term of government, with two of the three independent MPs who held the balance of power announcing that they will support Labor.
- Verdict by independent MPs awaited
- Australia's next government could be known on Tuesday, as three independent MPs finalise their negotiations with Labor and the Coalition on who they will back to form a minority government.
- Australian independents hold final meetings
- Australia's three independents are holding a final round of meetings before deciding which party will form the next federal government.
- Polls favour independents joining Labour
- Two new opinion polls show the majority of Australian voters want three key independent MPs to back Labor to form a minority government. Parliament is still deadlocked after the election.
- Coalition offer 'reckless', says independent MP
- The Australian opposition has rejected independent MP Andrew Wilkie's version of negotiations over $A1 billion to rebuild a hospital.
- Independent MP Wilkie backs Labor
- Australian independent MP Andrew Wilkie has announced he will back a Labor minority government.
- Treasury finds $10b hole in Coalition's costings
- Australia's Treasury says there is a hole of more than $10 billion in the costings of the election promises made by the opposition Coalition.
- Gillard defends climate change policy shift
- Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says her party's deal with the Greens won't necessarily spell the end of Labor's policy for a citizens' assembly on climate change.
- Green MP formally sides with Labor
- New Australian Greens MP Adam Bandt has formally sided with Labor in the hopes of forming a minority government. The deal gives Labor 73 seats, the same number as the oppostion Coalition.
- Gillard looking at changes to Parliament
- Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she is looking at changes to the way Parliament operates.
- Labor Party loses lead
- Labor has lost its lead in the two-party preferred vote in the Australian election. Liberal deputy leader Julie Bishop says Prime Minister Julia Gillard has lost her mandate to form a new government.
- Wyatt first Aboriginal MP for Australia
- An Aboriginal man has won a seat in Australia's House of Representatives, becoming the first indigenous person to do so.
- Election negotiations enter second week
- Election negotiations in Australia enter a second week on Monday as political leaders continue to woo independent MPs over who will form a minority government.
- Election outcome crucial for some industries
- Australia's inconclusive general election result is creating uncertainty for business. But the ultimate make-up of the Canberra Parliament could be critical for at least three industries.
- Decision time near for key MPs in Australia
- Two of the four MPs in whose hands the outcome of the Australian election rests say they're hopeful a decision can be made by the end of the week on the make-up of the next government.
- Green cabinet minister ruled out by Labor
- Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has ruled out appointing Cabinet ministers from the Greens if Labor forms a minority government.
- Victory confirmed for independent
- Independent candidate Andrew Wilkie has claimed victory in the seat of Denison in Tasmania. He will meet Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott on Monday.
- Voters want independent MPs to go with Coalition - poll
- A new poll shows an overwhelming number of voters in the seats of the three rural independent MPs want them to support the Coalition.
- Gillard to meet Independent
- Prime Minister Julia Gillard will hold her first meeting with independent candidate Andrew Wilkie on Saturday. He is set to win a seat in Tasmania.
- Independent MPs to receive costings advice
- Three Australian independent MPs will receive Treasury advice on the costings and impact of Labor and the Coalition's election promises, normally reserved for the incoming government.
- Greens question motive behind policy costing rejection
- Australian Green Party leader Bob Brown says he believes Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is trying to force Australia back to the polls.
- Independents seek Treasury costing advice from Coalition
- The three confirmed independent MPs following Australia's inconclusive general election have criticised Opposition leader Tony Abbott for failing to have the Coalition's policies costed by Treasury.
- Australian leaders pledge three-year term
- Australia's Caretaker Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition leader Tony Abbot have given guarantees to run a full three-year term after talking with independent MPs who could help them form a minority government.
- Coalition works out bargaining position
- The opposition Coalition in Australia is to lay out some measures it would be prepared to take to gain the support of independent MPs and form a government.
- Independent MPs discuss strategy
- The three independent MPs who are likely to hold the balance of power after Australia's inconclusive general election met in Canberra on Tuesday to discuss strategy.
- Election count shows parties likely to be deadlocked
- The latest election count in Australia shows the Coalition and Labor are likely to be deadlocked at 73 seats each.
- NZ leader contacts Abbott
- New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has telephoned Australian Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott following Saturday's inconclusive election.
- Leaders begin job of forming next government
- Political leaders in Australia are beginning the job of forming a new government. Saturday's election result is reminiscent of the early days of MMP in New Zealand.
- Gillard claims government legitimacy for Labor
- Despite a drubbing at the polls in Australia, caretaker Prime Minister Julia Gillard is adamant the Labor Party has the legitimacy to continue as the government.
- Direct election spending at least $A50 million
- Media executives have smiles on their faces as a result of the election campaign in Australia. An estimated $A30 million was spent on television ads and another $A20 million on other media by political parties.
- PM woos independent and Green MPs
- Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard has got the jump on Opposition leader Tony Abbott, making first contact with independent MPs and the Greens about forming a stable minority government.
- Election outcome still five days away - Richardson
- Former Labor cabinet minister Graham Richardson says Australia will have to wait another five days before the outcome of the election becomes clear.
- Independents hold balance of power - Key
- New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says Australia's election result now rests in the hands of the independent candidates. Neither Labor nor the Coalition are likely to have enough seats for a convincing victory.
- Labor supporters can't believe election result
- Labor Party supporters at Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's election night party in Melbourne could not quite believe it. How could the government do so badly on election night? Will there be another poll soon?
- Greens look to hold balance of power
- Green leader Bob Brown says they are now the undisputed third political party in Australia. The Greens now look likely to hold the balance of power.
- Labor majority gone in Australian election
- Coalition leader Tony Abbott says he stands ready to govern Australia. Big swings against Labor have destroyed the party's majority.
- Howard hails Abbott revival
- Former Liberal prime minister John Howard has hailed Tony Abbott for bringing the party back from the dead and to the brink of power in Australia.
- Defeated MP critical of Labor campaign
- Defeated Labor MP Maxine McKew (Bennelong) has criticised her party's election campaign after conceding defeat in the seat she took from former Prime Minister John Howard in the 2007 election.
- Labor ahead in election despite swing against it
- With more than half the votes counted in the Australian federal election, the governing Labor Party was projected to win 68 seats to the opposition Coalition's 62, despite a 5.3% swing against Labor.
- Photo finish looking likely as Australia votes
- With voting booths set to close at 6pm around Australia - from 8pm onwards NZ time - the finish line is in sight for Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott after five weeks of frenetic campaigning.
- Election details
- First results in the Australian election are expected from 6:30pm (AEST) on Saturday.
- Coalition outspent by Labor on TV
- The Labor Party marginally outspent the Coalition in a campaign TV advertising blitz predominantly composed of negative messages from both sides, according to an independent analysis.
- Nothing in it on eve of Australian election
- The contest appears evenly split between the Labor Party and the Coalition on the eve of the Australian general election.
- Many underwhelmed by election campaign
- The election campaign in Australia has only a few more hours to run before voters go to the polls. But as Radio New Zealand's political editor Brent Edwards reports, many have been left underwhelmed.
- Late surge in support for Coalition
- The latest opinion poll in Australia shows there's been a late surge in support for the Coalition. Both parties are on 50% after preferences. The election is on Saturday.
- Abbott facing sleepless night on campaign trail
- Australia's Opposition leader Tony Abbott is taking his election campaign to Sydney ahead of a sleepless night during which he plans to talk to as many voters as possible.
- Gillard denounces Abbott's economic credentials
- Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard has denounced the economic credentials of opposition the Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott after he described the global economic crisis as "an eight week crisis".
- Croc's snap poll picks Gillard as winner
- The crocodile has spoken, and its snap poll has chosen Julia Gillard as the winner of Australia's federal election this weekend.
- Parties push hard in marginal Australian electorates
- Australia's major parties have stepped up their efforts in some marginal electorates in the last week of campaigning.
- Economists praise Labor's stimulus package
- Fifty of Australia's leading economists have come out in support of the Government's stimulus package as the Coalition continues to argue Labor did nothing to get the country through the global economic crisis.
- Gillard backs republic after Queen's death
- Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says her country should become a republic after the Queen dies.
- Leaders to take part in forum, as debate stand-off continues
- Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she will take part in a town hall-style forum with Tony Abbott on Wednesday night, even if he will not debate her.
- Parties argue over who has best broadband policy
- New Zealand has featured in Australia's election campaign as the two major parties argue over which one has the best internet broadband policy.
- Yes we will, Gillard tells Labor faithful
- Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard echoed US president Barack Obama's election rallying cry as she officially launched Labor's bid for re-election in Brisbane.
- Political parties not only ones campaigning
- Political parties are not the only organisations targeting marginal seats in the Australian election.
- Gillard formally launches campaign in Brisbane
- Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard formally launches Labor's election campaign in Brisbane on Monday, with opinion polls confirming Saturday's election is likely to be a cliffhanger.
- Australia's election campaign heats up
- Australia's prime minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott have traded insults over having another debate or community forum.
- New group seeks Aboriginal seats in parliament
- A new group representing indigenous people in Australia wants to push for specific Aboriginal seats in the Senate, similar to the Maori seats in the New Zealand Parliament.
- Australian parties trade blows over spending
- Australia's Labor government and the opposition Coalition have pointed to New Zealand as they disagree during their election campaign over how to respond to the global financial crisis.
- Rudd continues attack on Abbott
- Australia's former prime minister Kevin Rudd has again attacked Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott as he campaigns for the re-election of the Labor Government.
- Kiwis' migration rights to Australia caught up in poll battle
- New Zealanders' migration rights to Australia are may be restricted as the opposition pledges to curb the immigration intake.
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