Australian PM announces Sept. 7 as federal election date

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Australian PM announces Sept. 7 as federal election date

(Xinhua) 15:24, August 04, 2013

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Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced at a press conference here on Sunday that the federal election will be held on Sept. 7.

Kevin Rudd met Governor-General Quentin Bryce earlier Sunday afternoon and asked her for permission to call on the election on Sept. 7.

"This afternoon, I visited the governor-general and her excellency has accepted my advice an election be held on Saturday, September 7. The time has come for the Australian people to decide on our nation's future. They are the ones who we in this parliament are elected to serve," he said at the press conference.

"There has been a number of difficult considerations deciding upon a date for this election. The first is we had to complete unfinished policy business and make some changes," he explained.

Rudd also said Australians now face a "real choice" for this election, and compare Labor's key policies to the Coalition's.

He confirmed that around the world Australia was seen as one of the best countries on the planet and said that the economy needed to be steered through the transition from the mining investment boom to broader growth across the non-mining sector.

"If as a nation we fail to manage this transition well, it will hurt the jobs and living standards of all Australians," he told reporters.

Australian had to judge who was best placed to keep the economy strong, protect jobs and continue to invest in health and education and ensure "there's a fair go for all," he added.

Kevin Rudd has set the country on course for a five-week campaign, culminating in a polling day a week earlier than had been set by predecessor Julia Gillard.

According to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Labor staffers have been told to make their way to Melbourne where the party's campaign headquarters will be based. Analysis by local media said earlier that Kevin Rudd could have called the election for as late as November 30, but has clearly chosen to capitalize on the bounce in the polls following his return to the leadership.

Since Kevin Rudd got the prime ministership in June, Labor's primary vote increased by several points, taking it into the high- 30s with the two party preferred vote narrowing to an even 50-50 in some polls.

（Editor：WangXin、Zhang Qian）