Australian News

[Australia (TheOne)]

The Australian #FF0038
SMH #318CE7
Herald Sun #002E63
The Age #333399

[Australia (TheOne)]

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
GILLARD TO CALL EARLY ELECTIONS AS MASS RESIGNATIONS ROCK GOVERNMENT


The Kevin Rudd leadership challenge saga has not ended, with ministers and members of parliament who publicly supported Kevin Rudd, today resigning from their positions, effectively crippling the government.

In total, five ministers have resigned. They have been followed by three senators, and seven other members of parliament.

The Gillard camp has pointed the finger squarely at Kevin Rudd, accusing him of seeking to undermine Julia Gillards leadership and bring down the government as retribution. Kevin Rudd has however denied he orchestrated the mass resignations. "I am in no way shape or form responsible for the decisions and actions of those senators, ministers and members of parliament who have today decided to resign their positions, as a result of loosing all confidence in the ability of Julia Gillard to lead the country."
Kevin Rudd went on to warn that he would not be surprised if others also walked out on the Gillard government, and that in time, he will be vindicated for his decisions.

Julia Gillard is expected to visit the Governor General some time this week, and call an early election.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott has capitalized on Labors implosion, "This is further evidence that Labor has lost its way and is not fit for government to lead this country. It is one disaster after the next. Their internal disharmony and self destruction has left Australia effectively without a leader at the helm for over a month now. This is unacceptable to the Australian people. The Labor party is incapable of sorting out it's own problems and mess, how do they think they'll be able to run a country? The Gillard government has been nothing but shambolic since she infamously knifed Kevin Rudd in the back to lie and deceive her way to the top job."

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AGE
FIRST ALL-FEMALE BATTLE SETUP


Right, Julie Bishop, Left, Julia Gillard

Julie Bishop has yesterday managed to take the reigns of the opposition Liberal Party from Tony Abbott, in a scandal-free, and relatively low key leadership challenge. With the country now on a course for early federal elections, the change in leadership by the opposition and Kevin Rudd's failure to retake the top job from Julia Gillard, Australia will make history with the very first all-female battle to become Prime Minister.

Tony Abbott continued to slip in the polls. While the Liberal Party was preferred over the Labor Party, Abbott was not very popular amongst voters. Gillard too is rather unpopular amongst voters. The change in leadership by the opposition is clearly a move aimed at winning the upcoming election.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will today visit the Governor General, and announce early elections.

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AGE
BISHOP FIRES FIRST SHOTS

Newly appointed opposition and Liberal Party leader, Julie Bishop, has wasted no time in firing the first shots, in what is expected to be one of the most heated election campaigns in Australian political history, as for the first time two women take both major parties to the polls.

The opposition leader outlined key policies, when a reporter questioned whether she will be any different to Tony Abbott at a media conference this morning. Among the opposition leaders top priorities will be the creation of a new free trade zone and customs union with New Zealand, and other neighboring nations. While similar in nature to the European Unions custom union, the opposition leader will stop short of seeking to create a political and economic monetary union such as the European Union, instead focusing on the free flow of goods and services in Oceania.

Opposition leader Bishop also declared that a government under her leadership will have a zero tolerance approach to illegal boat arrivals. "No individual from any boat arriving illegally in Australian waters will set foot on Australian soil. I will do what is necessary to ensure the continued sovereignty of our nation."

"We will do what a timid, weak Labor government has failed to do to secure Australia's interests."

The government however dismissed these policies as either being rehashed from the Howard years, or ideas the Labor party has already floated it self.

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AUSTRALIAN
AUSTRALIA GOES TO THE POLLS IN AUGUST

VOTE NOW: Who will you vote for?

• Julia Gillard
• Julie Bishop

The Prime Minister early this morning made her way to the see the Governor General, Ms Quentin Alice Louise Bryce at her residence in Canberra. A short time later she emerged but avoided the media, returning to Parliament house, holding a press conference an hour later where it was announced that she, the Prime Minister, had been to see the Governor General, and that an election was to be held in August.

The Prime Minister briefly discussed a range of issues, such as the strengthening of the government with the appointment of Senator Bob Carr to the Senate and as Foreign Minister, and how it was an honour and with sincere gratitude that the Australian people had elected her in 2010 to lead the nation. She declined to comment on Julie Bishops appointment as opposition leader, or recent announcements by the opposition, saying it was not the appropriate time or place to comment on such matters.

[Australia (TheOne)]

HERALD SUN
BISHOP WANTS AUSTRALIA IN SPACE

The new opposition leader has barely warmed her seat in Parliament, but she is already actively pitching the Liberal party under her leadership as an alternative and viable government to the Australian people.

She had already announced several key policies even before the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, had made her expected visit to the Governor General and called an election, and today she was busy knocking our socks off with yet another announcement. A Julie Bishop lead Liberal government will take Australia into space.

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. Julie Bishop, if she becomes Prime Minister, has announced that a government she leads will establish a space program.

"Some may call me crazy, some may say this is pie-in-the-sky stuff. But to them I say it is time Australia was represented and made it's presence in space. Can we afford it? Yes. Do we have the know how? Yes. What we are missing is the political will to get it done and I intend to change that.
More and more countries are making a presence in space. Sending their own probes and satellites into orbit. Australia risks being left further behind, technologically, if we do not act."

The government naturally laughed off the new opposition leaders latest policy announcement as yet more 'show boating'. The government announced plans, that if re-elected, it would invest in green technologies to create a new high-tech industry that Australia could become a world leader in. The Prime Minister said "What we have is concrete, realistic policies for the benefit of Australians with thousands of new jobs, while the opposition is busy announcing any ludicrous idea that pops into their heads."

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AUSTRALIAN
CARR STANDS UP FOR WEST PAPUA


Morning Star flag, banned in Indonesia

Foreign Minister Bob Carr has done what none of his predecessors bothered, or dared, to do. Make a stand against Indonesia's ongoing and systematic human rights abuses against the people of West Papua.

In what reports indicate is a heated meeting between him self and his Indonesian counterpart, Bob Carr in no uncertain terms, is believed to have told the Indonesian foreign minister that the human rights abuses need to come to an end, and the people of West Papua need to be given the right to self determination.


Still image from a video of a torture scene of a West Papuan villager by Indonesian soldiers.

Human rights organizations have been sending in dozens of reports of human rights abuses, including extreme accounts of torture and brutal killings, with Indonesian security forces cracking down indiscriminately and without any concern for a loss of human life. Such reports have been confirmed by refugees who sporadically arrive on Australia's northern shores from the region.

This is the first time since Australia sent in troops to end the human rights abuses and genocide in East Timor, that the Australian government has intervened on behalf of a minority group in Indonesia regarding human rights abuses. Observers and human rights activists alike, have said that now that the foreign minister has made a stand, the pressure needs to be ramped up against Indonesia in order to end the human rights abuses for good.

Other newspaper front page headings;

THE AGE
FREE WEST PAPUA, CARR TELLS INDONESIA

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
CARR TO INDONESIA: END THE ABUSE IN PAPUA

[Australia (TheOne)]

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
FUTURE FUND BATTLE

Liberal party leader Julie Bishop has attacked the government, saying it can not be trusted to manage the Australian Future Fund, created under the last Liberal government lead by John Howard, as Labor has in the past 'raided' the Future Fund to pay for it's promises. "Who can guarantee that they will not raid the Future Fund again to pay for this elections promises? They can not be trusted," said Bishop. The Australian Future Fund currently stands at $90 billion, with the aim of it holding $140 billion by 2020.


"What we have now, is a Prime Minister in Julia Gillard, who has made a career based upon lying to and deceiving the Australian people, and stabbing her superiors in the back through more deceit. She promised the Australian people she would not introduce a carbon emissions tax, yet she went and did it anyway.
Julia Gillard is not a person who is fit for the office of Prime Minister of Australia.

A government under my leadership, will repeal this tax before it impacts on the hard working mums and dads of this country and their families. Unlike Julia Gillard, I intend to keep this promise."


The Liberal leader went on to say that a government under her leadership would not dip into the Future Fund to pay for any election promises. A Bishop Liberal government would also increase the target from $140 billion, to $150 billion by 2025.

The government however rejected this, with Treasurer Wayne Swann saying that Julie Bishops policy of increasing the Future Fund was not sustainable, and cuts to critical government spending would have to be made to achieve such an unrealistic and irresponsible target.
"People need to think about how this target is going to be reached by a Julie Bishop Liberal government. Will they cut spending on health, education or infrastructure? Perhaps pensions and other forms of government financial assistance to the sick and disadvantaged will be cut back to pay for this irresponsible announcement? The Labor government has continued to make deposits into the Australian Future Fund in sensible amounts, as the economic climate allows. And will continue to do so if elected. We also created funds for education, health and infrastructure."

[Australia (TheOne)]

HERALD SUN
FREEDOM FOR WEST PAPUA


Scene from music festival in Australia

At the recent world music festival WOMAD, in Adelaide, where almost 100,000 people attended over the weekend, a sign of solidarity with the people of West Papua and their struggle for independence, was staged.

On the final night of the festival, Blue King Brown together with artists from West Papua, were joined by a 25,000 strong crowd, raising their fists in support for freedom for West Papua, while the West Papuan flag was raised over the festival, in what was the biggest show of support for West Papua in Australia to date.

A festival organizer said, "We sent a message tonight to Indonesia. The Australian people stand with the people of West Papua together in their struggle for freedom from the oppressive and genocidal rule of Indonesia.
We sent a message tonight to the current Australian government. The people of Australia want you to take action to end the occupation of West Papua, to end the human rights abuses, and give the people of West Papua what they deserve, freedom like every other nation on earth."

The huge show of solidarity with West Papua comes amidst a meeting between the Indonesia and Australian foreign ministers, where Bob Carr is confirmed to have literally thrown the issue in his Indonesian counterparts face. A Department of Foreign Affairs staffer has confirmed that foreign minister Bob Carr, in no uncertain terms, told the Indonesian foreign minister the abuses need to end immediately and the people of West Papua allowed to decide their future.

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AGE
CALLS INTENSIFY TO ISOLATE INDONESIA

Human rights groups, as well as the Green's, Free West Papua movement, the Australian Red Cross, and various other minor political parties in Australia, have demanded the Australian government freeze all aid to Indonesia and suspend all military assistance. Aid which this year will be an estimated half a billion dollars. Greens leader Bob Brown says that money would be better spent helping New Zealand rebuild the city of Christchurch after the devastating earthquake.

The Greens went one step further, demanding the government freeze all trade with Indonesia and withdraw all investments, as well as cancel all military and security agreements signed with Indonesia. "While human rights abuses are still occurring, the Australian government should not be involved in any way that can be seen as supporting the Indonesian government's systematic and brutal genocide of the West Papuan people. Rip all agreements up now!" Greens leader Bob Brown was quoted as saying on a national radio broadcast today. A trade ban would not significantly hurt either country, but would hurt Indonesia more, as it exports around $6 billion worth of goods to Australia annually, as compared to around $4 billion imported from Australia. Australian investments in Indonesia are close to $6 billion.
He also demanded that a travel ban be placed on Indonesia, with nearly 800,000 Australian's holidaying there in 2010, such a ban would significantly hurt Indonesia's tourist industry, which only receives 7.6 million tourists annually. Australians represent the second largest arrivals.

Opposition leader Julie Bishop has come out firing as well, saying the government needs to urgently take the matter before the United Nations and force Indonesia to respect the human rights of the West Papuan people, as well as force the Indonesian government to respect the previous United Nations agreement that granted the West Papuan people the right to self determination in the form of a referendum, which Indonesia staged a mock referendum, selecting around 1,000 people in the late 1960's, and threatening them to vote against independence.

A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs said the government was not considering any of those demands.

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AUSTRALIAN
KATTER WEIGHS IN ON WEST PAPUA DEBATE

As pressure continued to grow on Canberra to take action, Bob Katter has weighed in on the West Papua debate, saying the government should not only demand the end of human rights abuses, but it should forget calls for a referendum, and actually recognize West Papua as an independent country.

He said that most people were unaware that earlier in the year, in March, the Federal Republic of West Papua was 'registered' at the United Nations Security Council. "Our government should stop pussy footing about, even the secretariat of the United Nations has acknowledged the Federal Republic of West Papua", said Katter in an interview.

Should the Australian government recognize the Federal Republic of West Papua, it could open the flood gates for recognition, and mobilize the International community to take action to support the West Papuan people.

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AGE
SOME RANDOM INDONESIAN SAYS AUSTRALIA OPPRESSORS ABORIGINALS..SURELY HE JESTS?

Apparently the recent media attention in Australia for the plight of the West Papuan people and their right to self determination has not gone down too well with Indonesians. In particular, one academician in some far flung university the name of which nobody has heard before, who has decided he will try and give Australia a serving over it's treatment of it's indigenous people. He has gone on the record to accuse Australia of not only violating the human rights of Australia's indigenous people, but of oppressing them too.

Rather then belittle this alleged academician, who being someone who is allegedly meant to be educated, we will instead endeavor to educate and enlighten him.

Indeed, the treatment of Aboriginals by past Australian governments has been shameful. So shameful in fact, that no amount of money or effort is spared today to provide every form of assistance and support to Australia's indigenous communities.

Here is a list of the support and assistance governments provide;

Financial support
Education support
Health support
Work placement support
Training support
Housing support

On top of all this government support, which far exceeds anything any other Australian citizen receives, various companies and corporations also provide support to local Aboriginal communities were they operate. If it is not various banks providing training and work placement programs for Aboriginal youth, it is mining companies which provide hundreds of millions of dollars worth of support to local indigenous schools and community programs.

Australia's indigenous people also have native title land rights, across all of Australia.
The Aboriginal flag flies in every capital city alongside state and national flags. It is not banned, nor do people go to jail for 15 years for displaying it.

Aboriginal culture and customs are taught throughout the school curriculum, in every school.
Aboriginal culture, and the contribution of the Aboriginal people to Australia and Australian society is not only recognized, but it is celebrated. You will find Aboriginal people in every aspect of society, from politics to television and music, to business people, to the armed forces and the police force. They are not oppressed, like the West Papuan people. The Australian police and the Australian Army do not conduct brutal violent crack downs which result in the death of indigenous people. They do not torture and systematically destroy Aboriginal communities.

The hypocrisy, mr academician of Gunadarma University, is yours. The Australian government, the Australian media, the Australian people, are telling you, clean up your act. But rather then take note of how Australia treats it's indigenous people, you chose to sling your ill-informed opinions around. If you are what is considered an academician in Indonesia, I shudder to think about the future of your country.

[Australia (TheOne)]

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
INDONESIAN PRESIDENTS SHAME

The Indonesian president has made statements regarding the situation in West Papua. Declaring that the perpetrators of the violence have been arrested and imprisoned and will be put on trial. Yet, he has made no mention of any commanding officers or government officials who ordered and orchestrated the systematic genocide of West Papua. Nor has he made any mention of the past soldiers, police officers, commanding officers or politicians who were involved. On top of these upcoming sham trials, he has announced security forces will undergo what he has labeled "human rights training".

Human rights training? There is nothing at all difficult about not killing, torturing, raping and molesting civilians, that warrants extra training. If the Indonesian security forces are required to undergo special training outside of their regular training, in order to learn how to respect civilians and follow the rule of international law regarding non-combatants, one has to wonder just what their regular training entails.

Regardless of what announcements the Indonesian leader makes, these are all cosmetic in nature designed to appease the Australian government and the International community. In reality however, very little will change on the ground for the West Papuan people. Their basic human rights will still be denied to them, their freedom and independence prevented by a military occupation.

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AUSTRALIAN
AUSTRALIA SET TO BECOME WORLDS BIGGEST GAS SUPPLIER



With over $200 billion in natural gas projects underway or in the pipeline, Australia is set to over take Qatar as the worlds biggest gas power.

Some of the biggest projects inlude the $43 billion Gorgon project, the $35 billion Browse project and the $34 billion Ichthys project. Along with smaller projects such as the $15 billion Curtis LNG project, $16 billion Gladstone project, and the $14 billion Australia Pacific project.

[Australia (TheOne)]

HERALD SUN
GILLARD PROMISES HEALTH EQUALITY

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced, that a returned Labor government, would significantly boost funding for indigenous health care, with the aim of bringing equality in services.

She pledged that an extra $5 billion would be spent on health care and services for indigenous communities in remote parts of Australia. This will include more facilities and beds, as well as new training programs for indigenous people. The initiative will recognize the fact that it is near impossible to attract existing doctors and nurses to go live and work in remote parts of the outback, and the need to train and equip people in remote communities to provide essential health services. Up to twenty five nurses and ten doctors a year will potentially be trained from outback communities.

[Australia (TheOne)]

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
BISHOP: WE WILL NOT STOP NBN, ONLY CARBON TAX

Julie Bishop has declared that any government she leads will not pull the plug on the roll out of the multi-billion dollar fiber optic national broadband network currently being rolled out across Australia, as often accused by the Labor government.

She announced that a Liberal government would 'tear up' the Carbon Tax, a tax which Julia Gillard promised at the last election that no government she leads would introduce, yet introduced last year anyway.

"The carbon tax is an unfair and unjust burden on the Australian people. The federal government does not need more money by bleeding dry the Australian people. It needs to be run by a team of people who are capable and competent to manage the nations revenue with sustainable policies," said Julie Bishop on talk back radio this morning.

The opposition leader also did not rule out removing the mining tax, which is aimed at the super profits of the big mining corporations. The government is already facing a revolt from the Western Australian state government over the issue of the mining tax.

[Australia (TheOne)]

POLLS TWO PARTY PREFERRED, PREFERRED PM
Published in various major newspapers

Two Party Preferred
Nielsen LABOR 46%, LIBERAL 46%
Roy Morgan LABOR 51% LIBERAL 41%
Newspoll LABOR 43% LIBERAL 49%

Preferred Prime Minister
Nielsen GILLARD 45% BISHOP 49%
Roy Morgan GILLARD 38% BISHOP 55%
Newspoll GILLARD 48% BISHOP 52%

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AGE
BISHOP: BAN ON IMPORT OF WORKERS

With the federal election just weeks away, Julie Bishop has announced if she wins the election, she will seek to ban the importation of foreign workers by Australian and foreign corporations. In recent years the issue has caused wide spread debate, with some foreign corporations with operations in Australia seeking to import a work force from over seas, rather then employing local Australian's from the communities in which they operate. Australian companies are not innocent either, with several using such methods to try and evade paying the higher salaries and wages they would be required to pay a local Australian work force.

Bishop said, "It is totally and completely unacceptable that any company be it Australian or foreign would seek to import a work force for their local operations, rather then employ local Australian people who are more then skilled and educated.

What a Liberal government under my leadership will say, particularly to foreign corporations, is that if you wish to establish operations in Australia, or continue operations in Australia, your work force in Australia will be exclusively Australian.

I will not accept any company importing a single worker when an Australian is able to be hired for a particular job.

What a government under my leadership will do is impose hefty fines and punishments for any corporation or company which undertakes such practices."

[Australia (TheOne)]

HERALD SUN
GILLARD: MORE HELP FOR AUTO INDUSTRY

Julia Gillard is not resting on her achievements as Prime Minister to help win her another term in the top job, she too like her counterpart Julie Bishop is busy announcing new policies.

Today the Prime Minister announced if she is returned to power her government will provide more financial assistance to the auto manufacturing industry which employs tens of thousands of Australians.

Part of the plan includes increasing the green-car fund, and widening it's scope to provide a major financial incentive for the two local manufacturers to design and create new technologies and applications. However it will go further, with financial assistance given for the development of more locally designed and manufactured vehicles. "What we are seeking to do is not just help our local manufacturers create greener, cleaner cars for the future, but to create new technologies, and also new vehicles which in the past they would not have been able to do. This will create more jobs for Australians, which is what we are all about. Creating more job opportunities for Australians and getting more people into work. It's good for the economy, it's good for the Australian people, and it's good Australia."

General Motors Holden, one of the two big local car makers, has flagged it's interest in expanding beyond it's small-megium-large car line up, and designing and manufacturing commercial vehicles such a trucks and vans, a segment of the market which is dominated by imports.

[Australia (TheOne)]

POLLS TWO PARTY PREFERRED, PREFERRED PM
Published in various major newspapers

Two Party Preferred
Nielsen LABOR 44%, LIBERAL 49%
Roy Morgan LABOR 50% LIBERAL 43%
Newspoll LABOR 45% LIBERAL 50%

Preferred Prime Minister
Nielsen GILLARD 45% BISHOP 52%
Roy Morgan GILLARD 34% BISHOP 60%
Newspoll GILLARD 42% BISHOP 53%

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AUSTRALIAN
BISHOP FIRMS AS PREFERRED PM

With the latest polls in, Bishop has firmed as the favorite for Prime Minister, while Julia Gillard has slipped considerably, a few days out from the election, with Gillard dropping to as low as 34% on the Morgon poll.

The news is a major blow to the Gillard camp, with Rudd's supporters smiling in the background saying "we told you so". At the start of the year Rudd launched an ambitious leadership challenge, which he lost dramatically, culminating in the resignation of several ministers and back benchers in March, forcing early elections.

Gillard yesterday was busy announcing she would raise tariffs on imported vehicles, to help support the local auto manufacturing industry, while Bishop countered with a policy of her own, a new Buy Australian campaign, funded by the federal government to support not only the auto manufacturing industry but all Australian produced goods.

The Labor government is expected to lose the election, with Bishop's popularity elevating the Liberal party to it's highest level of popularity since the Howard era. Kevin Rudd refused to comment on whether he would launch another leadership challenge for the Labor party if Gillard loses.

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AUSTRALIAN
EARLY RESULTS SHOW SWING AGAINST GILLARD

6pm
With polls now closed counting is underway across the country. Early indications are showing that there has been a general swing away from Labor and Julia Gillard.

First results are not expected to be confirmed until later this evening. Updates will occur as they happen.

6.30pm Update
Liberal party has won 15 seats, Labor 6.

7pm Update
Liberals up to 23 seats, Labor 13.

8pm Update
Liberals 39 seats, Labor 25, Greens 2, Nationals 1, KAP 1.

8.30pm Update
Liberal 43 seats, Labor 30 seats, Greens 2, Nationals 4, KAP 1.

9.30pm Update
Liberals 49 seats, Labor 38 seats, Greens 2, Nationals 5, KAP 1, Independents 3.

10pm Update
Liberals 55 seats, Labor 40 seats, Greens 2, Nationals 5, KAP 1, Independents 5.

11pm Update
Liberals 60 seats, Labor 41 seats, Greens 2, Nationals 5, KAP 1, Independents 5.

9am Update
Liberals 65 seats, Labor 43 seats, Greens 2, Nationals 7, KAP 1, Independents 6.

LIBERALS ON THE VERGE OF VICTORY, LABOR DECIMATED

The Liberal party and Julie Bishop are on the verge of winning government this morning with 65 seats already under their belt, needing a further ten seats to secure government. In addition to their own seats, they will be joined by the National Party, which has so far won seven seats, giving the Coalition an outright majority even if the Greens and all the independents do a deal with Labor.

Labor has so far only managed to pull 43 seats, with the general national trend of a swing against them, therefore making it unlikely they will retain government. It would be nothing short of a miracle to win from this far back now.

11am Update
Liberal Party 68 seats, Labor 45 seats, Greens 2, Nationals 8, KAP 1, Independents 6.

Midday Update
Liberal Party 74 seats, Labor 48 seats, Greens 2, Nationals 8, KAP 1, Independents 6.

1pm Update
Liberal Party 76 seats, Labor 49 seats, Greens 2, Nationals 8, KAP 1, Independents 6.

3pm Update - Final
Liberals 80 seats, Labor 53 seats, Greens 2, Nationals 8, KAP 1, Independents 6.

[Australia (TheOne)]

HERALD SUN
JULIE BISHOP DECIMATES LABOR

After being at the helm of the Liberal party for less then a year, Julie Bishop has managed to steal an election victory in dramatic fashion, with her party winning government in it's own right.

The result means Bishop and the Liberal party will not need to rely on the Nationals, their traditional Coalition junior partner, to get through new legislation in the House of Representatives.

"It is with great honour and respect for my predecessors, that I take the reigns of our great country. The people of Australia have spoken. They wanted change. They wanted an alternative to Labor and their policies. And I intend to deliver these changes to the Australian people. The resources boom has put the economy in a good position, but so much more could be done by government to power the economy further ahead, were Labor has failed time and again, but were we will succeed."

In other election news, by-elections in the three senate seats vacated by three Labor senators during the mass resignations which forced this federal election, have seen the Liberals pick up one extra senate spot, and the two other Labor senators running as independents and retaining their positions.

Julia Gillard conceded defeat shortly after midday. Which some party elders have called a premature decision, which only proved she was not a suitable leader, which the Australian people had now made clear. Kevin Rudd has remained silent, with no indication on whether he will launch another challenge. Former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keeting, has suggested that if Kevin Rudd was to try take the leadership back again, he would be best off making an attempt now, in the aftermath of the election disaster.

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AUSTRALIAN
BISHOP UNVEILS CABINET

Newly elected Prime Minister Julie Bishop has wasted little time in getting on with the job, announcing her cabinet less then forty eight hours after defeating the Labor government at the polls. Former leader Tony Abott, has received the Infrastructure and Transport portfolio, with Malcom Turnbull, another party heavy-hitter, being elevated to the Foreign Ministry and also picking up the trade portfolio along with communications and broadband. More then half of the Nationals who won a seat, have been given ministries in the cabinet, although the Liberal party is able to hold government without the National Party.

There are few surprises in her cabinet line up, with the Prime Minister choosing to maintain the positions held from the shadow cabinet during the Liberal party's time in opposition.

• Liberal - Ledaer of the Government(Liberal party leader) Julie Bishop
• National - Deputy Leader of the Government(National Party leader) Warren Truss
• Liberal - Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Trade, Minister for Communications and Broadband Malcom Turnbull
• Liberal - Minister for Defence David Johnston
• Liberal - Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tony Abott
• Liberal - Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Eric Abetz
• Liberal - Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate, Attorney-General, Minister for Arts George Brandis
• Liberal - Treasurer Joe Hockey
• Liberal - Manager of Government Business in the House, Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training Christopher Pyne
• Liberal - Deputy Leader of the Nationals, Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion
• National - Leader of the Nationals in the Senate, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Water Barnaby Joyce
• Liberal - Minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction, Chairman, Coalition Policy Development Committee Andrew Robb
• National - Minister for Energy and Resources Ian Macfarlane
• National - Minister for Health and Ageing Peter Dutton
• Liberal - Minister for Families, Housing and Human Services Kevin Andrews P
• Liberal - Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage Greg Hunt
• Liberal - Minister for Productivity and Population, Immigration and Citizenship Scott Morrison
• Liberal - Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science Sophie Mirabella
• National - Minister for Agriculture and Food Security John Cobb
• Liberal - Minister for Small Business, Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs Bruce Billson

[Australia (TheOne)]

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
NUCLEAR SUBS BACK ON THE AGENDA


A US Navy Virginia Class nuclear attack submarine

The new government is barely days old, and already it has set about exploring the previous Labor governments decisions and re-examining the options available to them.
In particular, new Minister for Defence, David Johnston, has declared on the issue of Australia's future submarine project, that nuclear propulsion is now "back on the agenda".

The current project, Project SEA 1000, is still in it's definition phase, therefore this decision will not hurt the project or delay it by any considerable amount of time.
"Simply put, conventional propulsion systems are just not adequate enough for the needs of the Royal Australian Navy, to be able to provide a deterrent against any would-be adversaries, nor capable enough to provide the navy with the capability for extend periods on patrol in Australia's large exclusive economic maritime zones."
The decision to put nuclear propulsion back on the agenda as an option is believed to be centered around the offer by the United States for the Australian government to lease American nuclear powered submarines as an interim solution, while American defence firms work with their Australian counterparts to integrate an American designed nuclear propulsion system onto an Australian designed submarine, with American battle management systems. The future submarines have already been designated as land attack capable, and regardless of their propulsion, will carry Tomahawk cruise missiles that can strike targets as far as 2,500km away.