Turnbull to become Australia's new Prime Minister
In another dramatic event of what has proved the most turbulent period of Australian politics, Malcolm Turnbull ousted Tony Abbot in an internal party-leadership ballot, which he won 54-44. Turnbull, who was communications-minister, gave up that post to attempt the now succesful-coup over Abbot. Abbot had recently become unpopular after having committed numerous gaffes. The change in leadership will be accompanied by cabinet reshuffling.
In November 2007, Jon Howard, the PM of Australia, was ousted after a 11-year long reign as the head of a coalition-government, to be replaced by Kevin Rudd. Under his reign, Australia had climbed out of deep debt to achieve strong prosperity. Howard, who was a Liberal Party faithful, had spent 33 years in public life. Peter Costello succeeded him as Liberal Party leader.
Kevin Rudd, who replaced veteran political leader Jon Howard as PM, belonged to the Labor Party. In his winning speech, he thanked people for voting Labor-many for the first time, or atleast the first time in a long time- and for trusting him. He pledged to begin work to honour immediately the promises the Labour party had made in the course of their campaigns.
The downfall of Kevin Rudd started with the opinion polls that were held in Australia in June 2010. Word clouds are words that voters use when asked to describe their Prime Minister. Unfortunately for Rudd, the dominant words that came up for him were 'arrogant' and 'weak'. For Julia Gillard, Rudd's loyal deputy, the most popular words were 'strong' and 'capable'.
Post the opinion polls, a divided and traumatized Labor party decided to suggest Julia Gillard as the new leader of the party. A leadership ballot was scheduled, which was won unopposed by Gillard, after Rudd decided not to stand. In a bloodless intra-party coup, Gillard took over the reigns of the troubled party, and was sworn in as Prime Minister months before the election.
In a spectacular turning of tables, Kevin Rudd, who had come to power after Australia chose to vote Labor, lost power after his own party voted against him. He became the first Prime Minister to be dumped even before completion of one term.
In a dramatic re-enactment of the 2010 ballot, Kevin Rudd prevailed in a Labor leadership ballot, beating Julia Gillard 57-45. Gillard's loss meant that she would retire from politics, having vowed the same if she lost the ballot. However, Rudd's return to the party was accompanied by the departure of several, amongst them, her loyal supporters. She left amidst shoutouts for her remarkable tenure.
Kevin Rudd's time as PM proved short-lived as Tony Abbot claimed victory for his Liberal National Party coalition. He became Australia's 28th Prime Minister, promising that his government would "be competent and trustworthy". Abbot had served as opposition leader and had forced Labor into a minority government in the 2010 elections. Abbot said that he aimed to build up infrastructure, specially improve city roads.
Abbot's fall from grace started seven months ago, when he barely survived a party confidence motion. Public opinion has been moving against him for a while, in view of unpopular budget cuts and policy changes; it also doesn't help that he's against same-sex marriage.
