Julia Gillard is Australian PM with independent backing
07 Sep 2010
Canberra: Australian prime minister Julia Gillard secured her Labour Party a second term in power with a tiny, one-seat majority after convincing two key independent and a Green MP to provide her support. The close call comes after inconclusive polls.
With two independent MPs backing her Gillard ended with 76 seats in the 150-seat parliament. Tony Abbot's losing Liberal/National coalition ended up with 74 seats after it secured support of one independent MP.
Of the three independents - all rural-based MPs and dubbed the 'Three Amigos' - Bob Katter, plumped for opposition leader Tony Abbott. The other two - Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott – announced their decision a bit later but went for Gillard's Labour.
Interestingly, even as he announced his support for Abbot's Coalition, Katter also hedged his bets by saying he would have no problems in retracting his decision should the other two decide to go with Gillard's Labour.
"I would have no difficulty in working with the government whatsoever and also I would feel a moral responsibility to support the government that is in there to provide stability and confidence in Australia,'' he said.
Last month's inconclusive election resulted in a political deadlock, the first in Australia in 70 years.
