Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Australia's Rudd loses support in state elections
|
Edition:
U.S.
Article
Save
Email
Print
Reprints
Most Popular
Most Shared
Wal-Mart to slash grocery prices
19 Mar 2010
US states sue EPA to stop greenhouse gas rules
19 Mar 2010
Massive sandstorm turns Beijing's streets yellow
| Video
20 Mar 2010
Democrats say they have votes to pass healthcare
20 Mar 2010
Brewing tensions between the Tea Party and GOP
18 Mar 2010
Wal-Mart to slash grocery prices
19 Mar 2010
US states sue EPA to stop greenhouse gas rules
19 Mar 2010
Accused Mexican drug trafficker extradited to U.S.
03 Mar 2010
Democrats say they have votes to pass healthcare
20 Mar 2010
States take aim to block healthcare plan
19 Mar 2010
Australia's Rudd loses support in state elections
James Grubel
CANBERRA
Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:00pm EDT
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Michael Rudd attends the closing press conference at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Port-of-Spain November 29, 2009.
Credit: Reuters/Andrea De Silva
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minster Kevin Rudd's ruling Labor Party suffered a large loss of support in weekend elections in Australia's two smallest states, in a result which could disrupt his plans for sweeping health reforms.
World
Voter support dropped more than 7 percent for longstanding Labor governments in South Australia and Tasmania, signaling a revival for the conservative Liberal Party ahead of national elections, due in late 2010.
If the shift away from Labor was replicated across the country at a national election, Rudd would be swept from power.
However, Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said local issues dominated the two state elections, where voters turned against long serving governments. In contrast, Rudd's national government has been in office only two years and four months.
"I don't think there's much in the way of federal implications," Tanner told Australian television.
"Inevitably, governments that are long-term governments lose a bit of skin along the way. But we'll just see what the final details are and obviously we always learn lessons from every election."
Rudd remains firm favorite to win a second term in office at elections due later this year.
The Reuters Poll Trend shows he holds a 7.2 percent lead over the opposition on the crucial two-party vote, once minor party votes are distributed under Australia's complex preferential electoral system.
Australians regularly vote for different parties at national elections and state elections, where local issues can dominate, making it difficult to interpret how state results might translate to the national arena.
OPPOSITION LIBERALS LIKELY TO GOVERN TASMANIA
Rudd's poll ratings and support for his climate policies have been falling since December after the Liberal Party elected a new leader, and his carbon trade plan was rejected a second time in a hostile parliamentary upper house.
In Tasmania, where Labor has governed for 12 years, the Liberals are likely to take office with support from Greens, who won five seats and a record 21 percent of the vote.
Rudd has unveiled a $45 billion plan to take control of struggling state-run public hospitals. But he needs agreement from all six states and two territories and a Liberal government in Tasmania could complicate efforts to implement the plan.
Rudd holds all five Tasmanian state seats in the national parliament, but four of those seats could be in jeopardy if the state swing away from Labor was replicated at a federal level.
In South Australia, where Labor has ruled for eight years, Premier Mike Rann will retain power despite the strong shift toward the Liberal Party.
Rann's campaign was disrupted by scandal after a former parliament house waitress claimed she had an affair with the premier. Rann denied the relationship, which happened before he was married, was anything more than a friendship.
South Australia is home to 11 seats in the 150-seat national parliament, and Rudd's Labor holds six. If the swing away from Labor was replicated at a national election, Rudd could lose three seats.
World
More from Reuters
Nailing down the votes
Democrats are getting closer to the number of votes needed to pass Obama's overhaul of healthcare. Full Article | Video
Cloud lifts for healthcare investors
Q&A: What does healthcare reform mean for Obama?
Factbox: Healthcare overhaul has few final steps
Healthcare Reform
Witness from the hurt locker
For Reuters journalist May Naji, a Iraqi native, some things are impossible to forget even after she left home to work abroad. Full Article
A look back at seven years in Iraq
World
Top playgrounds of the rich
Want to vacation like CEOs and celebrities? A men's website has listed its top towns that border the magical Mediterranean. Full Article
Slideshow: Inside Ireland
48 hours in Istanbul
Lifestyle
© Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
Reuters
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Help
Journalism Handbook
Archive
Site Index
Video Index
Analyst Research
Mobile
Newsletters
RSS
Podcasts
Widgets
Your View
Labs
Thomson Reuters
Copyright
Disclaimer
Privacy
Professional Products
Professional Products Support
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Careers
Online Products
Acquisitions Monthly
Buyouts
Venture Capital Journal
International Financing Review
Project Finance International
PEhub.com
PE Week
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Sunday, 21 March 2010 Afghanistan says Taliban arrests had 'negative impact'
British Airways strike grounds flights but passengers fly
Israeli troops kill Palestinian in West Bank: medics
Russian 'Day of Anger' rallies tests Putin's rule
Magnitude-5.6 quake near Guantanamo, Cuba
|
Allawi leads Iraq PM in vote count: results
UN chief backs Palestinian state in visit to West Bank
Iran president suggests referendum on subsidy cuts
|
ACORN On Verge Of Bankruptcy; 50% Of State Chapters Disband
Thai political deadlock after red street parade
Taliban adjust, wage bomb attacks in Afghan town
Huge sandstorm covers Beijing, turns sky orange
Underdog Japan hoping to suprise US in hockey final
Strong quake hits off Papua New Guinea: geologists
Sandstorms blanket Beijing in yellow dust
Sharks on the menu at wildlife trade meet
One dead, six hurt in Philippines clashes: security forces
Myanmar state paper blasts election law critics
Thai opposition leaders demand talks with PM
Chinese media hits out at Google, alleges intelligence links
Music biz insiders say Sony-Jackson deal makes sense
|
Ellen, Web site give gay teen $30,000 in prom flap
|
Couch potatoes: New York plants go to the movies
Afghan drug cartels squeeze poppy farmers
Fish and chips celebrates 150 years as a British classic
Thai protest talks scheduled; resolution unlikely
|
"Red Steel 2" videogame an homage to spaghetti westerns
U.N.'s Ban in West Bank pushes for peace talks
UN chief backs Palestinian state on Mideast mission
British polls point to hung parliament
Madagascar connected to EASSy fiber optic cable
Colombian journalist shot and killed
|
Moscow fire chief killed in blaze
China to respond if hit by U.S. trade sanctions: MOFCOM
|
Huge pro-Berlusconi rally in Rome
GM Daewoo recalls 58,000 vehicles in S.Korea: government
Germany okay with bilateral EU aid to Greece: minister
Suspected explosive found on plane in India: police
|
Sarkozy faces heavy defeat in French regional poll
|
Tadic absent as Balkan leaders meet on EU integration
No evidence of mine collapse in Sierra Leone town
|
Australia's Rudd loses support in state elections
|
Midair Plane Collision Leaves Three Dead
Anti-war protesters take to streets, defy US indifference
US House to vote on Obama's historic health plan
Top climate officials urge progress at Mexico summit
Fargo calm, confident as Red River completes rise
Researchers: Acne Drug Found To Be Effective In HIV Treatment
Fox Denies "Glee" Stage Adaptation
Thousands rally to pull troops from 2 war zones
Rosie O'Donnell Signs Talk Show Deal For 2011
U.S. Democrats say they have votes to pass healthcare
"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" To Include Paris Hilton's Aunts
GM Daewoo to recall 58,000 vehicles in S.Korea: government
China may report trade deficit in March: minister
Bangladesh too cheap for comfort for some brands
S.Korea sees March trade surplus bigger than Feb
China says trade deficit likely in March
Japan planning 14 nuclear plants: report
GM S.Korea unit recalls 60,000 Cruze, Captiva models
US currency battle with China underscores global concerns
Thousands bid farewell to former Nepal PM Koirala
S.Korea Feb business start/failure rate at 7-mo high
Japan local vote plan for foreigners triggers backlash
Two Thai blasts after huge anti-govt parade: police
Philippines hunts Indonesian training militants
Nearly 100 kgs ivory seized in Vietnam: report
Thai protest talks scheduled; resolution unlikely
Pakistan kidnappers 'threatened to chop up UK boy'
Watermelon Jam Causes New Zealand Motorway To Close
Swarm Of Bees Attack 3, Critically Injures 2 Women
Woman Sees Virgin Mary At Door
Phone Call To Mom Brings Drug Trafficking Charge For Inmate
Drunk Man Fined For Exposing Himself To Female Officer
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
Australia's Rudd loses support in state elections
Indonesians protest Israel settlements
Sarkozy facing rebuke as France votes
Netanyahu stands firm on Jerusalem before U.S. visit
|
China state media accuses Google of political agenda
Darfur donor meeting eyeing $2 billion opens in Cairo
Sarkozy faces heavy defeat in French regional poll
|
Israeli troops kill two Palestinians in West Bank
No Israeli concessions on Jerusalem: Netanyahu
U.N.'s Ban in Gaza, calls on Israel to end closures
|
UN chief slams Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip
U.S. actions contrary to desire for better ties: Iran
|
Second Palestinian youth dies after shot in West Bank
Medical Examiner Confirms Two More Suspected Suicides At Cornell University
UN chief urges Israel to lift Gaza blockade
Volcano erupts in Iceland, hundreds flee
|
Iraq PM Maliki calls for vote recount: statement
Virginia Executes Convicted Murderer By Electric Chair
Lawyer For Teacher Who Let Cats Starve To Death Says It Wasn't Intended
Afghans celebrate new year with hopes for peace
Vatican must take abuse more seriously: Swiss abbot
|
UN chief crosses into Gaza for talks
Fifteen States Sue EPA Over Greenhouse Gas Decision
UK parties battle over economy as election nears
|
NJ Police Aided By Social Media Arrest Teen In Wal-Mart Bias Case
Iraq's Maliki asks for recount, warns of violence
|
Afghan VP voices hope for peace as bombs kill 12
Explosives found aboard India plane
China vows to hit back if targeted by U.S. on yuan
Former Interior Secretary Udall dies at age 90
Kenyan runners sweep Taipei marathon
Taiwan's president to visit 6 Pacific nations
China warns US against yuan sanctions
China state media accuses Google of political agenda
|
Explosions rock Afghan New Year, kill 2 civilians
Activist charged over sat phone can leave India
Chinese media say Google is politicizing dispute
GM's SKorean unit recalling nearly 60,000 vehicles
China to begin trial of 4 Rio Tinto employees
India faces more rate hikes: analysts
Tang premieres new film after reported China ban
Ang Lee protege Tang returns to red carpet
US gun rights advocates pack heat with pride
Paris retrospective for fashion genius Saint Laurent
Lebanon's liquid treasure is just trickling away
Haiti's cultural heritage faces quake extinction
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights