After waiting more than two weeks, an election decision emerged Tuesday. Incumbent Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her Labour Party will remain in power.
"Labour is prepared to deliver a stable, effective and secure government for the next three years. Ours will be a government with just one purpose and that's to serve the Australian people."
In a news conference Tuesday, the undecided independence Tony Windsor and Robort Oakeshott threw their support behind Labour. Both were cautious and conditional in explaining their decisions.
"Today I will do what I have always done ironically and give confidence and supply to government. And in a fact, that means confidence and supply in Julia Gillard unless, and I emphasize unless, exceptional circumstances to turn another words."
"This is about using the political system to advantage the people we represent and those people in regional Australia. I just replay it again and I do conclude my vote will be going to the Gillard government. "
The August 21st election had been undecided as neither Labour's Gillard nor the opposition's Tony Abbott had enough votes to hold a majority. The MP's decisions gave Gillard one more vote than Abbott, bringing the total to 75 for Labour and 74 for the Coalition. Earlier in the day, Independent MP Bob Katter said he would support Abbott although that wasn't enough to tip the balance to the Coalition. Before the Gillard government can officially take office, the Australian electoral commission needs to finalize the election results.
http://www.hxen.com Julie N, Reuters
