The coalition was on course to win
88 seats, compared with 57 for Labor.
Liberal leader Tony Abbott said he
looked forward to forming a competent and trustworthy government.
 |
| Tony Abbott |
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd earlier
admitted defeat and said he would not stand again for the Labor leadership.
The main election issues were how
to tackle an expected economic slow-down, whether to keep a tax on carbon
emissions, and how to reduce the number of asylum seekers arriving by boat.
Mr Rudd called the election after
defeating Julia Gillard in a leadership challenge in June, amid dismal polling
figures that showed Labor on course for a wipe-out.
 |
| VOTE CASTING |
Under Mr Rudd, Labor initially saw
its figures improve. But Mr Abbott, who enjoyed the strident support of Rupert
Murdoch's newspapers, then widened the gap again.
"From today I declare
Australia is under new management and Australia is now open for business",
Mr Abbott told a cheering crowd as he delivered a victory speech.
He said that he would put the
budget back into surplus, and stop boats bringing migrants from Asia.
He added that support for Labor was
at its lowest ebb for 100 years, and said the results showed that the
Australian people would punish anyone who took them for granted.
Mr Rudd said he had phoned Mr
Abbott and wished him well.
"I gave it my all but it was
not enough for us to win," he said. But he was pleased that Labor was
preserved as a "viable fighting force for the future".
Mr Rudd retained his seat in the
Brisbane constituency of Griffith but said he would not re-contest the Labor
party leadership because the Australian people "deserve a fresh
start".
"I know that Labor hearts are heavy across
the nation tonight. As your Labor leader I accept it as my
responsibility," he said. (BBC)
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