Sydney: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Wednesday said the nation would go to the polls on September 14, announcing the date early to give "shape and order" to the year.
Australians usually know only weeks before when an election will be held, but the Labor leader, whose minority government holds power by only a narrow margin, surprised pundits by giving close to nine months' notice.
"I do so not to start the nation's longest election campaign, quite the opposite," Ms Gillard told the National Press Club in Canberra during a speech setting out the priorities for Labor in the year ahead.
"It should be clear to all which are the days of governing, and which are the days of campaigning."
Ms Gillard, who is tipped to lose the election to conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott, said announcing the date of the polls would give individuals, businesses and investors the ability to plan ahead.
"It gives shape and order to the year, and enables it to be one not of fevered campaigning, but of cool and reasoned deliberation," she said.
Parliament will be dissolved on August 12.
Australians usually know only weeks before when an election will be held, but the Labor leader, whose minority government holds power by only a narrow margin, surprised pundits by giving close to nine months' notice.
"I do so not to start the nation's longest election campaign, quite the opposite," Ms Gillard told the National Press Club in Canberra during a speech setting out the priorities for Labor in the year ahead.
Ms Gillard, who is tipped to lose the election to conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott, said announcing the date of the polls would give individuals, businesses and investors the ability to plan ahead.
Advertisement
Parliament will be dissolved on August 12.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Twins Fall In Front Of Sydney Train, "Heroic" Father, 2-Year-Old Killed BBL 2024 Schedule: Perth Scorchers To Host Melbourne Stars In Opener Australian Man Arrested Over Children's Death In "Horrifying" Home Fire Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool This US City Has Been Declared America's Least Desirable, Survey Finds Ukraine, Russia Both Claim Advances In Kursk Region Gaza Ceasefire Talks Underway In Qatar As Deaths Top 40,000 Trump To Hold Press Conference, His Campaign Adds Senior Advisers Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.