Rudd is the New Premier of Australia

Congratulations to the new premier of Australia. The Aussies have chosen a new leader through just and fair elections. That is a very good thing to see. I hope that we in Malaysia will also have the freedom to choose through fair and unbiased elections soon.

From the BBC :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7111479.stm

Australia's opposition Labor Party under Kevin Rudd has won a sweeping general election victory, removing PM John Howard after an 11-year term.

Mr Rudd said Australia had "looked to the future" and that he would be "a prime minister for all Australians".

Correspondents says key changes will be the start of a troop pullout from Iraq and the signing of the Kyoto protocol on climate change.

With 75% of ballots now counted, Labor has about 53% of the vote.

Mr Howard, whose Liberal Party-led coalition has about 46.5%, is still seriously in danger of losing his own seat of Bennelong.

In his concession speech, Mr Howard said: "This is a great democracy and I want to wish Mr Rudd well.

"We bequeath to him a nation that is stronger and prouder and more prosperous than it was eleven and a half years ago."