Australian Federal election 2010

[franfran]

We had an election on Saturday, and we still don't know what the result was, although it looks like we're going to end up with the first hung parliament for a while - the last one was in 1940. Both the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and the leader of the opposition, Tony Abbott, have been talking to the Independents to try and get them on side.........

Federal Election 2010 Australia | Julia Gillard Vs Tony Abbott

[Polwarth]

I was in Australia earlier this year and watched, with fascinated disbelief, the weekly 'tournaments' on TV, between Gillard and Abbott. Whilst he made my flesh crawl... I was also not too enamoured of her, although I preferred her arguments to Mr Abbott's!

Three of my family members are closely involved with Unions and the Labor (why does the US spelling prevail, I wonder?!) Party - they are absolutely stunned at the result (so far).

[franfran]

Originally Posted by Polwarth

(why does the US spelling prevail, I wonder?!)

I can't say that I have the definitive answer to that, but here's a bit of history:

The Australian Labor Party is Australia's oldest active political party, having contested and won seats from the colonial days, from 1891 to be precise. The name was originally spelled as "Labour", but was changed to "Labor" in 1912 apparently as a result of connections with, or at least some influence from, the United States labour movement. A prominent figure in the early history of the party and Tasmanian MP, the American born King O'Malley, may also have had something to do with it.

[Polwarth]

Thanks for the info.