MEDIA RELEASE

September 8, 2010

The Peak Public Affairs Committee of the Armenian-Australian Community
CANBERRA: Julia Gillard became Australia's first elected female Prime Minister after forming a minority government with the support of Greens MP Adam Bandt, Tasmanian Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, and NSW Independent MPs Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor.

After the 21 August Federal Election left both of Australia's major parties short of the 76 seats required to form government, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Liberal National Coalition (COA) had embarked upon an aggressive negotiation campaign to acquire the support of the single Green and four Independent Members of Parliament.

These negotiations over 17 days brought about Parliamentary reform and certain commitments in environmental policy, and concluded on Tuesday when the ALP added the support of 3 Independents and 1 Green to its 72 seats to form government with 76 seats to 74 over the COA, confirming Gillard as Prime Minister.

A pleased-yet-cautious Gillard announced: "We will govern in the best interests of the Australian people. If we fail in this solemn responsibility, we will be judged harshly when we next face the Australian people at the next election."

The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) represented Armenian-Australian interests throughout the long election campaign, holding meetings with several candidates in Armenian-populated electorates. Its post election report can be found by clicking here.

ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian, who has been monitoring government developments very closely, said: "We're thankful the ambiguity surrounding Federal Parliament has been brought to an end without the need for a second election."

He added: "We hope our elected representatives will provide the Australian people with a stable and productive government."