A GLIMPSE AT AUSTRALIA’S PRIME MINISTERS WHO TOOK THEIR SEAT SINCE THE NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE WAS BUILT
Bob Hawke was the first to take his seat in the New Parliament House as the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia (time in office 1983 – 1991). He was the first Prime Minister who was removed from his post by a member of his own party, Paul Keating in 1991.
Paul Keating (time in office 1991 - 1996) took office after Bob Hawke
was ousted, and was the first incumbent Labor Party Prime Minister to lose an election in 46 years since Ben Chifley in 1949. He was defeated in the 1996 elections by the Liberal- National coalition led by John Howard.
John Howard (time in office 1996 – 2007) brought Liberal-National Coalition to victory in 1996 defeating the Labor Government, ending a record of 13 years of coalition opposition. Due to his refusal to step-down and retire, it cost his party the 2007 election defeated by the Labor Party led by Kevin Rudd. He also lost his own parliamentary seat at the election and was the second Australian Prime Minister to do so since 1929.
Kevin Rudd (time in office 2007 – 2010) served a short term in office due to the decline in his government’s support in opinion polls and growing dissatisfaction of his leadership within the Labor Party; he was ousted by his deputy Julia Gillard.
Julia Gillard (time in office 2010 – present). It was a close call election, which she won by 76-74 against the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. Ever since she was sworn in as the Prime Minister, she has made headlines as the first female Prime Minister in Australia but also for being challenged again and again by determined Opposition leader Tony Abbott, who has been in the way of all her causes since she took office in 2010. Tough times ahead for
Ms Gillard as the public grows wary of her empty promises and her choice of decisions that may affect Australia’s future.
54 FENGSHUIWORLD | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
THE ECONOMY With all the internal politics and fighting in Parliament House, the economy in Australia is still going strong, with the currency being stronger than the US dollar and staying strong despite difficult times, mainly due to the fact that Australia is strong in the export markets with the mining industries being the main export earners, followed by agriculture, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, and the chemical and steel industries. Australia is also well known as a
wealthy country that is able to provide high-quality education, health services and social security for vulnerable groups. The property market is still booming with foreign investors buying properties around Australia. IMF reports
list
Australia as one of the fastest-growing advanced economies in the world at present. Australia’s GDP is approximately US$1.23 trillion and is the 13th largest economy by nominal GDP and the 17th largest as measured by Purchasing Power Parity, representing approximately 1.7% of the world economy. Australia is also ranked the 19th largest importer and exporter in the world market. With an export of US$48.6 billion to China in 2010 and the recent boom in China demand for Australian commodities, and with lucrative opportunities in iron ore exports for the mining industry, Australia is most definitely in the run to outpace most other advanced economies in 2011. While Australian leadership suffers
from internal in-fighting - and this is clearly predicted looking at the feng shui of its Parliamentary House - nevertheless, wealth and prosperity of the country has not been compromised. But stamping out the backstabbing could make life a lot smoother when it comes to Australian politics.
Jancy Lew
www.fswmag.com
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