25.11.2007

Kevin Rudd, pictured here with his family at a victory celebration in Brisbane, says Australians have looked to the future. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin)

For the first time in more than 11 years Australians are waking up to a changed political landscape, with Labor readying itself to take power.

Kevin Rudd swept aside the Prime Ministership of John Howard with a stunning victory, turning a 16-seat deficit into a majority of about 22 seats, depending on the final outcomes in a handful of electorates.

Mr Howard conceded graciously, sending Mr Rudd and the Labor Government he will lead his best wishes and admitting it was "very likely" that he had lost his own seat of Bennelong to Labor's Maxine McKew.

Mr Rudd says Australians had looked to the future in placing their trust in him and his team.

"Today Australia has looked to the future," he said. "Today the Australian people have decided that we as a nation will move forward."

"We should celebrate and honour the way we conduct this great Australian democracy of ours, and it's been on display tonight," he said.

Casualties

While Mr Howard shapes as the biggest casualty for the Coalition, other high-profile ministers are also look like losing their seats.

One definite casualty was Mal Brough, the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

He suffered a swing against him of more than 10 per cent to lose the seat of Longman, on the northern fringe of Brisbane.

Fellow Minister Peter Dutton is in grave danger of joining Mr Brough in the job seekers' queue. He trails narrowly in his northern Brisbane seat of Dickson.

Other ministerial casualties included The Nationals' De-Anne Kelly in Dawson - one of three seats The Nationals lost - and Liberals Gary Nairn in the bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro and Teresa Gambaro in Petrie.

One success for the Liberals came in Wentworth where Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull fought off an anti-pulp mill inspired protest movement to keep his inner-Sydney seat.

'Fresh ideas'

Accompanied by his wife Therese Rein and standing before a podium emblazoned with the slogans "New Leadership" and "Fresh Ideas", Kevin Rudd gave his first speech as Prime Minister-elect.

He began by paying tribute to his predecessor, saying while there were great differences between them, they shared a great pride in Australia.

"Today Australia has looked to the future. Today the people have decided that we as a nation will move forward. To plan for the future, to prepare for the future, to embrace the future."

He said Australians had shown they are ready to "write a new page in our nation's history. To make this great country of ours, Australia, even greater".

Mr Rudd spoke of the responsibility of national leadership. "I will never take their sacred trust for granted," he said.

But he said he was ready to accept that responsibility and made a number of pledges.

"I will be a Prime Minister for all Australians. A Prime Minister for Indigenous Australians. Australians who have been born here and Australians who have come here from afar," he said.

"A Prime Minister for our cities and towns, a Prime Minister for rural Australia ... for our men and women in uniform ... for all our states and territories ... I will be Prime Minister for all Australians," he said.

"I will always govern in the national interest."

He said he would take a consensus approach to leadership to consign to the past the battles between ideologies.

"It's time for a new page to be written in our nation's history."

'Privilege'

Mr Howard began his exit from the political saying Australia is a "prouder, stronger and more prosperous" nation than when he took power.

He spoke of the joy being prime minister had brought him.

"There is no prouder job in the world that anyone can occupy than being prime minister of this country."

Mr Howard acknowledged that the speech was being delivered "at the end of my political career".

"I take full responsibility for this campaign and I therefore accept full responsibility for the defeat in this election," he added.

Courtesy - ABC