On your mark, get set, go!

well be a stronger m otivation for this.

Despite the hovering g ho s t of Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister Gillard used her first major s p eech in 2013 at the National Press C lub to announce the date of the next electi o n - September 14.

W ith 227 days to go, it is designed to be the longest e lection campaign in Australian history. Why the Prime :Mi ni ster made the announcement so much in advance has the pundits guessing, and has g ive n rise to a number of conspi racy theories.

It wiU talte ve ry poor poll numbers fo r the Labo r caucus to m ove agai ns t the Prime Mi niste r and make changes at the top. Though ex -PM Rudd ha s maintained , after his failed atte mp t i n 2012, that he w ill not challenge the l eadership, it is doubtful he will refuse the top job which migh t be offered to h im by those crying to m ake amends fo r the coup against him by the faceless men withi n the party. The sceptre of los ing t he ir own seats may

Knowing that Rudd 's elevation might bring back voters, perhaps d1e nece ssary action is ro stop the furth er decline of Labor's popularity before d1e election. PM Gillard, who has never backed away from a scrap, is hoping that Labor's poll numbers rise to see m off a ny chall enge by Rudd's supporters Her strategy will be to draw out d1e Coali tio n par ty a nd particul arly Opposition Leader T ony Abbott o n bis plans for Australi a, shoul d he win l f she can draw the voters ' anention to any gap s in Abbott's policies, she bas a better chance o n the day of the final vote PM Gillard is playing for the ultima te prize, t he o ngo ing Prime Ministership of Australia, and will need much to go right for her

In ilie meanwhile, PM Gilla rd's announcement is seen as the start of a de facto election c ampaign

The In dian commllluty in Ausu alia holds a considerable vote bank w hich will be of interest to both the major political parties. As evidenced in the NSW and Victoria state electio n s, politician s are more than keen to captnre d1e goodwill of the Australian Indian co mmunity. We also seem to have suddenly found advocates of major political parties, now willi ng to bridge the g ap berween the conununity and the politicians. r Affordable investment in stock req u ired r Better Lifestyle r Merchandising and Promotional Support r Proven Retail formats

With various Holi and Diwali melas, Republic and Ind epe ndence Day functions and ocher events, do not be surprised to see high-level politic ian s pitching for you r votes Already we can see man y claim ants to the po sitive decision b y the Australian governmen t to sell u.ranimn to India.

That this happened so soon after US Preside n t B ar ack Obama spoke abour the US -Australia s tra tegic parmersbip in Asia particularly to counterbalance the influence of Ch ina, is a convenien t fact which has been forgotte n by a few, especially those o n d1e Labor si de of politics who have opposed the sale for years The federal election campaign will be a g reat opporruniry for our communi ty leaders to seek better benefits for thei r members, such as assistance in aged care or for new migrants, or a c onsolidated identity for Ind ian Australian s It ,vill be interesting to see how our leadersin d1e community and at t he federal government level - approach the Indi an Australia n vote bank.

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