Two weeks after polls deadlock:

Labour ready to govern

AUSTRALIA: AustraliaAustralian Prime Minister Julia Gillard Tuesday said her centre-left Labour party was ready to govern after cobbling together a fragile coalition Government in a rare hung Parliament.

A smiling but tired-looking Gillard addressed reporters in Canberra after winning the support of two key independent MPs, giving her a majority of just one seat after August 21 elections.

“Labour is prepared to govern,” Gillard said. “I believe the Australian people, given the closeness of this vote, want us to find more common ground in the national interest,” she added.

“I will work tirelessly to do what we said we would do, and that is to forge a new paradigm of modern government in this country,” Gillard said.

Gillard, who seized power in a ruthless party coup just 10 weeks ago before calling polls, announced an extra 9.9 billion dollars (9.0 billion US) in funding for rural healthcare, in a sweetener to the independents.

“We are governing with a majority of 76. We are prepared to go forward to serve the Australian people,” she said. “I begin this task more optimistic and more confident than ever before in the Australian people and our hopes and aspirations.”

Gillard said she expected to seek the endorsement of British Queen Elizabeth II’s representative, the governor general, to form government later on Tuesday.

Canberra, Tuesday, AFP