CANBERRA, Australia, July 16 (UPI) -- Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, saying she wants a mandate from the voters, called Saturday for a parliamentary election in August.
She visited Governor General Quentin Bryce to ask him to schedule the election for Aug. 21, The Australian reported. Bryce, as the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, is the head of the Australian state.
Gillard, the first woman prime minister in Australia, got the office in June after challenging her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, for leadership of the Labor Party.
Some still see her ascension as a coup. After her news conference, Gillard passed Rudd supporters holding a banner: "We want Kev the people's PM."
Gillard said Australians have a clear choice in the upcoming election.
"This election is about the choice as to whether we move Australia forward or go back," she said.
Tony Abbott, head of the opposition Coalition, addressing a Liberal Nationals conference in Brisbane, attacked Gillard, saying her weeks in office have been "chaotic." Abbott said the Coalition is "ready to govern" but also tried to put some daylight between the last Coalition prime minister, John Howard, and the current leadership.
