Labor to form new Australian government

CANBERRA, Australia, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Following 2 1/2 weeks of political deal-making, Labor leader Julia Gillard will remain prime minister of Australia, an official said Tuesday.

Gillard, who has held office since June 24, was to meet with the governor general, who represents British Queen Elizabeth II, at 6 p.m. AET to formally form the new government, the office of the governor general confirmed to United Press International Tuesday evening.

She won the backing of two rural independent members of Parliament to form a minority government following an indecisive election. Independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor said they would back Labor to give the party the 76 seats in the House of Representative needed to form a new coalition government, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported this afternoon.

Gillard, the first woman prime minister, will have a single set majority with cooperation from the single Green Party member of Parliament, as well as the independents, who won concessions on parliamentary procedures, communications and rural issues.

The recent election resulted in a hung Parliament in which no party won the required 76 seats. The balance of power then rested with one Green and four independent lawmakers. Last week, the Green member pledged to support Labor. One independent, Bob Katter, sided with the Liberal/National coalition and the remaining independents sided with Labor.