CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard called an election on Saturday for Aug. 21, with the tightly-fought poll to be decided over policies on economic management, climate and border protection.
Australia's first female prime minister was appointed three weeks ago by the ruling Labor party as the government faced electoral defeat. Since then Gillard has resurrected support, putting Labor narrowly ahead in opinion polls. But conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott needs to win only nine seats to form a government with four independents, or 13 seats to take office outright.