Australian PM Julia Gillard sets general election date

Australia will hold a general election on 21 August, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced. Ms Gillard - the country's first female prime minister - said the snap poll would be "tough and close". The governing Labor Party elected her as leader three weeks ago after ousting her predecessor, Kevin Rudd. The race between Labor and the conservative opposition Liberal Party is expected to focus on the economy, health, climate change and immigration.

"This election is about the choice as to whether we move Australia forward or go back," Ms Gillard said in a televised speech in Canberra. "Moving forward means moving forward with budget surpluses and a stronger economy."

She said that it also "means moving forward with stronger protection of our borders and strong plan, a real plan, that takes away from people-smugglers and the products they sell".

Opposition Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott has dismissed the recent change of the Labor leadership, saying Ms Gillard was committed to the "same dud policies" of her predecessor. It will be the toughest fight in Ms Gillard's political life, the BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney says.

Recent opinion polls give Labor a lead over the Liberals and Ms Gillard will be hoping to secure another three-year term, our correspondent adds. BBC

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