By chief political correspondent Emma Griffiths
Updated September 08, 2013 11:49:16
Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott says he is already "getting down to business", while the Labor Party is girding itself for the difficult task of rebuilding after last night's election defeat.
The Coalition won the election with a national swing of 3.5 per cent, seizing a swathe of seats in Tasmania, Victoria and across New South Wales.
Mr Abbott began his first day as the nation's leader with a bike ride with a group of friends and breakfast at his home in Sydney.
Election live: Abbott off and running as Coalition takes power
He has since been preparing for a series of briefings with public servants.
"This is essentially a working day," he said, in brief remarks this morning.
"People expect that, the day after an election, an incoming government will be getting down to business. And that's what I'll be doing today."
[h=2]Shorten vows to unite Labor, undecided on leadership[/h]In Labor ranks, the frontrunner to lead the party in opposition, Bill Shorten, says the process to replace Kevin Rudd will be free of "rancour" and "division".
Whoever it is, they will lead a much-reduced Labor team, with around 15 Labor MPs losing their seats, including former assistant treasurer David Bradbury, who lost his western Sydney seat of Lindsay.
Though still in its early stages, the leadership contest is shaping up as one between the Victorian right-wing factional heavyweight and the NSW left-wing former deputy prime minister, Anthony Albanese.
Neither man has publicly indicated they will be a contender and Mr Shorten says he has still not made up his mind.
"I am genuinely undecided," he told the ABC's Insiders program.
He added that he would have to talk to his family, explaining: "I have been away from them a great deal".
But he says regardless of who prevails, the process has to be "marked by the lessons of the past".
"No rancour, no external discussions, no division - but how do we be the best Opposition?" he said.
"We know that the internal in-fighting allowed our other work to be overshadowed and I know that this generation - the new generation after this election - are determined to learn those lessons.
"We will not have the public in-fighting you have seen in recent years."
In an early first sign of that intention, the former Australian Worker's Union Secretary and cabinet minister praised the man who could be his main competitor.
"I think Anthony Albanese is a remarkable politician," Mr Shorten said.
"If he was to be the leader of the Labor Party, I've got no doubt he would be very good."
Unless there is only one candidate for the leadership, a Caucus ballot will have to be held to decide who will face off against Mr Abbott.
Mr Shorten was instrumental in both the ousting of Mr Rudd as prime minister in 2010 and the downfall of Julia Gillard in June, earning him the reputation of being a "prime ministerial assassin".
Topics: federal-elections, government-and-politics, alp, australia
First posted September 08, 2013 11:34:34
Updated September 08, 2013 11:49:16
Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott says he is already "getting down to business", while the Labor Party is girding itself for the difficult task of rebuilding after last night's election defeat.
The Coalition won the election with a national swing of 3.5 per cent, seizing a swathe of seats in Tasmania, Victoria and across New South Wales.
Mr Abbott began his first day as the nation's leader with a bike ride with a group of friends and breakfast at his home in Sydney.
Election live: Abbott off and running as Coalition takes power
He has since been preparing for a series of briefings with public servants.
"This is essentially a working day," he said, in brief remarks this morning.
"People expect that, the day after an election, an incoming government will be getting down to business. And that's what I'll be doing today."
[h=2]Shorten vows to unite Labor, undecided on leadership[/h]In Labor ranks, the frontrunner to lead the party in opposition, Bill Shorten, says the process to replace Kevin Rudd will be free of "rancour" and "division".
Whoever it is, they will lead a much-reduced Labor team, with around 15 Labor MPs losing their seats, including former assistant treasurer David Bradbury, who lost his western Sydney seat of Lindsay.
Though still in its early stages, the leadership contest is shaping up as one between the Victorian right-wing factional heavyweight and the NSW left-wing former deputy prime minister, Anthony Albanese.
Neither man has publicly indicated they will be a contender and Mr Shorten says he has still not made up his mind.
"I am genuinely undecided," he told the ABC's Insiders program.
He added that he would have to talk to his family, explaining: "I have been away from them a great deal".
But he says regardless of who prevails, the process has to be "marked by the lessons of the past".
"No rancour, no external discussions, no division - but how do we be the best Opposition?" he said.
"We know that the internal in-fighting allowed our other work to be overshadowed and I know that this generation - the new generation after this election - are determined to learn those lessons.
"We will not have the public in-fighting you have seen in recent years."
In an early first sign of that intention, the former Australian Worker's Union Secretary and cabinet minister praised the man who could be his main competitor.
"I think Anthony Albanese is a remarkable politician," Mr Shorten said.
"If he was to be the leader of the Labor Party, I've got no doubt he would be very good."
Unless there is only one candidate for the leadership, a Caucus ballot will have to be held to decide who will face off against Mr Abbott.
Mr Shorten was instrumental in both the ousting of Mr Rudd as prime minister in 2010 and the downfall of Julia Gillard in June, earning him the reputation of being a "prime ministerial assassin".
Topics: federal-elections, government-and-politics, alp, australia
First posted September 08, 2013 11:34:34