National elections in Australia must be held by November 30 2013. All sections of Australian society, including the church, were in full swing gearing up for the election of Australia’s 44th Parliament when everything was thrown into disarray by momentous political events in late June.
In an internal party vote, incumbent Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was replaced as the head of the Labor Party — and therefore as Prime Minister — by Kevin Rudd, who had been the victim of a similar process some three years before.
The stark contrast between Gillard and Rudd expresses itself in many ways, not least in terms of their views on religion. A useful frame of reference is provided by the two great commandments: love of God and love of neighbour.
