Beazley promises Labor Opposition with a difference

Australia's new Opposition leader Kim Beazley yesterday pledged to sharpen the distinctions between Labor and the Howard Government.

Beazley, elected unopposed to the Labour leadership at a special caucus meeting yesterday, said he was proud and excited to be given the chance to lead Australia's longest-serving political party back into office.

"We are going to be an Opposition that sharpens the distinction between ourselves and the Government," Beazley said. "We believe that you can have a modern, dynamic economy with compassion."

Beazley said the former Labour Government had put in place the reforms that now underpinned the economy.

"We cannot maintain the prosperity we now enjoy with the trade deficit that we have, with the collapse of investment in innovation and infrastructure as well as industry bottlenecks due to skill shortages," he said.

He said Labor also differed from the Government on whether to sign the Kyoto protocol on climate change.

Beazley said all members of the shadow ministry would remain in their portfolios.

"I'm going to do something unusual for an Opposition leader," he said. "I'm going to announce my shadow ministry at my first press conference: everybody stays."

He appeared to dismiss backbencher Rod Sawford's suggestion that the party would look for a new leader after 12 months if Beazley failed to perform.

"2007 is the relevant date and that is the date that applies to all of us, every single one of us.

"I'm not the only person responsible here, every one of us is responsible for the future of the Labor Party, and it's been made amply clear by me to all the caucus members that I have expectations of them in the same way that they have expectations of me."

-AAP