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Teflon Kev
I am back to write another timeline after many failures, but I am back to try again.

The end of the Howard years in the 2007 election heralded a new page in Australia's short history. The
newly elected Labor government, led by its Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd faced immediate economic pressures. The economy showed signs of contracting throughout September 2008, as the economy lurched towards recession. One by one, American investments were withdrawn. In an attempt to contain the crisis, a series of Keynesian initiatives were implemented, these included an immediate $10.4 billion stimulus package, almost entirely directed at retails and large sums of money for the poor and disadvantaged. Others included another $42 billion for temporary work programs. Announcing the government would "move heaven and earth to reduce the impact of the global recession". Education and housing recieved significant boosts, including $28.8 billion extra. Whilst the deficit was projected to reach sixty billion, this was largely forgiven as his popularity entered a honey-moon stage.

Most controversially, his government, the first in Australian history, apologized for the suffering endured by the indigenous people of Australia. Collectively known as the "Stolen generations."

The Building Education Revolution, or "BER" for short, which included substantial increases in government investment to train skilled builders for building the desperately needed houses. Direct government grants for road building and other regional infrastructure projects. Along with his renewed emphasis on the "Digital Education Revolution," which placed new directed funding to replace outdated education methods, and the introduction of laptops in classrooms. Tax rebates for working families with children were increased from 30-50%, Medicare surcharges were reviewed, with the introduction of means testing.

Other areas of government investment included insulation of the estimated 40% of Australian homes without adequate forms of heating. However, this didn't come without controversy. The revelations about the four deaths of workers whilst installing it caused public anger and condemnation. Rudd responded by sacking the minister responsible. That being, Peter Garret.

The issue of immigration was discussed extensively, with Rudd expressing support for the "Big Australia" concept, increasing average immigration to 300,000. And after several tragedies at sea, allowed large amounts of women and children refugees to settle in Australia, at the behest of the Coalition and other right-of-centre parties.

By mid 2009, some polls suggested the prospects of losing the next election were virtually zero, though the scandals over the insulation program had effect the popularity of the government as a whole, he remained comfortably high in the polls. However, unknown to the media, growing dissatisfaction within the Labor caucus about his authoritarian style and rudeness to colleagues caused resentment from his own deputy. By September 2009, he had been informed by fellow MP's of her possible future ambitions, as she and Labor rebels, frustrated by his "chaotic style" plotted to remove him. Rudd immediately worked on plans for her replacement, after consulting the Treasurer Wayne Swan, he removed her in front of a large press gallery. Effective immediately. This was done without the explicit approval of the Treasurer, and expressed his rage. Thereafter, after much debate Rudd convinced him to stay, promising to work on his behavior. This had the immediate effect of reducing Labor's standing in the polls.

The Coalition, still licking its wounds after it's defeat wasn't catching up, the numerous gaffes by its leader, Tony Abbott. By early 2010 it was still behind, sometimes by over ten points. Fearing his colleagues would take advantage of this, Rudd called an early general election for the 13th of March 2010. With hardly weeks to campaign the two leaders both engaged in "walk-about's" meeting constituents and scoring political points. Abbott mounted an alarmist campaign directed at the Labor government's immigration policy, whilst Rudd frequently criticized Abbots inflammatory personality and supposed lack of intelligence. By the Friday prior to the election early polls suggested Labor well ahead of their opponents. His government also formally signed the Kyoto protocol in its first term.

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The second term of Rudd was expected to be tough, the push-back over his proposed super profits tax on mining caused anger among both miners and their respective executives. Internationally, however, his success over his handling of the financial crisis and his diplomatic style was applauded. Unemployment also began to fall as the economy began to expand after a short period of stagnation, despite his often difficult personality, his colleagues managed to continue working with him (mostly due to his popularity).​

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