新华网消息 澳大利亚反对党2日推选马克·莱瑟姆为新的工党领导人，希望他能带领工党在明年的大选中击败执政的自由党。

　　莱瑟姆是位联邦众议员。他在92位工党联邦众议员中，获得47票，他的竞争对手、前工党领袖金·比兹利赢得45票。

　　莱瑟姆现年42岁，被认为是工党新一代领导人。工党在1996年失去权力后，因内部纷争，所以在几次大选中未能把权力从自由党人手中夺回来，因此人们预料，莱瑟姆的首要任务是把工党团结起来。莱瑟姆说，他的目的是要恢复所有人的平等。

　　莱瑟姆出生在悉尼郊区一个普通劳动者的家庭，9年前，他研究经济，并竞选议员成功，进入议会。莱瑟姆对一个记者招待会说，“我的目标是将医疗保健、教育、儿童早期发展和公平的服务等梯阶放进机会的阶梯。”

　　路透社说，莱瑟姆曾经在深夜的一次争吵中扭断了一位出租司机的手臂，这件事加强了他成为工党支持力量的形象。莱瑟姆说，“我爱澳大利亚街头流氓这一派人，但不爱粗野。”他还说，“我将尽我最大的努力，保证所有澳大利亚人能够同我和睦相处。”

　　路透社还说，莱瑟姆地位的迅速上升和他领导工党进入2004年的大选，看来没有影响国内的金融市场。而在莱瑟姆担任工党财政事务发言人的5个月时间中，澳大利亚金融界一直关注他在金融方面的主张。

　　预料莱瑟姆将会为了增加医疗保健和教育经费而努力，他还将注意解决诸如住房等与选民有关的问题，因为在过去7年中，澳大利亚的房价涨了一倍。

　　澳大利亚麦夸里银行的战略家里查德·吉布斯认为，在财政政策方面，莱瑟姆不会是个打砸抢主义者，但他将把注意力集中在住房和社会福利等方面，而外交和国防将放在其后。在外交政策方面，莱瑟姆曾经批评美国总统布什是个“危险”的人。

　　莱瑟姆当选工党领导人引发了现任总理霍华德可能提前举行大选的猜测。一些分析家认为，霍华德可能趁莱瑟姆目前缺乏工党领导人经验的大好机会，提前举行大选，争取四连冠。霍华德在民意测验中支持率目前处于领先地位，原因是他对非法移民采取强硬政策，坚决支持美国对恐怖分子发动的战争，以及澳大利亚强劲增长的经济形势。（米奇）REU77953OVR 536 ( AFA CSA LBY RWSA RWS REULB GNS RNA SXNA AU DIP POL ASIA)SP85612AUSTRALIA-POLITICS (UPDATE 2, PICTURE)UPDATE2-Australiasopposition elects new generation leader(Adds quotes,detailsthroughout)By Belinda GoldsmithCANBERRA, Dec 2 (Reuters) -In asurprise result,Australias opposition Labor partyelectedoutspoken lawmakerMark Latham as its new leader on Tuesday,hopinghe will bringunity ahead of polls due next year.Latham -- whooncecalled U.S. President George W. Bushdangerous -- won 47votesfrom Labors 92 federalparliamentarians, while hisrival,front-runner and formerleader Kim Beazley, took 45.Latham,42, isviewed as a new generation leader for thecentre-center partywhichhas been racked by internal bickeringand has struggled togainground on the popular conservativegovernment of Prime MinisterJohnHoward, in power since 1996.He said his aim was to restoreequalityfor allAustralians,shavingshimself been raised inaworking-classsuburb of Sydney before studying economicsandenteringparliament nine years ago.My aim will be to put therungsof healthcare, education,early childhood development,decentservices, backsintosthat他ladder of opportunity, Latham tolda newsconference.But he conceded he would have to tone down hislanguage--rich even by the Australian parliaments standards--havingsidelined some voters with his colourful detions ofHowardandhis government.His image as the brawn behind the party wasenhancedwhenhe broke a taxi drivers arm in a late nightfracas.FISCALLYRESPONSIBLEI love the Australin larrikin (hooligan)side but nomorecrudity, Latham said. I will be doing the best Ican tomakesure all Australians can relate to me.Lathams fastrisethrough the Labor ranks and crack at anelection expected inlate2004 seemed not to affect domesticfinancial markets, whohavewatched him closely during his fivemonths as oppositiontreasuryspokesman.He was expected to campaign on boostinghealthandeducation funding and also address a key concern--housingaffordability -- with Australian home prices doublinginthepast seven years.On the fiscal side, he wont be pronetovandalism and Idexpect him to focus on things that are closertohome andsocial wellbeing than foreign policy and defence,saidRichardGibbs, strategist at Macquarie Bank.But Lathamselectiontriggered some speculation thatHoward could call anearlierelection to seek a fourth term inoffice and take advantageofLathams inexperience as a partyleader and his expecteduphillbattle to win voters.Howard -- who has secured a strong leadinpolls due tohardline stance against illegal immigrants, hisstrongsupportfor the U.S.-led war on terror, and a healthydomesticeconomy-- said the next election would be tough, but Laborwas inapoor state.They are bitterly divided over policy andtheyarebitterly divided over leadership, Howard toldSkyTelevision,but he made no comment on the timing of apossibleelection .The Labor ballot came after incumbent SimonCreanresignedas leader on Friday after losing the support ofhisdemoralisedparty following two years of woeful opinion pollsandhispersonal popularity at rock bottom.REUTERS0325021203GMT2003-12-02 11:24:562003-12-02 11:26:513440（来源：新华网专稿）