http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/goodlyfabric/index.php/the...

http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/goodlyfabric/index.php/theaustralian/comments/gillard_gives_away_element_of_surprise/

Julia Gillard’s surprise move to announce the election date now, for September 14th, is a political ploy. In claiming it is all about lifting the level of debate and forcing a focus on policy instead of politicking, she does, ironically, give the game away. It is all about politics.
The Prime Minister made the argument that too much of last year was taken up with the Opposition constantly trying to force an election. So now that she has named the date, she wants a focus on her chosen issues of education and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. But my initial assessment is that this will actually just kick-start a long election campaign…where every announcement and every exchange will be judged in an election context.
It is also hard to resist the observation that an extra motivation for the Prime Minister might have been to consolidate her own position as leader - how could the ALP change leaders when it is locked in an election countdown?
Regardless my guess is that later today the Opposition Leader will call a press conference and suggest that if the Prime Minister really wants to end uncertainty, and allow the country to get on with serious policy, she should call the election immediately.
Certainly, Ms Gillard has given away a key advantage, the element of surprise. She has also, knowingly or not, slated the election for the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur - the day of atonement.