2011~2012年澳大利亚政局发展呈现一种承先启后的过渡时期特征。一方面，吉拉德领导的工党政府继承了前任陆克文政府的许多政策，同时，又加以适当调整。在工党内部经历了周期性的党内“政变”以后，政局逐步走向稳定。另一方面，面临2013年9月的议会选举，工党和反对党联盟党势必围绕一系列重大政策——碳税、矿产资源税、难民问题、外交政策等——展开新一轮的较量。如果联盟党获胜上台，澳大利亚的内政外交政策或许会出现一些新的变数。
Australia's political development during the period of 2011-2012 showed some transitional characteristics. On the one hand, the Gillard government inherited most policies of the former Kevin Rudd administration; on the other hand,they adjusted them at the same time. After the Labour Party suffered periodic inner-party "coup", the political situation had been stabilized gradually. However, confronted with the 2013 parliamentary elections in September, the Labour Party and the opposition party-Alliance Party will continue to dispute over the following policies-carbon tax, mineral resources tax, the refugee problem, foreign policy and other domestic and foreign issues. If the Alliance Party wins the election, there perhaps will be some new variables in the policy choices.
