Australian PM used 'bribes' to win, says press

Australia's first woman prime minister Julia Gillard used "electoral bribes" to claw her way back into power with the support of independent MPs, media said Wednesday.

"The Big Steal" roared the front page of Rupert Murdoch's Daily Telegraph, alongside a cartoon of a bruised and battered Gillard, saying her Labor party won fewer votes than the conservative opposition.

Gillard earned her second chance at power on Tuesday with the backing of two rural "kingmaker" MPs, ending 17 days of deadlock after August 21 polls delivered a hung parliament.

"Essentially this is a government held together with electoral bribes," the paper, which had supported Abbott said, referring to the $9 billion rural health package Gillard struck with the pair, along with the offer of a senior government post for one of them.

Gillard becomes the first leader of a minority government in Australia since World War II after bringing together an unlikely group of lawmakers - a Greens MP, a former Iraq whistleblower, and the two country independents.

But the flame-haired Gillard was only able to hold off her challenger Tony Abbott due to the self-interest of rural independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor, conservative broadsheet The Australian said in an editorial.

"The minority government may not be in the national interest, but it is undeniably in the interests of the independents," The Australian said, claiming they backed Gillard because she was less likely to call early polls.

The Sydney Morning Herald, which had urged the re-election of the Labor government ahead of the election, also said the independents sided with Gillard because they were keen to prolong their pivotal role in national politics.

"Like an insecure lover seeking an emotionally needy partner, Windsor has found happiness in a dependent government," commentator Peter Hartcher wrote.

For the Australian Financial Review, like the Herald a Fairfax Media newspaper, the result was the "worst possible outcome".

"Australians should be concerned at the outcome of the election," its editorial said.

"It is no recipe for the unpopular reforms that are needed to revive productivity and keep Australia competitive in an increasingly challenging world."

Meanwhile advertisers were quick to take advantage of the events.

"About cluckin' time!" said a full-page newspaper ad for chicken restaurant Nandos, while accommodation website wotif.com's advert read: "Enough about seats! Let's talk beds".

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