Prime Minister Kevin Rudd hopes world leaders attending the Group of 20 summit in the United States this week will take advantage of the ''robust'' spirit of cooperation and develop a model for sustainable growth after the global recession.
But, he conceded, the meeting on Thursday and Friday would be tough with governments needing to look beyond the emergency measures taken at the G20 in London in April.
As Mr Rudd turns his attentions to issues abroad, back home his political footing remains sound. In today's Newspoll, Labor is ahead of the Coalition 55-45 on a two-party preferred basis, the same as a fortnight ago. Mr Rudd also leads Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull as preferred prime minister, 65-17.
In New York, Mr Rudd said the world needed a ''new, sustainable growth model for the future'' to reduce ''massive financial imbalances'' between consumer-driven economies in the West and developing economies in the East.
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times