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Australia has a new government - bonza

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[quote:Anonymous Coward 300229]
-Bush Ally Toppled in Australia-

SYDNEY, Australia  —  Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd appeared set for a sweeping victory in Australia's elections Saturday, ending a conservative era and ushering in major changes to policies on global warming and the Iraq war.

The win handed outgoing Prime Minister John Howard a humiliating end to a career in which he became Australia's second-longest serving leader — and who had appeared almost unassailable as little as a year ago.

Potentially adding insult to injury, Howard was among government lawmakers in danger of losing his seat in Parliament — a result that would make him only the second sitting prime minister in 106 years of federal government to be dumped from the legislature.

Official figures from the Australian Electoral Commission showed Labor far in front with more than 60 percent of the ballots counted. Using those figures, an Australian Broadcasting Corp. analysis showed that Labor would get at least 81 places in the 150- seat lower house of Parliament — a clear majority.

"On the numbers we've seen tonight, Labor is going to form a government," deputy Labor leader Julia Gillard said on ABC television.

Howard was expected to concede defeat later Saturday, before Rudd would formally claim victory.

Howard's four straight election victories and 11 years in power make him one of Australia's most successful politicians. He has presided over an unprecedented economic boom, fueled by demand from China and India for coal and other resources dug from Australia's Outback.

But, at 68, Howard has suffered widespread perceptions that he has stayed too long.

Rudd, a 50-year-old former diplomat who speaks fluent Chinese, says Howard is ill-equipped to deal with new challenges like global warming and a high-speed Internet network.

He has said his first priority if he is elected will be to sign the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions, something Howard has refused for years to do.

Rudd also says he would withdraw Australia's 550 combat troops from Iraq, leaving twice that number in mostly security roles. Howard says all the troops will stay as long as needed.

Howard was one of U.S. President George W. Bush's staunchest allies, and reshaped Australia's image abroad with his unwavering support for Bush's war against terrorism.

Australia's foreign relations are not expected to change much if Rudd wins, however.

Mark Apthorpe, a 24-year-old information technology worker who lives in Howard's district of Bennelong, said that he was happy with the way the economy was being managed — but that he voted for Labor anyway because it was time for a change.

"Johnnie's said a few things that he has gone back on," Apthorpe said of Howard. "He's been around a long time, and he'll be gone in 18 months anyway."

Howard earlier this year announced plans to retire within about two years if he won the election, sparking claims of arrogance.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312705,00.html
[/quote]

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http://vtr.aec.gov.au/Default.htm

Polls closed here (my part of OZ) about 2 hrs ago and already Labour has trounced the Coalition and it looks like poor Johnny might lose his own seat of Bennelong.

Better start packing your bags Johnny.

Wonder how King George is going to take the news.

Labor sweeps to victory

ABC elections analyst Antony Green is predicting Labor will return to power after 11 years of Coalition government with a 20-seat majority.

The ABC elections computer predicts 85 seats for Labor in the new Parliament.

"At this stage we are looking like 85 seats for Labor, and that gives Labor a majority of 20 seats at this stage," Mr Green said.

"Now there may be a bit of moving up and down on that but at this stage that is settling down.

If Labor starts to slip behind in a few Queensland seats then maybe Western Australia will matter, but at this stage it's continuing to track towards a Labor government."

"The picture I'm seeing is that the Government is behind in everything," he added.

"We've got them [Labor] gaining 16 - I'm always prepared to say that's up or down two - but they're also ahead in six other seats which we still class as doubtful which were Liberal-held," he said.

"So that's why on this sort of basis - this is a probability-based exercise - they're not going to suddenly turn around in those."

Labor's deputy leader Julia Gillard says Labor has all but won.

"On the numbers we're seeing tonight, Labor is going to form a government," she said.

With counting underway in Queensland, Labor is polling strongly in leader Kevin Rudd's home state, strengthening its position.

Prime Minister John Howard is facing a battle to keep his seat of Bennelong.

Labor's Maxine McKew has led since counting began, but the two-party preferred count is neck and neck.

The Coalition also looks set to lose the bellweather seat of Eden-Monaro.

Former prime minister Bob Hawke has told Sky TV that Labor has won.

But Defence Minister Brendan Nelson is still reluctant to concede that the election is lost.

"It is looking very difficult for the government," Mr Nelson said. "It doesn't look as if it's going all that well for us in Queensland."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/24/2100247.htm

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