The polls over the last year have been suggesting Labor under Kevin Rudd will win this election, ending John Howard’s 11 year period as Prime Minister (Australia’s second longest serving Prime Minister) and 11 years of government by the Liberal/National Coalition. Over the last week, and the last day or so, polls have started suggesting the result will be much closer, and that the election is winnable by the Coalition. But we basically have to wait and see. Polls can be right. They can be very wrong.
Here’s the situation.
Australia has two Houses of Parliament - the House of Representatives and the Senate. All House seats have gone to the polls today in a general election, and the government is the party or coalition of parties that controls the House of Representatives, and their leader is the Prime Minister.
There are 150 seats, so winning 76 seats means you can govern in your own right.
There are three main parties - two of these, the Liberals and Nationals are in coalition - they are the current government and are conservative. The opposition is Labor.
There are minor parties, but to determine government, we look at these three.
Thanks for posting... past bedtime over here, will check out in the morning.
John Howard bump!
To our Aussie brothers and sisters,
we will support you no matter what!
It’s sad to read this, but thanks for keeping us informed. P.M. Howard has been a good friend to the USA, and we appreciate it.