This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7109692.stm
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Australians vote to choose leader | Australians vote to choose leader |
| (28 minutes later) | |
| Votes are being cast in Australia in a general election which will decide the fate of the country's second-longest serving prime minister, John Howard. | |
| The Liberal leader, in power for 11 years, is bidding for a historic fifth term. But opinion polls suggest he will be defeated by Labor's Kevin Rudd. | The Liberal leader, in power for 11 years, is bidding for a historic fifth term. But opinion polls suggest he will be defeated by Labor's Kevin Rudd. |
| The opposition needs a huge swing to gain it the 16 seats required to form a majority government. | The opposition needs a huge swing to gain it the 16 seats required to form a majority government. |
| Participating in elections is compulsory under Australian law. | Participating in elections is compulsory under Australian law. |
| More than 13.5 million people are expected to vote. | More than 13.5 million people are expected to vote. |
| AUSTRALIAN ELECTION More than 13.5m of Australia's roughly 21m people are registered to voteElectors will choose candidates for all 150 seats in the lower House of Representatives and 40 of the 76 seats in the upper house, the SenatePM John Howard has led the conservative Liberal-National party coalition to four election wins since 1996 and is seeking a final termKevin Rudd is taking the centre-left Labor Party to the polls for the first time as leaderElection issues are the economy, environment and war in Iraq Profile: John Howard Profile: Kevin Rudd Voters' panel | AUSTRALIAN ELECTION More than 13.5m of Australia's roughly 21m people are registered to voteElectors will choose candidates for all 150 seats in the lower House of Representatives and 40 of the 76 seats in the upper house, the SenatePM John Howard has led the conservative Liberal-National party coalition to four election wins since 1996 and is seeking a final termKevin Rudd is taking the centre-left Labor Party to the polls for the first time as leaderElection issues are the economy, environment and war in Iraq Profile: John Howard Profile: Kevin Rudd Voters' panel |
| Mr Howard braved the rain and the taunts of opposition activists as he voted in his constituency of Bennelong in Sydney. | Mr Howard braved the rain and the taunts of opposition activists as he voted in his constituency of Bennelong in Sydney. |
| "I hope we will win. I believe we will win. It is in the hands of my fellow Australians," he told reporters. | "I hope we will win. I believe we will win. It is in the hands of my fellow Australians," he told reporters. |
| The man he has to beat, 50-year-old former diplomat Kevin Rudd, has been out in front throughout the election campaign. | The man he has to beat, 50-year-old former diplomat Kevin Rudd, has been out in front throughout the election campaign. |
| "I have to say there is a strong mood for change in Australia. People want new leadership with a positive plan for the future," he said as he cast his ballot in the hot sunshine of his Queensland constituency. | "I have to say there is a strong mood for change in Australia. People want new leadership with a positive plan for the future," he said as he cast his ballot in the hot sunshine of his Queensland constituency. |
| Labor has sought to capitalise on the government's refusal to sign the Kyoto protocol on climate change. | Labor has sought to capitalise on the government's refusal to sign the Kyoto protocol on climate change. |
| Mr Howard has campaigned on his record of sound economic management. | Mr Howard has campaigned on his record of sound economic management. |
| The BBC's Nick Bryant, in Sydney, says Mr Howard has had a career full of unlikely comebacks - but rescuing this election would be by far the most remarkable. | The BBC's Nick Bryant, in Sydney, says Mr Howard has had a career full of unlikely comebacks - but rescuing this election would be by far the most remarkable. |
| What has struck me most is the number of people who've started their sentences with the words 'I used to vote for John Howard, but...' Nick Bryant BBC News in Sydney Read Nick's thoughts in full | What has struck me most is the number of people who've started their sentences with the words 'I used to vote for John Howard, but...' Nick Bryant BBC News in Sydney Read Nick's thoughts in full |
| On Friday, three separate polls put Mr Rudd in the lead, but with greatly differing margins. | On Friday, three separate polls put Mr Rudd in the lead, but with greatly differing margins. |
| An AC Nielsen poll put Labor 14 points ahead, while a Morgan survey put the figure at nine points. A Galaxy poll gave Mr Rudd's party a four-point lead - the best figure for the ruling coalition in months. | An AC Nielsen poll put Labor 14 points ahead, while a Morgan survey put the figure at nine points. A Galaxy poll gave Mr Rudd's party a four-point lead - the best figure for the ruling coalition in months. |
| Labor needs a swing of 4.8% of the vote to capture the seats it needs to form a government. | Labor needs a swing of 4.8% of the vote to capture the seats it needs to form a government. |
| Analysts have suggested the race could come down to results in key marginal constituencies, including Mr Howard's own seat in Bennelong. | Analysts have suggested the race could come down to results in key marginal constituencies, including Mr Howard's own seat in Bennelong. |