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| Labor claims Australia poll win | Labor claims Australia poll win |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Labor Party has claimed victory in Australia's election, after early vote counts suggested Prime Minister John Howard had lost his parliamentary seat. | The Labor Party has claimed victory in Australia's election, after early vote counts suggested Prime Minister John Howard had lost his parliamentary seat. |
| "On the numbers we are seeing tonight Labor is going to form a government," said Labor deputy leader Julia Gillard. | "On the numbers we are seeing tonight Labor is going to form a government," said Labor deputy leader Julia Gillard. |
| She was one of several Labor figures to claim victory, although leader Kevin Rudd has yet to make a statement. | She was one of several Labor figures to claim victory, although leader Kevin Rudd has yet to make a statement. |
| Mr Howard was bidding for a fifth term in office, but tallies indicated his Sydney seat had been lost to Labor. | Mr Howard was bidding for a fifth term in office, but tallies indicated his Sydney seat had been lost to Labor. |
| Participating in elections is compulsory under Australian law and more than 13.5 million people were expected to vote. | Participating in elections is compulsory under Australian law and more than 13.5 million people were 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 |
| If unseated, Mr Howard would be only the second prime minister in Australia's history to suffer such a fate. | If unseated, Mr Howard would be only the second prime minister in Australia's history to suffer such a fate. |
| Voters in Bennelong have elected Mr Howard in 13 consecutive elections over 33 years. | Voters in Bennelong have elected Mr Howard in 13 consecutive elections over 33 years. |
| But figures from the electoral commission suggested with more than 50% of the votes counted in Bennelong, he had lost the seat to Maxine McKew, a former TV journalist. | But figures from the electoral commission suggested with more than 50% of the votes counted in Bennelong, he had lost the seat to Maxine McKew, a former TV journalist. |
| An exit poll conducted by Sky News and Channel 7 suggested a similar result. | An exit poll conducted by Sky News and Channel 7 suggested a similar result. |
| Earlier, Liberal leader Mr Howard braved the rain and the taunts of opposition activists as he voted in his constituency | Earlier, Liberal leader Mr Howard braved the rain and the taunts of opposition activists as he voted in his constituency |
| "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 Mr Rudd, has been out in front throughout the election campaign. | The man he has to beat, 50-year-old former diplomat Mr 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," Mr Rudd said as he cast his ballot in 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," Mr Rudd said as he cast his ballot in his Queensland constituency. |
| 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 class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7110621.stm">Election in pictures | |
| During the campaign, Labor sought to capitalise on the Howard administration's refusal to sign the Kyoto protocol on climate change. | During the campaign, Labor sought to capitalise on the Howard administration's refusal to sign the Kyoto protocol on climate change. |
| Mr Howard campaigned on his record of sound economic management. | Mr Howard campaigned on his record of sound economic management. |
| Opinion polls during election day suggested Mr Howard was clawing back some ground, but the BBC's Nick Bryant, in Sydney, says the electorate was still in mutinous mood. | Opinion polls during election day suggested Mr Howard was clawing back some ground, but the BBC's Nick Bryant, in Sydney, says the electorate was still in mutinous mood. |
| Many people seemed to be simply tired of Mr Howard after 11 years of his rule, our correspondent says. And his workplace reforms appeared to have alienated the aspirational working class voters who have long supported him. | Many people seemed to be simply tired of Mr Howard after 11 years of his rule, our correspondent says. And his workplace reforms appeared to have alienated the aspirational working class voters who have long supported him. |