No, we have not forgotten our Aussies Guppies.
The Federal Election in Australia will be held on Saturday 9 October 2004.
I request guppies from Australia in particular to keep this thread alive by posting relevant material. Thanks
Here are some relevant threads.
Howard Maintains Lead In Australia
1:05 pm PST, 3 October 2004
Australia’s ruling Liberal-National coalition is clinging to its lead as the nation moves into the last week of its federal election campaign.
The latest of a regular series of opinion polls done for the Sydney Morning Herald shows the coalition ahead of Labor, 52-percent to 48 percent on a two-party basis.
The poll sampled 1,397 voters and was carried out by AC Nielsen.
If translated into seats, it would give the coalition an eight-seat margin in the House of Representatives.
The poll also reveals Green support in the Senate more than doubling, mainly at a cost to Labor and the Democrats.
down with the liberals 
i forgot to enrol 
and our new prime minister is…
JOHN howard
[thumb=H]john12804_2353242.JPG[/thumb]
like i care :rolleyes:
SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) – Australia has returned incumbent Prime Minister John Howard for a fourth consecutive term of government, probably with an increased majority in the Parliament.
At a rally for his supporters at a Sydney hotel on Saturday, Howard claimed victory.
“I am truly humbled by this extraordinary expression of confidence in the leadership of this great nation by the coalition,” he said.
Main Opposition leader Mark Latham had earlier conceded defeat. “A short time ago I spoke to Mr. Howard and I congratulated him and his family,” Latham said.
“Tonight is not our night.”
The coalition looks set to win at least 80 seats in the 150 seat governing House of Representatives.
The victory is a sweeping endorsement for Howard’s conservative coalition government.
A Howard triumph may give some comfort to fellow “coalition of the willing” allies, George W. Bush and Britain’s Tony Blair, both facing imminent election – Bush on November 2 and Blair possibly in May next year.
In Australia, Iraq has by no means been a key election issue – despite a major clash of policies on the issue.
Howard has been a steadfast supporter of the U.S. action Iraq and committed 2,000 troops to the invasion.
Latham had been opposed to Australia’s involvement in Iraq and had vowed to bring the remaining 900 troops base in Iraq home by the end of the year if he won government.
But this election has not been fought on the Iraq issue, mainly because Australia’s commitment has been largely symbolic and no casualties have been recorded.
While a majority of Australians may be opposed to involvement in the war, it has not proven to be a strong enough issue to change voting patterns.
The Howard campaign has focussed strongly on its economic record, having presided over years of prosperity in Australia.
Equally, the government has hammered a simple message: That interest rates would go up under a Labor administration.
Those tactics have clearly paid off.
The campaign also hinged on personalities, with Howard seen as a colorless but a reliable steward of the economy, and Latham perceived as young and energetic, but also inexperienced and sometimes undisciplined.
The victorious Howard is expected to hand over the prime ministership to his long-serving Treasurer Peter Costello some time before the next election.
For Latham, a loss will not likely be the end of his political career.
At just 43 and having led Labor for less than a year, it is expected he would remain as opposition leader, set to do it all again in 2007.
ONe of the worst racists I have ever seen!
Australian PM wins fourth term
Australian Prime Minister John Howard acknowledges his win, 9 Oct 2004
Mr Howard has won a fourth consecutive term in office
Australia's Prime Minister John Howard says he is "humbled" after winning a fourth term in office.
With 70% of the votes counted in Saturday's election, results indicate Mr Howard's Liberal-National coalition has won an easy majority over Labor.
While the election was largely fought on domestic issues, it was also watched abroad because of divisions over Iraq.
Mr Howard supported the war, but his rival Mark Latham had pledged to bring Australian troops home if he won.
In the United States, President Bush congratulated "my good friend Prime Minister John Howard, who won a great victory".
In claiming victory, a beaming Mr Howard told his supporters: "I am truly humbled by this extraordinary expression of confidence in the leadership of this great nation by the coalition."
In winning his fourth successive term, Mr Howard is on track to become Australia's second-longest serving leader after Robert Menzies, Mr Howard's political hero.
Gains for Howard
Opinion polls before the election predicted that the outcome would be close, but as soon as the first results came in, it was clear that Mr Latham's chances did not look good.
PREDICTED LOWER HOUSE SEATS
Lib-Nat coalition: 87 ( + 5 from previous election)
Labor: 60 seats (- 2)
Independents: 3 seats ( -1)
[Figures from ABC computerised predictions]
Live results (ABC)
Have your say
He lost two seats in Tasmania, and failed to make up the ground as votes came in from other parts of the country.
Computer projections suggest Mr Howard's coalition could win 87 seats out of a total of 150 up for grabs in the lower House of Representatives, a five-seat increase from the outgoing parliament.
The Liberal-National partnership also looks set to gain ground in the 76-member Senate, where Labor and its allies previously held a majority.
"Tonight was not our night," Mr Latham told a crowd of Labor supporters at his constituency in suburban Sydney.
But he vowed to fight on, saying: "I have had a lot of people say that we have made the opposition strong, and when there is a strong opposition, Australian democracy is so much stronger."
Voting is compulsory in Australia, and people from all walks of life turned out to cast their ballots on Saturday.
Mark Latham conceding defeat, 9 October
Mark Latham said: 'Tonight was not our night.'
One man in Sydney even cast his vote wearing just a swimming suit, and then walked straight back to the beach.
Mr Howard voted in the Sydney suburb of Bennelong, where he faced a handful of demonstrators shouting "Liar, liar".
Mr Latham also voted in Sydney. Despite the later disappointment, he started his day on a positive note, winning a local raffle. His prize was a tray of meat.
"It's good to be a winner at 1030 on Saturday," he joked.
Campaign themes
Both candidates made the economy a central issue to their campaigns, vowing to keep interest rates low and the budget in surplus.
Mr Howard has presided over a period of great prosperity, and voters appear to have thought that Mr Latham was too inexperienced, and could jeopardise the country's booming economic performance, according to the BBC's correspondent in Sydney, Phil Mercer.
The issue which gained most international attention was the war on Iraq.
John Howard's conservative government vowed to keep Australia's 850 troops in the Gulf indefinitely, while Mr Latham said he would withdraw them by Christmas.
Bravo, Australia! 
hes racist for sure…
bloody b*tch won again :o
I hope he stops in one year :o
Australian PM sets out priorities
Australian Prime Minister John Howard has said national security and the economy will be priorities for his fourth term in office.
After the success of his conservative coalition in Saturday’s election, Mr Howard confirmed he would keep Australian troops in and around Iraq.
Australia has 900 troops stationed in the Gulf on non-combat missions.
The prime minister also pledged to keep the economy strong, and to continue cooperation “against terrorism”.
The BBC’s Phil Mercer in Sydney says Mr Howard is also expected to pursue closer trade and defence ties with Australia’s South East Asian neighbours.
We are not going to use this somewhat better position in a capricious or disruptive fashion
John Howard
In the first news conference of his fourth term, Mr Howard said the strong mandate his National-Liberal coalition received would not lead to radical change.
“We’re not going to allow this enhanced position to go to our heads,” he told reporters on Monday.
“That would be a big mistake and the Australian public would not appreciate it,” he added.
Trade
During the election campaign the prime minister promised to improve his country’s anti-terrorism efforts across South East Asia.
Mark Latham conceding defeat, 9 October
Mark Latham is expected to remain at the head of the Labor party
They include plans to deploy squads of Australian police officers in neighbouring countries and to establish a joint intelligence training centre.
Our correspondent says trade is also expected to be a key feature of the re-elected Howard government.
Trade agreements have already been signed with the United States, Singapore, and Thailand. Similar deals with China and Malaysia may follow.
On the domestic front, the administration is expected to try to overhaul industrial legislation to reduce the power of trade unions.
It is also planning to sell off the government’s remaining multi-billion dollar share in Australia’s national telecommunications network.
Prosperity
The National-Liberal coalition was returned to office with an increased majority in the lower house, as well as a possible 38-seat blocking majority in the senate.
The final results are not expected until later this month, owing to a complex voting system.
Mr Howard has presided over a period of great prosperity - a key advantage in the election given the inexperience of the Labor opposition leader, Mark Latham.
Mr Latham said he wanted to remain Labor leader, despite criticism of his campaign.
Without being political...anyone who gets elected four times is doing something right either personally or Politically...right or wrong.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Talha: *
Without being political...anyone who gets elected four times is doing something right either personally or Politically...right or wrong.
[/QUOTE]
Interesting....so if Berllusconi gets elected yrs and yrs then I have to accept the fact that something right is with either his personality or the job he is doing.
Very Interesting.
Re: and our new prime minister is....
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by *~~BoReD-iN-BrIsBaNe~~: *
But this election has not been fought on the Iraq issue, mainly because Australia's commitment has been largely symbolic and no casualties have been recorded.
[/QUOTE]
Even a fraction of US casulaties, would have changed votes.