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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312705,00.html
Australian Opposition Party Claims Election Victory Over Top Bush Ally John
Howard
Saturday, November 24, 2007
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.
Australian Opposition Party Claims Election Victory Over Top Bush Ally John
Howard
Saturday, November 24, 2007
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.
