Whoo hoooo! Only two more days to go and we will be rid of the hundreds of election ads on TV and the constant news coverage of the election.

And it's pretty much a certainty that we'll be rid of John Howard as well.

I really don't think I care either way. My only (very) slight worry with the Labor party is the relationship with the unions but, really, are any of the party's policies THAT different?

Although Labor hasn't stopped bagging the IR laws will they do anything about them?

One thing I predict though is a swing back to the coalition in the State governments.


Just general musings ... I hope Saturday isn't too mucked about for the other Australians by having to go to a polling booth! (I postal vote, mine's already ready to be counted )

I've got a casual job working on the polls as a polling assistant for the Australian Electoral Commission. I've done it before and I really enjoy it.

I'll be doing things like issuing ballot papers to people, acting as a queue controller or ballot box guard, crossing people's names off the electoral roll and helping count up the ballots at the end of the day.

I have already voted, too, as I will be busy all weekend (another Scrabble tourney).

Little Johnny is going to struggle to hold his own seat, let alone the Prime Ministership. The younger voters all seem to be fans of Rudd, and I think that their votes will give him a healthy margin of victory.

The Senate is going to be an interesting mix, too, and hopefully the balance of power is not held by some loony with a single policy (do you remember Harradine?).

Our saturday is going to be extremely busy. I don't know who my parents are voting for but if it was me I would vote for Rudd.

It will be a struggle to get everything done on saturday...we have the Norwood Pageant, shopping, and an archery presentation night.

In 12 hours time, I will hopefully have voted. It's always fun running the gauntlet of the 'it's the last minute! vote for my candidate! have a piece of paper!' people. At the moment I'm more concerned about getting rid of our local MP than the big picture. They are truly useless. And shall remain nameless

Personally, I don't think the Libs will win. However, we'll see.

Howard is behind in Bennelong after early counting. Umm ahhh!

When was the last time a Prime Minister lost his seat?

The last I heard was that Labor was in front by 3-8%

that could be me interpreting the speakers wrong though, but labor is definately in front.

oh yeah - they've got it in the bag but it's interesting to see individual seats now that the big picture is sorted.

I love watching elections on the ABC although Kerry O'Brien looks to be none to happy with the crowd (apparently being jeered by Chaser) or the people who are doing the graphics. Funny to watch.

And contrary to what that previous paragraph suggests: my life isn't really that sad

I can't wait to see what the CHasers make out of the result. Hopefully it wont be "a short and jocular conversation" joke, again.

When is the Chasers run-down on? Is it late tonight or will it be through the week?

Probably through the week, I would think Wednesday as usual.

To answer my own question up there about sitting PMs losing their seat. It's only happened once before to Stanley Bruce in 1929

Wow, that's a long time.

Just watching Howard formally declare he has not only lost his Government but that they will have to elect a new leader.

Didn't concede Bennelong though but if, if, he does keep his seat I doubt he'll be staying there very long.

All I can say if thank God that Mark Latham isn't the new leader and that he imploded before this - that would have been unbearable to watch him win an election.

Interesting - Eden-Monaro - the bell weather seat didn't break its trend and again went to the government.

How big was the Green vote in the lower house? Quite an obvious protest vote in some electorates. I'll be interested to see how they fare in the Senate.

Well it`s goodbye to Prime Minister Howard and the Liberal party.

The economic and social disaster that I`m predicting will happen wont be too far into the future now that the union dominated Labor party has won.

Here is what I believe Australia can look forward to in the coming months and years. High unemployment.High inflation.High interest rates.Families losing their homes.A higher crime rate.More suicides.Government corruption on a scale not seen in Australia.

Oh well the people have spoken. I`m glad that I own my house and have enough funds to ride out the storm but I feel for those that are not in a similar position. Start saving your money people,you are really going to need it.

You sound like my other half, Roos! I dont' think it will be that bad but I do worry about the economic side of it and being in a country area will the Labor party give as much drought assistance as the coalition did? And I also wonder how the Aboriginal policy will go too. Being on crown leased land here it's a small worry as well.

I'm in Calare electorate which went 60% to the Nationals and about two steps to the west is Farrer which was the same win to the Libs so it wasn't us that let you down.

For the Libs to get any chance to get back in next time around I think they have to shelve Costello's plan on being leader - he's a number cruncher not a leader. (although in his speech there last night - if he came across like that all the time he would have a much better public profile) They have to put Malcom Turnbull in and give him the leadership for a good while before the next election, not just a couple months before when they work out that Costello really doesn't come across as a nice bloke.

So. All the things have Labor have been dead against the last ten years ... will they do anything about them?

Will they change IR laws?
Will they change the GST system?
Will they say 'sorry'?
and so on.

How long does the PM stay in office there? Or is an election called at any time? Every so many years or what?

Well, I had 15 seconds of fame last night. Although I wasn't in a position to see it, being hard at work on the polls, I believe I was on television last night. The ABC/Channel 2 came down to our polling place and filmed me crossing people's names off the electoral rolls and issuing them their ballot papers. Then our local Labour candidate came down to place her vote so they filmed me processing her.

In answer to your question Jar, they serve a three year term here but basically they can call an election whenever they feel the time is best for them. I prefer the American system (a set date every four years). It would cost the poor taxpayer a lot less that way!

How can an economy said to be strong when even people who are working can hardly afford to rent a house let alone buy one?
i just hope that education will become more attainable and equitable for all levels of society again.

I usually avoid talking politics because, even though I am interested, I feel that I don't really know enough about the subject to be able to argue intelligently.

However, in my humble opinion, Labour didn't so much win this election, as the Liberals lost it. They lost it primarily because of the IR laws and Work Choices.

Traditionally, in the post-Menzies era, the Liberals had enough support amongst the conservative working class to make the difference - statistically about half the Liberal vote. The stats also show that 40% of trade union members, 50% of skilled workers and 35% of unskilled and semi-skilled workers vote Liberal. But because of the IR laws and Work Choices, Howard lost some of that support and that 5-10% made all the difference. Those were the people who lost their jobs unfairly for "operational reasons" and the people who took a huge drop in income because of the loss of penalty rates, and their friends and relatives who saw the reality that it could happen to them too.

I am neither Labour nor Liberal - I am a "swinging voter". I voted Labour this time for a number of reasons. Firstly, our local Labour candidate does far more for the community than the Liberal candidate. Secondly, because of the IR laws and Work Choices issue which I feel strongly about. And thirdly, because Howard lost my vote a long time ago with his track record of lies. I can't stand liars.

Remember the biggest lie of all?

John Howard: "No, there's no way that a GST will ever be part of our policy."
Journalist: "Never ever?"
John Howard: "Never ever. It's dead. It was killed by the voters in the last election".

(Interview, Tweed Heads Civic Centre, 2 May 1995).

Howard introduced GST in 2000. It truly amazed me that people voted him again after that (in 2001 and 2004). Not because GST is such a bad thing in itself but because of the loss of trust - he swore numerous times that he would never introduce GST and then he did. This is just one instance of the many lies he has told. Why would anyone vote for a politician who is a proven liar? How could you trust him?