Australia elects a new leader
According to Sky News Prime Minister John Howard has been defeated in Australia’s latest election:
Written by SueAustralia’s opposition Labor Party has claimed victory in the national elections, ending 11 years of John Howard’s Conservative government, the party’s deputy leader has said.
Rudd (r) likely to succeed HowardJulia Gillard told Australian television: “On the numbers we are seeing tonight Labor is going to form a government.”
A Sky News Australia exit poll predicted that Prime Minister John Howard has lost his bid for a fifth successive term in power.
The Conservative leader was trailing in opinion polls behind opposition Labor leader Kevin Rudd.
The Sky exit poll of 31 marginal government seats forecast a 30-seat gain for Rudd, more than enough for him to form a Government.
The poll of 2,787 voters by Auspoll gave Labor 53% of the vote and the ruling Liberal party 47%.
