Australia Watch 3

From the Wall Street Journal:

Howard Government Suffers Defeat

By Patrick Barta and Rachel Pannett

SYDNEY — Australian Prime Minister John Howard suffered a humiliating defeat in national elections Saturday, according to preliminary results, most likely ending the political career of one Asia’s most enduring conservative leaders and a key ally of U.S. President George W. Bush in the region.

Voters were ready to hand control of the government to Australia’s opposition Labor party, headed by former diplomat Kevin Rudd, who has promised to boost relations with China, pull some troops from Iraq, and re-make Australia as a leader in the global effort to stop global warming. The defeat appears so complete that the 68-year-old Mr. Howard, Australia’s second-longest-serving prime minister, appeared likely to lose his own parliamentary seat, which he has held for 33 years.

With 70% of the votes counted, Labor was on track to win at least 80 of the 150 seats in Parliament’s House of Representatives, where governments are formed, compared with just 60 in the last election in 2004, according to Australian Broadcasting Corp. Full results won’t be known for several days but concessions from the Howard camp are expected before long.