Australian media if not predictable has dubbed it a "Ruddslide", with Kevin Rudd leading the Australian Labor Party out of 11 years in opposition and will form the next federal government taking the lower house from Howard's conservative coalition. Mr Rudd giving a victory speech in Brisbane, shortly after John Howard conceded in Sydney.
In a suprise result, and at this stage very under reported, the Senate is dead locked. Labor is not in complete control of the Federal Government and will have to rely on at least one right leaning Senator to abstain or vote with Labor to pass legislation. An Explanation of how this may play out after the turn.
John Howard has lost his own seat of Bennelong, Maxine McKew the new Labor member has 51.1% of the two party preferred vote. John Howard's humiliation has only been expericed by one other sitting Prime Minister.
ABC Online Coverage (Many Links And Info)
As the 26th Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd has made his victory speech, praising the outgoing PM Mr Howard and wishing him and his family the best for the future.
He reinforced the themes of the party's election campaign, "to make a better future with new leadership". He acknowledged that many people had voted Labor for the first time today, and that he would not take "their sacred trust for granted".
Making a promise as Prime Minister for all Australians, with special reference to Aboriginals, Immigrants and rural Australians who face the worst drought in a decade. He also mentioned those serving in the Australian Defense Forces overseas.
Mr Rudd outlined the challenges facing the nation, wanting to put away the "old battle betweens Business and Labor, Growth and the Environment" and that in government he would work on improving education, broadband infrastructure and get the balance right between business and workers.
Labor now hold power in all states and the federal government, and Mr Rudd promised to end State vs Federal Government fighting.
The speech highlighted Labor's policy of keeping the economy growing in the interest of working families, and national security strong. He said new Ideas were needed to approach these challenges.
Mr Rudd promised that he would engage Australia's friends and allies overseas to work together on security and the environment, making special mention of the United States, even though he has promised to pull Australian combat troops out of Iraq by mid 2008.
He told the members of his party to get ready to work tommorow, and write a new page in "this great nations history".
Part Text of Mr Rudd's Speech.
"Today Australia has looked to the future," he said. "Today the Australian people have decided that we as a nation will move forward."
"We should celebrate and honour the way we conduct this great Australian democracy of ours, and it's been on display tonight," he said.
"I want to publicly recognise Mr Howard's contribution to public service in Australia.
"There are big differences between us but we share a common pride in this great nation, Australia and I wish Mr and Mrs Howard and their family all the very best for the future."
Full report of Mr Rudd's Speech
Earlier John Howard conceded a Labor victory and the loss of his seat of Bennelong. In a speech at the Wentworth Hotel in Sydney, he stated he was leaving the leadership and stated his wish that the Liberal Party room hand it to Peter Costello his Treasurer.
While wishing Kevin Rudd well, he claimed to have delivered a nation that is stronger, prouder and richer than the one he took over 11 years ago. His statement focused on the strong economy and the Intervention in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, and stressed on the Labor party to continue those policies. He took full responsibility for the loss of the election.
Part Text of Mr Howard's speech.
"This is a great democracy and I want to wish Mr Rudd well.
"There is no prouder job in the world that anyone can occupy than being prime minister of this country."
Mr Howard acknowledged that the speech was being delivered "at the end of my political career".
"I take full responsibility for this campaign and I therefore accept full reponsibility for the defeat in this election,"
Predictions put the Labor majority at 86 Seats in the 150 seat House of Reps. A swing of 5.8% has given Labor 53% of the two party preferred, which is in line with the Sky News Exit Poll issued an hour before polls closed.
The Snap Shot
The House of Reps.
Liberal/Nationals Coalition 62
Labor 86
Independents 2
Senate Results after July 08
Liberal/Nationals Coalition 37
Labor 32
The Greens 5
Family First 1
Nick Xenophon 1
Senate Explanation:
The Liberal/National Coalition will be in control of the Senate until July as this is a Senate Half election and their terms are fixed for 6 full years, unlike the house of reps, thanks to neroden for this comment about how this affects Labor control of the Government, this is where Australian Government becomes confusing.
From what I can tell Xenophon is strongly left-leaning on environmental issues and on consumer protection, and mildly left-leaning on most other issues. He is rather outspoken and has hard-to-categorize views so on specific issues he might prove a problem for Labor.
However, even with all the Greens and Xenophon, Labor still only has half of the Senate. And Family First is very much right-leaning, and "horrified" of the Greens, so will probably back the Coalition all the time.
There's no tiebreaking procedure for the Senate; on ties, motions fail. So the Coalition + FamilyFirst can obstruct anything if they want to.
They might decide not to do so for popular legislation (perhaps by the Coalition authorizing 'defections'), because if they act really bad Rudd could call for a double dissolution, causing the reeelection of the whole Senate (as well as a whole nother general election for the House), and likely knocking the Coalition out of their blocking position (since the Coalition would be expected to lose seats; they currently only have as many as they do due to continuing Senators from the last election).
One last comment from a very happy, may be drunk happy, diary writer, now we have labor back in power, can we get Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert back on air, I mean what will I watch now the election here is over, I support the writers, but can we get a exception? Ok I'm going to sleep.