PM announces November 24 poll
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Updated
Prime Minister John Howard has announced Australia will go to the polls on November 24.
Mr Howard launched the election campaign after visiting Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery, earlier today.
He says in the weeks ahead people must decide who is most able to not only to preserve Australia's prosperity, but build it to make sure it is fairly spread.
"Is it a Government that has a proven track record in those areas? Or is it an inexperienced group of men and women, 70 per cent of whom are former trade union officials?" he said.
"The right leadership has the experience to further expand the the prosperity of the Australian economy.
"The right leadership is the leadership that's willing to take unpopular decisions in the short-term that have a long-term benefit for the Australian community.
"This country does not need new leadership, it doesn't need old leadership. It needs the right leadership."
Mr Howard says he is committed to ensuring full employment.
"That 33-year low [of 4.2 per cent unemployment] can go lower with the right policies. There is no reason why the current unemployment can't go lower," he said.
He also highlighted plans to enforce national security, Australia's interests overseas, and address climate change and water shortages.
Responding to questions regarding his comments this week on Indigenous reconciliation, Mr Howard says "we still have a long way to go".
"I have always wanted to achieve reconciliation," he said.
"What I believe the NT intervention has done, is provide a remarkable and a fortuitous opportunity.
"Not only do you have to unite conservative and progressive Australia, you've got to unite the symbolic with the practical."
Future government
Mr Howard says if re-elected, Peter Costello will remain as Treasurer and Alexander Downer as Foreign Minister.
He says voters cannot rely on the same commitment from Kevin Rudd regarding potential future ministers.
"You all know if Mr Rudd was to win, Mr [Robert] McClelland would not be his minister for foreign affairs," he said.
Mr Howard says there is "nothing balanced" about a federal Labor government and state Labor governments.
"We will have a Labor Govt in power at every level in Australia for the first time since Federation. There is nothing balanced about that."
Federal Parliament still needs to be formally dissolved for the election campaign.
The election is likely to be fought in the key areas of health, education, the economy, but also climate change and national security.
Other state-based issues will also likely play big roles, for example the approval of the Gunns pulp mill and Mersey Hospital takeover in Tasmania and local council amalgamations in Queensland.
The Labor Party needs to win an extra 16 seats outright to claim a majority government.
The Coalition has had a string of poor opinion polls, a recent Newspoll showed Labor with an election-winning lead over the Coalition, with 56 per cent of the vote after preferences, compared with 44 per cent for the Government.
John Howard
Le Premier ministre australien, John Howard, a annoncé que les élections fédérales australiennes de 2007 se tiendront le 24 novembre 2007. John Howard s'était rendu chez le Gouverneur général d'Australie Michael Jeffery plus tôt dans la journée puis a annoncé la nouvelle.

John Howard, Premier ministre australien depuis plus de 10 ans maintenant, a indiqué que les  pour le pays, mais seulement si la  est au pouvoir.

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John Howard a aussi précisé que si son parti, le Parti libéral est reconduit au Gouvernement, Peter Costello deviendra Trésorier d'Australie (ministre de l'Économie) et Alexander Downer continuera à assurer les fonctions de ministre des Affaires étrangères.

Le Premier ministre a annoncé que les arrêts seront publiés le 17 octobre. Ainsi, suivant les modifications récentes du code électoral, les Australiens auront jusqu'à jusqu'à cette date pour vérifier qu'ils sont sur les listes électorales et capables de voter. Voter est obligatoire dans les élections fédérales australiennes.