Howard 'humbled' by historic poll victory

Prime Minister John Howard scored a convincing victory in Australia’s federal election, winning a historic fourth term in a vote that will ensure the country keeps its troops in Iraq for the foreseeable future.

“My fellow Australians … I am truly humbled by this extraordinary expression of confidence in the leadership of this great nation by the coalition,” Howard told cheering supporters of his conservative alliance in Sydney.

“In accepting their charge to lead the nation I rededicate myself and all of my colleagues to the service of the Australian people.”

With more than 77% of votes counted, Howard appeared likely to increase his government’s majority in parliament – exceeding most analysts’ predictions that the result would be very tight.

Labour Party leader Mark Latham earlier conceded defeat before supporters in western Sydney, saying he had called Howard to congratulate him.

“Tonight was not our night,” Latham told the crowd.

The election was widely seen abroad as the first referendum for the three leaders who launched the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, with United States President George W Bush facing a ballot next month and Prime Minister Tony Blair probably facing voters next year.

“I want to congratulate my good friend, Prime Minister John Howard who won a great victory,” Bush said at a campaign event in St Louis in the US state of Missouri.

Labour had vowed to bring the roughly 900 Australian troops deployed in and around Iraq home by Christmas, while Howard insisted they will stay until Iraqis ask them to leave.

Australians focused more on the economy, health and education than on Howard’s decision to join the Bush-led coalition in Iraq – which drew hundreds of thousands of people into the streets for the biggest anti-war protests in this country since the Vietnam war era.

The campaign also hinged on personalities, with three-term incumbent Howard seen as a colourless but a reliable steward of the economy, and Latham perceived as young and energetic, but also inexperienced and sometimes undisciplined.

With more than 75% of votes counted, official results showed Howard’s coalition had 52.4% to Labour’s 47.6%. Government is formed by the side that has a majority of seats in parliament’s 150-seat lower house.

Howard sent 2,000 troops to Iraq last year despite protests that portrayed him as Bush’s lackey.

The number has since dwindled to 900, and none have combat roles. No Australian soldiers have been killed.

Latham argued that the Iraq invasion was a distraction from the international fight against terrorism, and wants to focus Australia’s security policy closer to home in Southeast Asia.

That was a clear nod to his country’s fears of attacks after the October 12, 2002, bombings on Bali Island that killed 202 people, many of them Australians, and the bombing of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on September 9 in which nine people died.

But the message apparently didn’t resonate.

Howard’s team became confident almost as soon as polls closed in the island continent’s heavily populated eastern states, when early counting showed the government had taken an early lead.

They grew ecstatic as the margin held throughout the night.

This “is an extraordinary feat for Prime Minister John Howard,” Finance Minister Nick Minchin said on Australian Broadcasting Corporation television.

Howard, who was elected in 1996 and re-elected in 2001 despite widespread perceptions that he is drab, is now in line to become Australia’s second-longest serving prime minister, after his hero – 1950s and ’60s conservative icon Sir Robert Menzies.

Howard, 65, is in his ninth year in office and is expected to retire before serving out his full three-year term. Latham is likely to stay on as Labour leader.

The Iraq deployment and Howard’s tough policies on refugees helped polarise the electorate.

Latham fought to the end, shaking hands with well-wishers as he cast his ballot in Sydney and appealing for support to pursue “a world-class health and education system, and taking the financial pressure off families.”

Howard’s centre-right government and the opposition both focused their campaigns on pledged improvements to education and health, and which party can best run the economy and maintain an economic boom.

Howard repeatedly warned voters a Latham government would likely drive up interest rates – a sensitive issue for millions of homeowners.

Australia’s economy has grown every year of Howard’s administration. Unemployment is close to all-time lows and inflation is just 2%.