Gillard tipped to win closely-fought election

Australians go to the polls tonight in what is predicted to be one of the closest battles in decades and offering a stark choice between two very different leaders.

Julia Gillard became Australia’s first female prime minister by seizing control of her party from her former boss less than two months ago and called elections weeks later – hoping to save the left-leaning government from rising voter dissatisfaction with fresh, straight-talking leadership.