Whilst they don't have a vote, as an aside it is revealing / interesting to see how the election announcement is being viewed from outside Australia, and what the international media perceive as the key issues:
From
The BBC:
Opening Line: "The presence of Australian troops in Iraq is expected to dominate the polls. "
"Mr Howard's Liberal/National coalition last won in November 2001, with a strong policy against illegal immigration. "
From
Television NZ
"Australians will vote on October 9 in a cliff-hanger election pitting the conservative government against centre-left Labor, with national security and the economy as major issues"
From
Straits Times (Singapore):
The poll offers voters the choice of maintaining Mr Howard's controversial military engagement in Iraq or backing Labour leader Mark Latham's vision of pulling hundreds of Australian troops out of the Middle East by Christmas and boosting economic aid to Iraq.
Mr Howard, 65, a staunch ally of US President George W. Bush, sent 2,000 troops to take part in last year's invasion of Iraq...
..Mr Howard arguing his administration is tougher on homeland security and a better guardian of the country's economy.
From:
www.washingtonpost.com
"Howard is banking on ../.... strong stand on national security, which included sending troops to Iraq and Afghanistan in enthusiastic support of the United States."
From
www.latimes.com
"Among the key issues in the campaign will be the economy, national security and the war in Iraq"
"The vote will pit Howard's three-term conservative coalition against a resurgent Labor Party led by maverick lawmaker Mark Latham. It will offer voters the choice of maintaining Howard's controversial military engagement in Iraq or backing Latham's vision of pulling hundreds of Australian troops out of the Middle East by Christmas and boosting economic aid to Iraq. "
And from our own alternative non-media
Crikey!
"On a rainy day in Canberra, John Howard today chose to cut and run to an October 9 election, seeking to avoid parliamentary scrutiny of his Children Overboard obfuscations – and handling Labor its best chance to govern the nation in eight and a half years.
This could be Howard's final crazy-brave act as Prime Minister, and it was a doozy. He will allow the Senate to sit for two days, during which time Labor will combine with the minor parties to re-open the Kids Ahoy inquiry.
This is very dangerous, and Bob Brown has just told journalists he would move to keep the Senate itself running during the election campaign to put the Government under a Children Overboard blowtorch. This is an unprecedented move that will fill the Government with dread as it tries to push the PM's election platform of – wait for it – "trust"."