Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Counting Begins in Close Australian Election

   VOA News 21 August 2010
   Police  officers  wait at Queenscliff Beach polling station in Sydney,
   Australia, 21 Aug 2010, for opposition leader Tony Abbott's arrival to
   vote

Photo: AP

   Police  officers  wait at Queenscliff Beach polling station in Sydney,
   Australia, 21 Aug 2010, for opposition leader Tony Abbott's arrival to
   vote

   Polls  have closed in most of Australia, in the most closely contested
   general election in years.
   Exit  polls  and  early counting in the populous eastern states show a
   dead heat between the opposition Liberal Party-led coalition headed by
   Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard's ruling Labor Party.
   The count so far reflects final opinion polls released before the vote
   began, which indicated the two sides were in a virtual tie.
   If she wins, Ms. Gillard will be Australia's first woman to be elected
   as  prime  minister.   She  replaced  Kevin  Rudd as Labor leader two
   months ago amid dwindling voter support for the ruling party.
   Around 14 million citizens cast ballots in the compulsory election.
   Barry  Jones,  a  former  Labor  Party  president, says the campaign's
   narrow focus has been a disappointment.
   Ms.  Gillard  has  argued  that  Labor's economic policies brought the
   country  through  the  global  recession  better  than other developed
   countries.   But Mr. Abbott says the party squandered public money on
   lavish  stimulus  programs.  He has also criticized Labor for the way
   it ousted Mr. Rudd.
   The  two  candidates  also  disagree  on a proposed mining tax and the
   composition of a new telecommunications infrastructure.
   Ms.  Gillard  has  faced  a  series  of  political  hurdles, including
   opposition  to  the proposed mining profits tax, continued weakness in
   the  economy  and  animosity  from  some party members for ousting Mr.
   Rudd.
   During  the  last  day  of  the  campaign  Thursday,  she  praised the
   government's  investment  in public services such as health, education
   and the national broadband network.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP.

.