I don't usually talk politics in this journal and I'm not going to do so at length now. But today Australians went to the polls in a federal election that may end the Howard government. Fingers crossed! From the year I turned 18 on, John Howard has been our prime minister. In the last four years, his coalition government has also had a majority and has been able to push through all sorts of socially damaging legislation. I'm about to turn 30 and I've never had a government I voted for in office. Tonight I hope that's about to change, though I suspect the result's going to be a lot closer then the polls for the last few weeks have been indicating.

I enjoy voting and today, a brilliant sunny Melbourne Saturday was no exception. I love that voting is compulsory in this country and that everyone turns out, young or old, new immigrant or seventh-generation Aussie. I love the sausage sizzles and the absurdly long senate voting paper (does it get longer every election? it feels like it!). I've worked as a polling official in previous elections but this year I decided to take this election off so I could (I hope) enjoy watching the results come in over drinks with friends.

Fingers crossed that by this time tomorrow Kevin Rudd's our new PM and Labor are back in power after 12 years out of office.

ETA: :D :D :D :D
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Man, I love Julia Gillard. First female Australian Deputy PM! She's all class. So was Maxine until she started baabbling about nuns and blindness...
Howard lost his seat! Lost. His Seat. :D Now he's just got to cry on tv and all my dreams will have come true...