Portal:Politics/Selected article/2007, week 39

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The next general election for the Parliament of Australia is expected to take place in late 2007, although technically it can be held as late as 19 January 2008.

The opposition centre-left Australian Labor Party, currently led by Kevin Rudd and deputy leader Julia Gillard, will be the main challenger to the incumbent centre-right coalition government in power since the 1996 election, currently led by the Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party of Australia, John Howard, and his coalition partner the Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the National Party of Australia, Mark Vaile.

Following the 2004 election outcome, Labor with 60 seats require 16 additional seats in the 150-member House of Representatives to form a majority government.

The Australian Greens, Family First Party, and the Australian Democrats amongst other parties and candidates will be vying for the balance of power in the Senate.