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Sydney: Voting began briskly in Australia's general election on Saturday, with voters lining up outside some key polling stations an hour before doors opened at 8am.
Over 13.5 million voters are expected to go to the polls to decide whether to elect incumbent Prime Minister John Howard for a fifth term in office, or a Labor government, led by Kevin Rudd, for the first time since 1996.
The opposition needs a massive swing of 16 seats, or 4.8 per cent of the vote, to form a majority government.
Following his routine walk around Sydney's picturesque harbor early this morning, Prime Minister John Howard was upbeat about his chances of retaining power.
"I believe there is a bit of tide coming back. I sense it in the streets," he told an Australian radio programme.
Despite unseasonably cold and rainy conditions, voters came out in force to cast their ballots at Sydney's Town Hall, as well as the inner-city suburb of Redfern, where campaigners from major parties were handing out flyers on everything from climate change to controversial workplace reforms.
"I'll be voting in the Greens in for both houses," Patrick Fox, a 46 year old education officer told Gulf News.
"They have the best policies on climate change and workplace issues. I'm predicting a Labor victory, but I hope that the Greens get the balance of power in the Senate."
83-year-old Betty Rose was among the steady stream of people lining up outside Redfern's historic town hall and said that her vote was firmly with John Howard and the Liberals, in this safe Labor seat.
"The Liberals have done a great job on healthcare, and the economy. That's what I'm interested in. Anyway, it's not as though I'm going to change who I vote for now," she said.
School teacher Adrian said he would be voting for the Labor party, pinning his hopes on Kevin Rudd's promise of an "education revolution."
"I've always tended to vote Labor and I really want to give Kevin Rudd a go. I predict that they'll win by around 4 to 6 seats," he said. Polling closes at 6pm.
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