Canberra, Australia
Prime Minister John Howard easily won re-election in Australia this week, coasting on a booming economy. The opposition Labor Party had sought to make the Iraq war a campaign issue, pledging to bring Australian troops home by Christmas. Most Australians say they are against the war, but polls indicate they did not vote primarily on that issue. Still, the election was seen as the first electoral test for the “big three” Iraq war coalition members—the U.S., the U.K., and Australia—and could provide a symbolic boost for President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair in their own re-election efforts. Australia currently has 900 troops stationed in Iraq; its forces, which do not play an active combat role, have suffered no casualties.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Gwen John: Strange Beauties – a ‘superb’ retrospectiveThe Week Recommends ‘Daunting’ show at the National Museum Cardiff plunges viewers into the Welsh artist’s ‘spiritual, austere existence’
-
Should the EU and UK join Trump’s board of peace?Today's Big Question After rushing to praise the initiative European leaders are now alarmed
-
Antonia Romeo and Whitehall’s women problemThe Explainer Before her appointment as cabinet secretary, commentators said hostile briefings and vetting concerns were evidence of ‘sexist, misogynistic culture’ in No. 10
