Some people won’t vote for Blair because of the Iraq war and it looks like Australia’s John Howard will suffer for it too - who else do you think will lose seats/job over this?
John Howard didn’t suffer (who knows why). Helen Calark is safe re: the Iraq mess. If she loses it will be bad planning…or a miracle 
John Howard’s Coalition retained goverment with an increased majority. The Iraq war was not a major issue in the minds of voters, who were more concerned with domestic issues (health, the economy and education). This was helped by the fact that no Australian soldiers died in Iraq.
Yet.
And does that make Aus a loyal coalition member? No one died yet? Is that what Howard promised, super powers?
A question from a curious seppo, does the entire nation vote for PM, or only the people in his/her home district? The only ones here who get a chance to express their opinion of PM Koizumi directly are the ones who live in Yokohama.
In Australia, you vote for your local member.
The party with the majority of the seats in parliment get to form government.
The head of government is appointed from within the party.
According to the Liberal party rules, Howard needed to be re-elected leader of his party (and he was) in order to continue as PM.
So in Australia, you vote for the party not the man, as the man can be replaced, even while actively PM.
Just to add clarification, the Member for Bennelong is the current PM, so only people who reside in the seat of Bennelong can vote for Howard.
The rest of us vote for our own local member (who may one day grow up to be PM).
Apologies for posting this after the Australian vote, I didn’t realise it had happened already.
Hmm I find myself not knowing for sure how Aussies get a PM . Here in NZ, it is a whole country thing. The PM is the head of the party that wins (with or without coalition help). We use the MMP system when voting.
Similarly, only those of use who reside in Bennelong can vote against Howard. For all the good it did. 
So if the PM loses their seat they lose?
Yep. If he’d lost his seat, the coalition - had it won anyway - would have had to elect another leader. It’s only happened once since Federation. I was hoping for a re-run of Stanley Bruce’s unseating.
Sorry, I’m still in mild shock Howard won. Takes a lot for Aussies to not like you I suppose.
It’s got me beat. He had a swint of 3% against him here (I live in his poxy electorate) but it never seems to matter what he does or says or how carelessly he handles the truth, he wriggles out. :mad:
It surprised me. I was convinced he was gone. My extremely BAD forecasting means …Hello Mr Bush
:((