AUSTRALIA: ELECTIONS CAMPAIGN STARTS

The election campaign for the next federal elections started yesterday in Australia with the return to Canberra from annual holidays of main political leaders: Prime Minister John Howard and the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Kim Beazley. Australian federal elections, expected later this year, will be a contest between two major parties: Marxist-oriented, left wing Australian Labour Party and more conservative, pro-American Liberals. Despite their differences, both parties share a common socialist heritage. Currently, the power in Canberra is held by Liberals led by John Howard. The main issues of this campaign will be: economic management for Liberals and health, education and living standards for the Labour Party. The federal poll will be preceded by a string of state elections, starting with Queensland and Western Australia.