10.30am
An announcement of a November 10 election is expected within hours from the Prime Minister, John Howard. Reports this morning suggest that the media has been alerted to an announcement, probably in the early afternoon.
A 36-day campaign would follow an announcement of a November 10 poll. The Constitution and electoral laws dictate a minimum of 33 days for the campaign.
It has been reported today that Howard plans to attend the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Forum) CEO Summit in Shanghai on October 16-19. This follows the announcement yesterday of Australia’s military commitment to the US-led coalition against terrorism and will ensure that international and security issues remain at centre-stage during the election.
