The opposition centre-left Australian Labor Party, currently led by Kevin Rudd and deputy leader Julia Gilliard, will be the main challenger to the incumbent centre-right coalition government in power since the 1996 election, currently led by the Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party of Australia, John Howard, and his coalition partner, the Deputy Prime Minister and the leader of the National Party of Australia, Mark Vaile.

In the 2004 election, the coalition garnered 87 seats against Labor’s 60 seats, while three were held by independents in the 150-member House of Representatives.

The last time Australia was under a Labor government was from 1991-1996, with then Prime Minister Paul John Keating, who was eventually defeated at the 1996 federal election by current Prime Minister John Howard.

If Labor is to form the 2008 government, it will need a swing of at least 15 seats. With an independent as Speaker of the House and Labour holding 75 seats, it would prevent any minority coalition government from emerging.

The smaller parties and independents have more a realistic chance of winning seats in the Senate where they currently hold 39 of 76 seats (a one seat majority) through coalition.