The dying days of the Fourth Reich: it's the 2007 AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL ELECTION

Thanks Autumn -- getting an invalid file format on the .asx thing I'm downloading. Weird!

Never mind, just launched the audio feed instead.

Sorry 'bout that.

Link to another network here ned: http://ninemsn.com.au/

"WATCH LIVE: Full election coverage"

Oh no worries, the audio is going just fine. You people need to clarify all your regional accents for me one of these days. I'm all "Okay, is this reporter a Scottish immigrant or what?"

Antony Green has a Scottish accent I think, yeah.

All good. Anyway what's this about an evil Tasmanian paper mill?

A paper mill was given the go-ahead to be built in Tasmania this year. Both parties supported it.

This is crucial because in 2004 (the last election) the Liberal party supported something equally polluting and Labor opposed it, and Labor lost that seat at the time.

This time Labor tried to avoid being wedged, and it looks to have paid off.

The obvious problem with this is that Peter Garrett had to support a polluting pulp mill.

(obvious to Aussies, anyway!)

Yeah, you wouldn't read about it. :)

We're too busy burning oil, speak up sonny.

UPDATE: We have started on the chocolate

Not looking good for The Rodent. Kerry's starting to talk Maxine up and the in-studio crowd are loving it.

The ABC's on-screen graphics for lib/nat and labor are backwards.

So when you see the coalition ahead by 15 seats, it's not, it's the other way round. Don't panic :)

Oh Ned, the Coalition is a coalition of the Liberal and National parties, in case you were wondering wtf everyone's talking about

The swing is fucking enormous so far.

I figured out the Coalition deal a while back (Wikipedia helped). Dumb question -- so why don't the two parties merge if they've been BFF for decades?

Honestly I've no idea.

But they go round starting wars and banning same-sex marriage so who knows what goes through their heads.

It must be love.

If Labor wins this, the highest Coalition position in the entire country will be the lord mayor of Brisbane.

I want to see Howard cry.

Both National and Liberal are very SOCIALLY conservative (anti-immigrant, anti-gay, anti-"socialism"), but fairly different economically (Liberals are are free market and globalisation, while Nationals are about protectionism so that Aussie farmers can compete against the US, the Third World, etc), so there are differences that stop them uniting.

The ABC is calling a loss in Bennelong.

Ned, that means John Howard is losing his own seat. In Aus history only one prime minister has ever lost his seat whilst in office.

I could cry, I'm so happy right now.

Okay all the background cheers and yelps are hilarious.

"Preferences..swings...Labor...Coalition...candidates --"

"WHEE WOW OMG! YAY!"

Yeah I caught that about Bennelong. Hilarity!

Early days though. I know it looks great but there's a long way to go.

xpost haha yeah I'm loving that.

Greens are getting hammered here, Democrats will be obliterated - no other way for Labout to win this.

Labour.

ABC's website has Labor (got it right!) 20 seats up!

+5% swing to Labor on the primary vote.

The Lib flack talking now is kinda weird. Did he just say 'tree-huggers'?

Which one are you on, Ned?

ABC audio. I think it was the Agriculture Minister.

Weird, I didn't hear it, but then I'm all a-tizz.

Oh you're on ABC radio, duh me.

For the record, our ABC is very much like the UK's BBC, if that helps. Probably the most impartial service we have.

Right, I figured. Works for me!

this is exciting!

"they know who i am"

Bennelong watch: http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/benn.htm

Channel 9 is giving both Eden-Monaro and Bennelong to Labor and reckon Labor only need 3 more seats to take Government.

Always nice when the election is decided before polling booths close in WA.
</sarcasm>

concerted tactical voting effort in bennelong to oust howard, with the -10% green swing.

Yes! I noticed that.

LOL - Jackie Kelly talking up the postal votes for Bennelong. They'll save you!

yes, "where the postal votes are coming from".. la-la land?

Antony Green is all but calling it for Labor isn't he? Exciting times!

Pretty much. He's hesitant though.