SYDNEY — The most bizarre election in Australia's history staggers into farce as voters go to the ballot boxes in what promises to be a knife-edge decision between a divided government party and an angry opposition.
Never before in over a century of politicking have Australian electors been so divided over who deserves a three-year term in Canberra — the latest Labor prime minister, Julia Gillard, or the leader she dumped a few weeks back, Kevin Rudd, or the conservative challenger, Tony Abbott, who earlier dumped his leader, Malcolm Turnbull.
Confused? So are all the eligible Australian electors over 18 years old who by law must vote or face a fine. By election day on what otherwise would be a welcome winter holiday, Saturday, Aug. 21, most of them will be too fed up with campaign mud-slinging to enjoy the day.