CANBERRA, Oct 11 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard will today outline his fourth term agenda after his historic election win, which is likely to see the coalition control the numbers in the Senate. Mr Howard had a low-key day yesterday after his emphatic victory on Saturday night, returning the Liberal-National Party coalition with an increased majority.
While numbers in the upper house will take a few weeks to
determine, when the new Senate is sworn in mid next year, the coalition is likely to have the numbers to push through its legislative program in its own right, or with the support of an anticipated Family First senator. It will give the government the opportunity to move ahead on
issues like the full sale of Telstra, industrial relations reform and cross media ownership laws, which have previously been knocked back in the Senate.
Opposition Leader Mark Latham, who yesterday spent a quiet day at home with his family in western Sydney, is also expected to front the media for the first time since his concession speech on Saturday night. Despite the loss, which saw Labor lose seats in every state except Victoria, Mr Latham is expected to keep the leadership, which he won in a ballot against former opposition leader Kim
Beazley 10 months ago. One of Mr Beazley's strongest supporters, Victorian Senator Stephen Conroy, predicted Mr Latham would be re-elected unopposed by the Labor caucus.
The Australian Electoral Commission, meanwhile, will resume
counting to determine the exact composition of the 41st parliament. Around seven seats hang on tight margins, including Richmond, held by Children and Youth Affairs Minister Larry Anthony. Many of the contests will be determined by postal votes, which are still flowing in.
AAP
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