Prime Minister John Howard has rung Labor leader Kevin Rudd to concede defeat after voters deserted his  11-year government in tonight's federal election. 

Mr Howard then appeared at Sydney's Wentworth Hotel to address Liberal Party faithful. 

from Crikey ….. 

Reality check: Honey, I doomed the universe 

Richard Farmer writes: 

We're not faking it: Howard 

Commentators who think Prime Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello are faking their friendship are wrong, Mr Howard says. 

According to bushit: "Whatever political party you belong to, whatever your position on Iraq, we should be able to agree that America has a vital interest in preventing chaos and providing hope in the Middle East."  

Turnbull under fire for million dollar water deal 

MalcolmTurnbull is fighting for his political life and now another battle is brewing. 

Greens astounded as Flannery backs Turnbull

Greens leader Bob Brown has attacked environmental scientist Dr Tim Flannery for endorsing Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull. 

God likes Liberal policies: Howard 

God is not a Liberal, but he sure likes Liberal policies, Prime Minister John Howard has told Korean churchgoers in his marginal Sydney electorate. 

John Howard will enter the final week of the election campaign well behind his rival, after a new poll of the government's most marginal seats showed the coalition has failed to gain ground on Labor. 

On a two-party-preferred basis, the coalition slipped one percentage point to 46 per cent, the Newspoll in The Australian newspaper shows. The coalition now trails Labor by eight points. 

'The allegations raised by Pearse are not easily dismissed . . . because of his pedigree and because of his access this is a book that could do considerable damage' (Chris Hammer – The Bulletin) 

The deputy leader of pork-barrelling, Mark Vaile, has criticised the Audit Office for making public its 1200 page audit of the Regional Partnerships Program, a claim Labor called "an outrageous slur" on the independence of the Auditor-General. 

Labor fudging election figures: Minchin 

The federal Coalition says its tally of Labor's election promises proves the Opposition is no more economically conservative than the Government.