I have called for fixed terms elections in a few letters sent to media outlets - as yet unpublished! [Keep at the bastards - they'll crack eventually! JR]

However - John Howard's cavalier treatment of the election date has annoyed me, as has the way the media have treated him on this matter. While some media pundits have pressed him for an election date much more serious energy has been invested in filling pages and our air waves with mindless speculation and too-clever-by-half analyses of the conditions that might drive the bugger to the polls. While he is entitled under the current rules to tease the electorate with the prospect of an election, Howard's coyness on the subject is approaching the perverse - and for as long this nonsense of leaving the election date in the hands of the leader this nonsense will happen again and agian. John is by no means the first to act in this way but he certainly has milked this little bit of power for all it's worth.

The election, nor the parliament nor the government for that matter are John Howard's - they are in fact ours; at the very least the election process should be handed back to the voters under the province of a fixed term to end this foolishness once and for all.

NHJ! (JR) Yeah, I heartily agree with you on this. Make it a four-year fixed term - with perhaps a month or two leeway either way (for practical flexibility) - and be done with it.