- Public support for John Howard increased slightly in Australia, according to a Newspoll published in The Australian. 48 per cent of respondents are satisfied with the performance of their prime minister, up one point since mid-October.

In the October 2004 election, Howard was rewarded with a fourth term in office, as his Coalition of Liberals and Nationals secured 87 seats in the House of Representatives. The Australian Labor Party (ALP)—led by Mark Latham—elected 60 lawmakers.

In January 2005, Kim Beazley took over as opposition leader. Beazley commanded the ALP from March 1996 to November 2001. 34 per cent of respondents are satisfied with Beazley's performance, up two points in two weeks.

In 1998, several countries agreed to the Kyoto Protocol, a proposed amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement commits nations to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Yesterday, Howard said he does not intend to sign the Kyoto Protocol, declaring, "I don't want a situation where our country is panicked into doing things that put a disproportionate burden on us. And I heard a representative of the coal mining union on radio say this morning, and I agreed with him, he said we've got to be careful about panicky reactions, he said, otherwise investments will just flow to countries like China and Indonesia."

Support for Howard as the preferred prime minister is at 54 per cent, a 28-point advantage over Beazley.

Polling Data

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way John Howard is doing his job as prime minister?

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Kim Beazley is doing his job as leader of the opposition?

Who do you think would make the better prime minister?

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