Fed: Labor ready for election, says Latham

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2004
Fed: Labor ready for election, says Latham

ADELAIDE, April 21 AAP - Labor was ready for an election whenever it was called by
the Howard government, Opposition Leader Mark Latham said today.

Prime Minister John Howard today remained coy on the timing of the election due this year.

Mr Latham said Labor was ready to go to the polls.

"We have been ready for an election for quite some time," Mr Latham said in Adelaide today.

"This is an election year and we will be out there being positive, advocating all the
good ideas that we have got right around the country.

"We are trying to be positive and whenever Mr Howard wants to have the election, Labor
will be out there with a very positive approach."

Mr Howard said today the timing of the election was not necessarily crucial.

"I think it can have a marginal impact," he told radio 3AW.

"If a government is really on the skids then the difference between having it, say
-- and don't put any significance on this -- (at) the end of October or the middle of
November ... another two or three weeks is not going to make much difference.

"On the other hand, if it's very finely balanced, maybe there's some tiny advantage."

AAP sl/sco/tnf

KEYWORD: ELECTION LATHAM

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