ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 4, 1996 TAG: 9603040131
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
SOURCE: Associated Press
Australian voters have turned away from plans to sever links with the British monarchy and forge new ones with Asia by choosing John Howard's conservative coalition in a landslide.
The results from Saturday's election - a solid win for the Liberal and National Parties - decimated the ranks of the Labor Party, which had ruled the government for 13 years.
Labor officials were clearly stunned by the magnitude of the backlash against Prime Minister Paul Keating's reformist government, which had pushed a pro-Asian, anti-monarchy agenda.
Analysts predicted Sunday that the conservative coalition could have almost twice as many seats as Labor in the 148-seat House of Representatives, Parliament's main chamber.
With 83 percent of votes counted, election officials said the conservative coalition had won 79 seats and Labor only 39. Another 30 seats were too close to call. Final results are expected later in the week.
The Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio said the coalition could win 94 seats, to 50 for Labor and four others to independents.
Keating, 52, conceded defeat and said he will step down as Labor Party leader after four years as prime minister.
LENGTH: Short : 34 linesby CNB