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Australia's 13 million people cast their votes on Saturday in the nation's federal elections.

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Voting was compulsory - even for those in the Outback, who had to vote a few days early to ensure their ballots were counted in time.

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The leader of the Liberal-National coalition, John Howard, was greeted by a group of supporters as he went to vote in a Sydney school.

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But others made it clear that they were less enthusiastic about Mr Howard's policies, and did not wish to see him returned to office.

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John Howard's main rival, opposition Labor party leader Mark Latham, also cast his vote in Sydney.

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His day got off to a good start, when he won the first prize in a raffle for a food hamper.

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But soon after the counting started, it became obvious that the night belonged to the conservative coalition. Before all the results were in, Mr Latham conceded defeat.

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Cheered on by his supporters, a clearly ecstatic Mr Howard accepted his fourth term in office.