 The main parties are neck and neck in the polls |
Australia's opposition Labor party has promised free health care for anyone over 75 as it launched its campaign for the 9 October federal elections. Labor leader Mark Latham said the plan, which would cost A$2.9bn ($2.1bn), would help build a "stronger, safer and fairer" Australia.
Mr Latham, 43, kept family issues at the centre of Labor's campaign.
Opinion polls suggest Labor and Prime Minister John Howard's Liberal/National alliance are running neck and neck.
Mr Latham launched Labor's campaign at a rally in Brisbane, where he was warmly applauded by party activists.
 | ELECTION COUNTDOWN |
Labor has already unveiled its main campaign pledges, stressing the need for extra spending on health and education while keeping the budget in surplus. He also promised extra money for pensioners and a A$20-a-week allowance for elderly Australians who look after their grandchildren.
'Urgent change'
Mr Latham, 43, also stressed the generational gap between himself and Mr Howard, 65, amid speculation that the latter may hand over to Treasurer Peter Costello if elected.
"I say to the Australian people, 'I'm ready to lead, he's ready to leave'," Mr Latham said.
Mr Latham said Australia needed an urgent change of government.
"Unless we change now, it will be too late for the basic decency and honesty of government in this country,'' he said.
"Too late to restore truth in government and end the deceit and buck-passing of the Howard years," he said.
Mr Latham has said previously that if elected he would withdraw most of the 850 Australian troops serving in and around Iraq.
On Wednesday, he alluded to this position when he said Australia's interests were in Asia, "not on the other side of the world".
"This is where Labor will dedicate our resources in the war against terror - to our region, to our part of the world, to the real security of the Australian people," he said.
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