Doesn't anyone take notice of election results any more? If you look at the last dozen or so Federal elections, the result has always hinged on the combination of inflation and interest rates with an added element for unemployment. If interest rates and inflation are higher at the time of the election than they were when the Government was last elected, the Government loses - and the opposite applies as well.

The majority of voters therefore vote according to the likely effect of the election on both their short and long term prosperity. Self interest? Probably but it's a lot better than rigid ideologies and it's at least arguable that the people get it right most of the time.

That is not always true Senior Victorian if you look at the re-election of Keating after the horrendously high interest rates of over 17%.

Keating was surprised to be re-elected and by all reports the ALP was getting ready to clean out their offices. Other factors are often at play other and it isn't always down to interest rates and inflation.

Certainly the rising interest rates under Howard had little to do with losing the 2007 election, given the global economy and had more to do with a government out of touch with ordinary people.