The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Sydney

Australian Prime Minister John Howard Sunday prepared to face his strongest opponent in 11 years in office amid criticism of his decision to hold only one debate ahead of the November 24 poll. Howard is fighting for political survival against the centre-left Labor Party's Kevin Rudd who has taken a commanding lead against the conservative incumbent in opinion polls. The one-off debate in the six-week campaign is expected to cover the war in Iraq, to which Howard has committed troops and Rudd has promised to withdraw soldiers, as well as climate change. But the verbal jousting is likely to centre on the crucial issue of tax cuts, with Howard promising to deliver 34 billion dollars (30.4 billion US) in cuts against Rudd's offering of 31 billion dollars in sweeteners. Howard, who this week clawed back some ground in opinion polls which predict him losing in a landslide, has accused Labor's Rudd of copying the government's tax policy.

"I think it is going to be a very interesting debate," Howard said on the campaign trail Saturday.

"It will be an unusual debate as there will be only one plan to debate," the 68-year-old premier said in reference to the tax proposals. Treasurer Peter Costello, Howard's likely successor to the Liberal Party leadership, agreed with his boss.