1996: PM John Hewson vs. Paul Keating

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Suppose in March 1993, Opposition Leader John Hewson leads the Liberal Party back into power after 10 years of the Labor Government under Bob Hawke and Paul Keating. Despite fierce opposition in the Senate, the Hewson Government is sucessful in passing legislation that reforms Medicare and Industrial Relations. Hewson's GST plan is also confirmed, with one exception no GST on food!

On the other side of the Australian political spectrum, former Prime Minister and current Opposition Leader Paul Keating narrowly survives a leadership challenge from Kim Beazley in late 1994. After his narrow win over Beazley, Keating states to the Labor caucus he'll remain in charge of the ALP right up until the next election, expected to be held sometime in 1996.

How would the 1996 Federal Election turn out? Would Prime Minister John Hewson and the Liberal Government be re-elected over the ALP led by the former Prime Minister Paul Keating?

Discuss.

[Platypus]

The Liberals would be re-elected. Governments are almost always given a second term, and if they were pissed off enough at Keating to vote him out three years ago they're not going to re-elect him so shortly afterwards-in fact, I think no voted-out Prime Minister could be re-elected.