Two party basis he losted the 98 election but we do have a westmimster system of government.
On that point unless you were in Rudds electorate you didn't actually vote for him , you voted for your own MP who represent what ever party. The party with control of the lower house get to appoint the PM or remove the PM and appoint a different one.
Paul Keating left the country in excellent shape by 1996 and the Libs ran it into ground with a complete lack of spending in infrastucture and training. But everyone got tax cuts and middle class weathfare so he kept on getting elected.
The people running the show (he and abroad)11 years prior to the GFC were directly responsible for that and left the new government with two avenues.
One stimualte the economy at the cost of running in to debt or Two do nothing maintain a surplus in the short term and watch unemployment hit double figures , there by reducing your tax intake and increasing your weathfare bill , if the world failed to recover rapidly you end up in debt because of that. (Not to mention a collapse of the hosuing market and a run on the banks due to their decreased asset base)
What a choice , but thats the choice John Howard left as his legacy.
