Howard victory keeps Australia out of Kyoto Protocol

 Australian Prime Minister John Howard was returned to office with an increased majority in the countrys general election on October 9.  The result came after a campaign where early polls suggested a likely victory for Labor Party leader Mark Latham.

 The result ensures that Australia will continue to opt out of the Kyoto Protocol.  Howard has been a strong personal critic of the measure, believing it to be damaging to Australias economic prosperity.