Elections may change Australia's political landscape

06/09/2008 09:06:40

There will be three elections in Australia today that could see significant changes to the political landscape at the State and Federal level.

Louise Yaxley reports, when the former Deputy PM Mark Vaile quit parliament the Nationals numbers in the lower house fell below double figures.

After today's by-election in his New South Wales seat of Lyne its likely the Nationals will continue to have only nine lower house MPs.

The indepedent Robb Oakeshott is tipped to win the seat and join two other ex Nationals Tony Windsor and Bob Katter on the cross benches.

The Liberals are more confident about holding the seat of Mayo in South Australia - which was held by the long serving foreign minister Alexander Downer.

The former Howard Government staffer Jamie Briggs is expected to win.

In the State poll in Western Australia a Liberal victory would end the clean sweep of Labor Governments at the State and Federal level.

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