(BBC) -Australian Prime Minister John Howard has announced parliamentary elections for 24 November.
The PM earlier visited Governor-General Michael Jeffery, the representative of head of state Queen Elizabeth, to ask for the dissolution of parliament.
The veteran PM is seeking a fifth term in office but analysts predict a heavy defeat after 11 years in office.
Mr Howard, 68, is badly trailing his Labor opponent Kevin Rudd, 50, after nine months of dismal polls.
Mr Rudd has promised to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq and sign the Kyoto climate pact.
He has also pledged sweeping reforms to health, education and controversial labour laws introduced by the PM.
The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says the PM now hopes to persuade the electorate that voting for Labor would be a gamble with prosperity.