Australians vote for fourth PM in four years

Some 17 million Australians may vote Saturday in the first general election since the ouster of their fourth prime minister in a decade. Labor opposition leader Bill Shorten had a slight edge in the last opinion polls. Elections are held every three years, but no prime minister has succeeded in serving a full term since 2007. Younger people may vent their frustration about climate change and a lack of affordable housing. Turnout is the highest in the Western world – 95 pc in the last election, since voting in Australia is compulsory and non-voters face a fine. The 1.2 million-strong Chinese Australian community is also bidding for its first seat in the 150-member in the lower house.