A computer hacker has struck the first low blow in Australia's election campaign by breaking into the ruling Liberal Party's official website, changing ministers' titles and adding links to hard-core sex sites.

Internet surfers hoping for information on senior Liberals would have found the prime minister renamed The Dishonourable John Howard, Prime Minister, Minister for Pain, Suffering and Inequity.

Treasurer Mr Peter Costello was described as Minister for the Rich, Stomping the Poor, and Wrecking the Economy.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Tuesday that requests for ministerial profiles led to a XXX-rated pornographic website. A Liberal Party spokesman said the offending pages had been removed from the site. Mr Howard has called an early election for October 3rd.