Australia’s Labour party leader Mr Kim Beazley has conceded defeat in Australia's general election, beaten by Prime Minister John Howard's tough crackdown against a rising tide of asylum seekers trying to reach Australia.
"I'm afraid tonight I have to concede defeat," Mr Beazley told party faithful in his home seat in Western Australia state.
Mr Beazley also stepped down as leader of his party. "It is not my intention to remain as leader of the Australian Labor Party."
Mr Beazley threw in the towel as vote counting showed a swing of at least two percent to Howard's conservative coalition government, which has won a third consecutive term.
Mr Howard appeared doomed six months ago but his fortunes turned dramatically in August when he began to turn away boats carrying mainly Middle Eastern and Afghani asylum seekers.
This, coupled with Australian support for the US-led war on terrorism, overshadowed domestic affairs in the five-week campaign, leaving Mr Beazley's centre-left party struggling to get attention for his agenda of jobs, education and health.
Although the boat people policy was condemned as xenophobic and inhumane by religious and human rights groups as well as former politicians from both sides it received overwhelming public support.