Glenn, the election was essentially about:
-Unpopular workplace legislation imposed by the Liberal Party when they controlled both houses of Parliament during their last term.
-Politicians being out of touch and arrogant.
- Our interest rates increasing (largely as a result of US interest rate movement and out of Parliament's control- but it does not stop the punters punishing the Politicians)
Yes, Labor will pull us out of Iraq, however, most Australians were skeptical about WMD for starters and regime change / securing oil supplies is not ground for waging war. We have not had a large body count from Iraq as our presence has largely been SF's and specialists not 'bayonets'- had body count been higher result of Iraq war I think our involvement would have been more unpopular. However, most Australians regard meeting our defence committments with the US to be important.
Labor Party is committed to maintaining our involvement in Afghanistan. A war most Aussies consider 'just'.