British-born leaders battle for votes in key Australian poll

The poll for the House of Representatives is on the alternative vote system which could be introduced for the Commons if it is backed by a referendum in Britain next year.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, whose birthplace is Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, called a snap poll for August 21 just weeks after her unopposed Labor leadership victory.

Ms Gillard, the country's first woman premier, replaced an increasingly unpopular Kevin Rudd, who won power back for the party in 2007 after 11 years in the wilderness.

She is challenged in the election by Tony Abbott, leader of the centre-right Liberal National coalition, who was born in London.

There are suggestions that the figure might be boosted by Australian holidaymakers in Britain, escaping the southern hemisphere winter.

In the 2007 contest, more than 16,000 Aussies voted – in person or by post – at the country's High Commission, Australia House, in London's Strand, which has attracted the largest number of voters of any polling station in past elections.

In the 1999 referendum, when voters rejected calls for a republic replacing the Queen as head of state, the total was 22,000.

High Commissioner John Dauth is due to open the voting at Australia House on Monday.

It continues, with the exception of Sunday, August 15, until Friday, August 20.

Voting hours are 11am to 8pm. They are extended to 10pm on August 20. Voters in the UK will not be able to cast their ballots on polling day itself due to the time difference between London and Australia.

Counting starts there on Saturday, August 21 and, on past form, the winning party will be known by lunchtime in Britain - although the full process may not finish for days.