▁for ▁the ▁government ▁by ▁explo iting ▁the ▁underlying ▁rac ist ▁elements ▁of ▁Australian ▁society . ▁Andrew s ▁def ended ▁the ▁system ▁of ▁having ▁refuge e ▁quot as ▁against ▁the ▁opinion ▁expressed ▁that ▁int akes ▁of ▁refuge es ▁should ▁be ▁vari ated ▁on ▁the ▁basis ▁of ▁global ▁needs ▁ ▁. " ▁In ▁October ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁Howard ▁" ad m itted ▁breaking ▁a ▁promise ▁to ▁keep ▁interest ▁rates ▁at ▁record ▁l ows ". ▁During ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁campaign , ▁Howard ▁was ▁also ▁c ited ▁as ▁giving ▁the ▁same ▁promise , ▁personally , ▁on ▁radio . ▁In fl ation ▁figures ▁released ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁October ▁indicated ▁underlying ▁infl ation ▁was ▁higher ▁than ▁expected , ▁which ▁resulted ▁in ▁seven ▁of ▁eight ▁financial ▁companies ▁bel ieving ▁there ▁will ▁be ▁an ▁interest ▁rate ▁rise ▁when ▁the ▁reserve ▁bank ▁met ▁in ▁the ▁middle ▁of ▁November , ▁the ▁first ▁during ▁an ▁election ▁campaign . ▁ ▁Rud d ▁advoc ated ▁four - year ▁fixed ▁terms ▁for ▁federal ▁parliament s ▁if ▁elected . ▁Howard ▁supported ▁four - year ▁terms ▁but ▁opposed ▁fixed ▁election ▁dates . ▁Any ▁change ▁would ▁require ▁appro val ▁by ▁refer endum . ▁In ▁mid - Oct ober , ▁Howard ▁said ▁that ▁if ▁re - elect ed , ▁the ▁government ▁would ▁hold ▁a ▁refer endum ▁on ▁the ▁inclusion ▁a ▁statement ▁of ▁recon c ili ation ▁in ▁the ▁pre am ble ▁of ▁the ▁constitution . ▁ ▁Pol ling ▁▁▁ ▁Roy ▁Morgan , ▁New sp oll , ▁AC Ne ils en ▁and ▁Gal axy ▁tim