There has not been an execution in Australia for more than 35 years. That may change, as public outrage over terrorist acts threatens to resurrect the issue. Prime Minister John Howard has called for public debate on the death penalty, believing the issue could impact this year's state elections.

Platforms of the major political parties in Australia oppose the death penalty, which was abolished in Australia in 1985. Australia's Labor Party officials are not pleased with Howard's suggestion:

A caucus of Labor lawmakers resolved Tuesday to form a sub-committee to work on the matter. The party's spokesman on legal affairs, Robert McClelland, called Howard "irresponsible" for suggesting capital punishment was a legitimate topic for debate.

"It's the responsibility of leaders not to exploit an understandable popular sentiment - the desire for revenge in times of heinous crimes," he told the caucus.

Critics of Howard's debate suggestion also point out:

Any move to reintroduce capital punishment would be a matter for the parliaments in the country's six states and two territories -- all controlled by Labor -- not Howard's federal government.