The Election

Some time soon, Queen Elizabeth II narrowly escapes a suicide bombing and abdicates in favour of Prince Charles. Following his coronation, a referendum is called in Australia and the pro-republications succeed -- attention turns to the election of the country's first president. Australian-born Michael Takada, whose father is Japanese, wins selection for Queensland and represents his State in the presidential election. But there are many who, for racially motivated reasons, are intent on preventing him reaching public office -- including the Western Australian candidate, David Shawcross. When Takada and Shawcross become the main contenders for the presidency, Takada is targeted by a fanatical but disorganised right-wing organisation and later, by a small but sophisticated white supremacist terrorist group. He suffers racist taunts, hate mail, his son's kidnapping, bombings, the attempted murder of his father and his wife and the murders of close friends. As the election nears, his political aspirations are soured by the uncovering by a young reporter of an atrocity committed by his grandfather on the Kokoda Track in 1942. Shawcoss is an equally popular candidate but is tormented from within, his racist views, hard drinking and womanising almost costing him his political career. Despite the demons they encounter along the way, Takada and Shawcross are equally determined to be the country's first president.