Australian prime minister to announce poll date

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has visited Australia's governor-general - a formality preceding the announcement of an election likely to be September 7.

Rudd flew to Canberra from his hometown of Brisbane on Sunday afternoon and was later seen driving through the gates of Governor-General Quentin Bryce's official residence. He is expected to announce an election date at a news conference later at Parliament House. Prime ministers almost always pick the earliest available date, which in Rudd's case is September 7. (AP)