And apparently they aren’t happy with either major party.
You need 76 seats in the parliament for a majority, and it doesn’t look like either party will manage to win that. There are 5 seats, four won by independents and one taken by the Green party that would seem to hold the balance.
It is possible they will have to have another election, but even if someone forms a government, it probably won’t last long.
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18 comments
You know, I believe that this is in all honesty, the outcome most Aussies wanted. 🙂 Nobody trusts either major party and they made a big mistake in the campaign listening to think-tanks about *what people wanted* rather than, oh.. I dunno… F*KIN ASKING PEOPLE! And LISTENING! There was very little to distinguish the two. Labor moved slightly right of their party principles, and the Coalition moved left. And the voters knew they were being played for suckers, and the Parties found out that Aussies aren’t Americans! (Sorry, but you know what I mean). Howard fooled us, and we learned.
Yeah, Gillard was stupid to call an election so soon, but I’m glad she did! It proves what I’ve always said about her, she has no management or business skills. People KNOW it was Gillard who screwed up The Gov Education projects, and the home insulation debacle etc. Rudd was the one who allowed it to happen and continue. His biggest failing was choosing the wrong people for his Cabinet, and he paid.
I think a minority Gov will be good for us. Both big parties would g on a spending spree without any real thought or consultation and blow our surplus in a year! We all know it. (Sounds familiar?) 😉 The Indies & Greens won’t allow that to happen. AND… The Lib’s would have killed off the NBN (National Broadband Network)! But the Indies are all strong Rural people who *WANT* the NBN!
If I had to guess, and it depends on the postal’s etc, I’d say Labor + Indie’s + Greens will form Government. The Libs/Coalition would have to really alienate their primary supporters to get the Indies/Greens votes.
I think people decided after watching the UK & Canada and elsewhere, that having a real *Coalition* (not the bogus Liberal/National party con) will be a good thing. Both parties ignored, or forgot, that Aussies really ARE conservationists at heart! And we do believe in Global Climate change, and want things done about it!
maybe now, they will listen. But I doubt it! They are both stupid and arrogant! 😉
Well, that explains a lot for me, Kryten. I was wondering why the parties were talking about the issues they were in the campaign reporting. I couldn’t see why Australian voters would be interested in most of it, especially when, out of nowhere, someone asked Gillard about dumping the Royals. I just can’t believe that is a real issue will all of the stuff going on in the world.
“Campaign by focus group” is a poisonous American innovation that makes elections functionally worthless. If politicians do everything they promise, no one cares, because what the politicians were talking about isn’t important to real people. The political “consultants” create lists of things that they think are important, and conduct polls based on these lists. It doesn’t occur to them to ask people what they think is important.
Because I have DSL, I still have a standard telephone. As a result I get called a lot for polling, and they aren’t talking about what I think is important. People don’t think about the “economy”, they think about jobs. Many don’t make the connection between jobs and the economy. When the talking heads are telling them that the “economy” is improving, but the job picture is bleak, they tune out the economy.
“None of the above” is the leading candidate in almost every election in the last decade.
“None of the above” is the leading candidate in almost every election in the last decade.
Dat true dat is! 😉 😀
It was very interesting, the voting. 🙂 The way it’s done here, is there are two ballot papers (forms). One for the House of Representatives, which is pretty straightforward; and one for The Senate, which is more complicated.
Generally, in previous elections, people voted with the top (called “above the line” voting) part of The Senate ballot for their party of choice, and allowed the party to decide the actual Senate candidates. This year, many people chose the more complicated “below the line” voting, and actually nominated their senate choices in order of preference. What does that tell you (and SHOULD tell the idiotic primary parties)? I mean, the choice was between filling in a single box, or 16 (I counted on my ballot). 😉
We both know that people will almost always choose the easiest option, even at their own detriment sometimes. 🙂 This time, they decided to send a clear a message as possible, that they are NOT happy! For myself, I chose the hard way and did my homework before voting. The Parties, AEC and voters are complaining because it took a lot longer for people t vote than it has previously. Some booths ran out of ballots early! Some places had to keep the booths open 2 hours longer than scheduled.
Actually, it’s a funny thing here. By law, every eligible voter is required to register at a polling booth, or by mail, or as absentee and lodge the two ballot papers. But there is NO law that requires anyone to actually fill in the ballot papers! 😉 A blank vote is *legal*. I hear there are a few. 😉
I just hope the message get’s through. *shrug*
Hmmmm. Just read this. This will be interesting!
Bryce seeks advice over link with Labor MP
I don’t really understand what the problem is. It seems logical that the party with the most votes gets first crack at forming a government, and if they fail, the second place party has a go. In the case of a tie, the current government gets the first chance.
That seems to be the way it always works.
I’d give them a week, and call for new elections if two attempts fail.
The real result will be that both Gillard and Abbott seem to be done as leaders. I can’t see either one being leaders in the next election. They are slated for the “dinner and certificate” event that signals the end at the top.
Personally, I would give one of the independents or the Green the first chance, as that’s where the power is at the moment, but I’m a trouble maker.
I was more interested in the fact that you can still bet on the outcome.
What? Close down the bookies??! Are you mad??!! 😉 😆 Most Aussies would rather shoot a Politician than stop betting! 😀
Oh, I doubt there is any real *legal* issue with the GG’s family relationship, but the Lib’s will cry foul! They are cry babies you know. 😉 Then again, I like watching them cry! 😈
Not so sure about Abbott, but I do think Gillard is finished. Though, who the replacement will be… *shrug* That will be interesting! Abbott may go, but there’s not much to choose from there either. Abbott is seen as something of a hero by the faithful, a minor hero… He didn’t actually win, but he got pretty close. 😉 🙂
It’s pretty obvious that the Green and Indie’s want to go with Labor. So the ball is firmly in Gillard’s court! See if she manages to stuff that up! (And bookies are taking bet’s on that also!) 😉
Interesting days ahead! 🙂
Actually, I was interested that the bookies were still taking bets this long after the election. Normally the book would have closed when the polls closed, but this one is on the edge. If there’s a tie the bookies will make a huge bundle.
With the short time I have been exposed to Gillard, I have to say that I have confidence that she and her supporters will find some way of screwing this up.
When you live in Aus, you take it for granted that the bookies will take bet’s on anything! It’s a curious irony that Aussies, generally, pride themselves on *not flogging a dead horse*, but bookies will and do! And Aussies see nothing strange in that! 😉 We are a weird bunch! 😆 We are the only Nation that has a formal public holiday for a horse race! 😀
Here is a pretty accurate (I think) summation (from ABC):
ABC News – Election post-mortem
Yup! dead right! 😀
I honestly don’t get it! Whatever your politicians are drinking, seems to have slipped into our Politicians drinks also! They have been channeling your mob the past decade! But they forget that Aussies are NOT American’s, and *we* damned well know how our system works! And have proved it time and again. The ONLY reason Howard got such a long run, was that Labor was honestly no better! So, for the most part, we stuck with *the devil we knew*. This time, the voters had ENOUGH! We will close down both parties if they continue this BS! We do HAVE options, but the two main parties seem too stupid to realise that! They will find out! 😀
Believe me m8, Americans may believe they have no alternatives and are stuck with the Dem’s and GOP, but we don’t, and won’t, believe that for a second! We will kick them both out if it comes to that! We are fighters, and we will fight anyone who tries to ignore or crap on us, even our own! We have done it before, we will do it again! The “ANZAC Spirit” isn’t just some theory or talking point! 😈
For the first time in a decade, I’m proud to be an Aussie! Took the others long enough to get fed up! I blame Howard for opening up massive immigration, and trying to dilute our spirit. It worked for awhile… but it’s amazingly catching! 😀 😉 It takes a few years or a decade for immigrants to learn what it means to be an Aussie, but they learn… or they are excluded. *shrug* Way it is.
/rant 😉
Kryten, I voted Green for President in 2008, have never voted for my “Democratic” US Senator, and will not vote for anything corrupt enough to be in the Republican party.
There are other parties and independents running in the US, and there is always the write-in option. I always vote, but I can vote for whoever is qualified and will do what I want. It’s a little more work, but you can do it.
The problem with attempting to use the US system in other places is that most countries have better turnout and the people pay more attention. The American style of election consulting is designed for a county where half the people won’t make the effort to vote, and many who do, don’t bother to learn what, if anything, candidates intend to do. People are trained to just vote for party labels, not for people.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the turnout for this November’s election is the worse ever. Whoever it is that thinks that the US is a center-right nation missed the entire point of the turnout for Barack Obama. People came out because they assumed he was a liberal. Now they know better, so it won’t happen again.
Sorry, I wasn’t aiming that at you or the few *sane* American’s I know who can actually be bothered to try to do something, and not put up with the *coolaid* BS. It just seems to me, and many others, that people like you are decidedly a minority. Which I know doesn’t make you happy either! The crap here sure hasn’t made me happy the past decade! *shrug* 🙂 I was thinking of moving to Canada or somewhere in Europe! 😆
And yeah, I think Obama is a *one shot pony*. 😉 And just maybe, our election will help people there relise, there are *always* options! 😀
It could get very interesting there I think! And seriously, good luck m8! We sure needed it, and it seems we got some. I’m happy to pass some on to you and others! I’m generous, me! 😉 😀
In that ABC blog above, Ben Eltham said:
Amen to that!! Do you know, the Lib’s have NEVER won an election on their own? Look at the numbers, it’s easy to see. They were forced into a coalition with the Nat’s (National Party) a long time ago. It was the only way they could win. Only the wealthy and fools vote for the Lib’s. And we don’t have a lot of them thankfully! 😀
I didn’t take it personally, Kryten, I was just pointing out that it can be done if people would just get off their butts and try. You still see the “we have to work within the party” nonsense on progressive sites. The Democrats, especially Obama, take the liberal/progressive wing of the party for granted with a “where are they going to go” attitude, and the Democratic leadership need to be shown that people will go, and will not vote for the crummy candidates that the leadership wants to push on them.
We have ended up with meaningless majorities, because too many elected Democrats won’t vote for the party issues once they win elections. There is no point in having a party if the label tells you nothing about the person wearing it. The concept is simple – don’t vote for people who won’t vote for you.
After this election tomorrow, I’m going to have to find out why my change to no party affiliation didn’t take place, but first I will rattle some cages for the last time.
Y’all at least sent a message, while we are still trying to get people to understand that they can write one.
That’s OK. I was just making sure. It’s easy to unintentionally cause problems. Sometimes it’s better to make sure it’s understood that wasn’t the intention. 🙂
Anyway, as the days wear on, it just get’s more interesting every day! 😀
Here’s some of the latest:
The terrain becomes more complicated
Heh… The two major morons are still harping on the meme “we will stand our ground on ” [Insert appropriate stupid policy they are sticking to that they lost votes on, here] 😆
See… Even in Aus, the higher up people are, the more stupid, and they never learn! 😉 😀 Personally, in this case, that’s a good thing. It will solidify voters opinions, and if there is a new election because of their arrogance an stupidity, expect to see a lot more Greens & Indies! 😀 Must be that rarefied atmosphere up there, oxygen starvation. 😉 😀
Bring it on! 😆
Here’s another you can add:
Three wise men seek semblance of stability
Indeed! What is plan B? I guess we will find out. 🙂
If the people at the top don’t get it, the parties need to find some new people. If another election is called, I suspect you’re tight that there will be more Greens and Independents because the major parties didn’t change.
Now is definitely time to start polling the electorate to find out what really annoys them. Polls generally are run to find out what people like, but people are usually more motivated by what they don’t like. You can accept that you aren’t going to get everything on your “wish list”, but people will really react to things on their shit list.
So far, I am not seeing anything but a new election as Plan B. ALP should have made the move and brought the Independents on board, that was the best fit.
I wonder if the Coalition will hold if there is a new election? Now that would really shake things up.
I wonder if the Coalition will hold if there is a new election? Now that would really shake things up.
😆 You know more about Aussie political nuances than many Aussies m8! 😉 😀
That already started to happen before the election, in Qld. (which isn’t surprising actually). A new party was formed from disenfranchised Coalition (Liberal & National Part) members, called: Liberal National Party of Queensland. 🙂
BTW, we have some cool (and very weird parties) created before this election, like “Australian Fishing and Lifestyle Party” (QLD, 2007), Australian Sex Party (ACT, 2009) (No surprise there! ACT *IS* the defacto Sex capital, as well as Federal Capitol, of Aus! That has to do with it being a Territory, rather than State. So “State” Laws don’t apply!) 😉 Typical Politicians everywhere, ehh? 😀
Anyway, here’s the current list:
Current Register of Political Parties
It’s good for a laugh! 😆
And, for the record, I am b>ALL for shaking things up! 😀
Abbott doesn’t seem very interested in making a deal with the independents, which would put stress on the Coalition, as there are certainly members who want access to power, even if there has to be a few compromises. That’s why I wondered about the possible split.
Our laws make minor parties very difficult to form. They normally require some funding source to be credible, and that usually means a wealthy founder, rather than pooling of money.
It’s getting quite interesting. 🙂 The Indie’s are feeling the power for sure! They pretty much all have demanded as part of any deal that Aussie troops are withdrawn from Afghanistan by end of year. They state (rightly), that we have no National reason to be there, we are loosing valuable, highly-skilled troops for no good reason in a fight we cannot win. And it seems the majority of Aussies feel the same way. We fielded two SAS teams to Iraq for 4 years with no losses. Of the teams we sent to Afghanistan over two years, we have lost 4 SAS troops. It’s not worth it.
Anyway, Antony Green has compiled an excellent summary of just where we are re the election. It’s not at all as simple as most people (including Aussies) think. 🙂
Hung Parliament – Where to From Here?
Green also answers good questions and clarifications in comments. 🙂
My impression was these guys know how to negotiate, and now that Abbott was forced to blink, they should ramp up demands to see how far they can push. Back the day when I was involved in labor negotiations we would throw everything including the kitchen sink, while ready to give up a lot of things. There’s no other way of knowing what the other side is willing to do unless you push.
Abbott pushed back too quickly and injured his side. Gillard is going to have to push back some, or just resign, because you can’t give the other side everything and expect support from your side.
Frankly, I don’t think either of the major party leaders is up to the job, as neither seems to understand negotiations. That’s one of the biggest problems with two party systems – everything becomes binary, as if there are only two solutions. It’s to the point that the “leaders” only talk to people who agree with them. That’s no way to run a democracy.