After 17 days, we have a PM and a government!

Phew. That was close.

The Sun rose with the coalition on 73, Labor on 74, three undecided.

Around noon, Katter announced he was supporting the coalition. 74 all.

Then Windsor, and then Oakeshott, very s-l-o-w-l-y announced that they would support Labor. 76-74.

The incumbent (Gillard) remains as Prime Minister with a minority in the lower house, with support in matters of supply (passing the budget) and motions of confidence from four of the five independents.

Labor also have a minority in the upper house, with Greens (mostly) holding the balance of power.

So, in effect, the "working class" city folk are the government, but they have to be nice to the bushies and the greenies; and the middle and wealthy classes make up the opposition.

There are mechanisms in our constitution for early elections if government becomes unworkable. Will this strange arrangement last a full three year term?

I'm really happy with this result, both for the immediate political arrangement and for the reinvigoration of the parliamentary process.

Zen's post today lead me to re-read the entire thread,
and then get into casi's 8/24 link to the sbs.com website.
It's a fascinating read for someone like me who has never followed Australian politics.
Been there once, but only as an in-and-out business trip.

I can't say I am really understanding yet it as much as I should.
The parliamentary system is still new to me, but I'll keep learning.
But it's been a happy morning in the rain peeking in on all this.

Thank you Aliantha, ZenGum, casimendocina, et al.

I don't think the public have paid this much attention to an election since Gough Whitlam (I am making this assertion with no back-up evidence whatsoever) although everyone I knew was on the edge of their seats last election to see if John Howard would finally get ousted or not. I, personally, would have liked to have seen Tony Abbott's implosion on receiving the news that he was not to be PM. I wonder if they'll start letting him speak without a script again.

Ya, Tony must be seething inside. He is carrying himself well, so far.

Yeah well, just wait till a couple of days into the next sitting of parliament!

Ali, can you say why Queensland went so against Labor? I hear the economy up there has been below par lately, is that it? Or were people ticked off about the Rudd dumping?

It was partly about Rudd, partly about the mining tax and partly because our labor Premier is a dingbat. In a nutshell anyway.

It's important to remember that before Labor sank their teeth in with Labor, Qld was a National's stronghold (although that was largely in part thanks to Joh's gerrymander), but even so we'd traditionally been a very conservative state ruled by rural decisions. Remember, Brisband was still considered to be a big country town until about 20 yrs ago.

I doubt Labor will win the next state election, particularly if they keep Spanna Bligh as their leader. She is such an idiot.

Was checking out the ABC website looking for an interview with a media guy from Afghanistan and found this. It's got a bit of everything including the election.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...m?site=thedrum

Where is the part about this spring's expected locust plaque?

That's between the locusts and their dentist.

You see...the guys who were doing the locust survey that we met in Cradock pub 10 weeks ago still haven't made it back to the capital city to submit their report. They're still busy surveying locusts (i.e. Do you swarm often?).

Not only can we not settle an election, we can't settle the footy either.

Grand final of the Aussie Rules football, Collingwood Vs St Kilda, two old Melbourne teams. The last time they played a final It was St Kilda 74 - 73.

This time St Kilda came back from 24 points down around half time to edge in front near the end, only to have the match finish in a draw at 68 - 68.

Extra time? Not us.
Golden goal? bah!
Penalty kicks? for sooks.
Come back next weekend and play the whole game again? Brilliant!

Does everyone have to buy new tickets?

Bit of a shame for those who had scheduled their wedding to be AFTER the end of the football season and the grand final.