Will she be an autocrat or will she listen to her ministers? Will the ministers now have more say in the direction their portfolios take?

Ok.....

 

What now for defence with a minority Labor Government in coalition with the Greens? http://www.strategypage.com/CuteSoft_Client/CuteEditor/Images/emcrook.gif" alt="" />

 

How long till the next election...........?  I'm guessing months rather than years.

 

The impression I get is there are a lot of people who will wake up in the morning and be wondering what they have done, surely a stabble Liberal or Labor Government would be preferable to what we now appear to be heading towards and those who wasted their votes in protest against Labor or in fear of Abbot will be regretting their choice.

I'm not so sure that Lab will get in - it hinges on the postals for a number of seats.. postals have traditionally been weighted to the Libs.

good thing we were planning for change, although some of the noise coming out of the hill was that both sides intended to undertake slash and burn of the PS outside of the usual "attrition only mantra"

defence has already handed over $20bn in forced savings, so they might ride out some of this, but if what we heard was right - then defence is up for major cuts as well.

that means loss of bodies, loss of programs etc...

the next security council meeting will be "interesting" 

 

Last night Bob Katter made the point that the firm two party model that we have in Australia is not normal compared to th rest of the World. In many other countries there are minority governments and what that means is that the major parity's have to listen to other people's views. I would have thought as a centrist you might like the idea? It may do out democracy the world of good.

Anyway, my pick is that if the seats go the way Anthony Green is calling (which looks pretty firm at this stage), the Coalition will govern with the support of the three country conservative independents. As Barnarby Joysce said last night, those guys can't support the ALP if they want to get reelected next time, their electorates are too conservative.  Andrew Wilkie from Tasmania is a bit of a wildcard to, he is an ex-Green but describes himself as a centrist and is fairly focussed on rural Tasmanian issues.

 

The most disturbing thing of the night is that the Democratic Labor Party got a seat in the Victorian senate. Those mad bastards won't have any power in this Senate, but they will be around for two terms so if Abbott gets in then wins back seats at the next election we could have a conservative Catholic PM with a ultra conservative Catholic party with the balance of power in the Senate. Scary.

 

The three ex nat independents were on the 7:30 report tonight and after listening to them I am far more confident that things will pan out ok.  None of the three are fans of the Nats and none of them have the time of day for Joyce or Truss, all three appear to be more progressive and technolically savvy than Abbot so no matter who they support they will be pushing for some much needed electoral reform.

 

All three seem convinced of the need for the NBN and health reform, two of the three believe something has to be done about climate change and one is very definitely for a big Australia. 

 

I am feeling much better now having heard and seen the people who will likely hold the balance of power.