Re: The Australian Federal Election 2010 Thread (III)

[G.Wood]

If we go back to the polls, I reckon a bunch of people who were toying with the idea of voting for an independent might just say 'f*ck you' to the major parties, and we could wind up with more independents.

Except in my part of the world, where they'd still vote for Menzies.

Only those twit electorates that voted in an indie/green should be forced to go back to the polls and made to vote for a proper party

[bodyline]

Abbott agrees to costings


THE three Independent MPs who will decide the fate of Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott will get access to full costings of election promises, the Prime Minister has said.

Ms Gillard has announced this afternoon that she and Mr Abbott have agreed to supply Tony Windsor, Bob Katter and Rob Oakeshott with full costings of election pledges and their impact on the federal Budget.

She has said Mr Abbott has asked for "further conditions" to be set on the release of the information, in addition to conditions set by top bureaucrats. They are:

- that any costings assumptions or background information provided not also go to Ms Gillard's or Wayne Swans's offices;
- that the Coalition should receive full costings on Labor's national broadband network and minerals resources rent tax policies. Ms Gillard has offered extra briefings from Treasury if Mr Abbott wants it;


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- Mr Abbott also raised concerns about where that information might go after the Independents received it. Ms Gillard has said if they wanted to release the information it would be up to them.

"Whatever decision they come to, they will be asked why they made those decisions. They should be able to freely report why," the Prime Minister has said. "I believe that the matter is now resolved."

She has said the full costings information from both sides should be made public after a decision on minoity government is made. "The government is happy to be transparent about its election policy costings as checked by Treasury and the impact of those policies on the Budget bottom line. I'm asking Mr Abbott to be as open, transparent and honest with the Australian people as I am prepared to be."

The costings report was the top priority on a list of seven demands put formward by the three Independents as they make up their minds on which leader to support after last Saturday's federal election delivered a hung parliament.

In the latest update on the counting, the Coalition will almost certainly have 73 lower house seats and Labor 72 after the Liberals retained Hasluck, appeared to have won Brisbane but failed to pick up Corangamite. That would essentially translate to 73-each after Mr Bandt's declaration that he would support a Labor minority.

Greens

Ms Gillard has also held talks today with Senator Brown and Greens MP Adam Bandt. She has called the talks "positive and constructive".

Senator Brown has said the talks were positive, but would not divulge details. "We are looking at what assurances there would need to be to give stable government for the future of this country," he said. "There is progress afoot there."

Senator Brown has repeatedly tried to step back from Mr Bandt's early support for Labor, saying he still wants to talk to Mr Abbott and the Coalition. Earlier in the week, Mr Abbott said he had called Mr Bandt but he not heard back.

Today it has been Senator Brown's turn to ask for a return phone call. He has said Mr Abbott had promised he would be in touch by today, but so far he heard nothing. "(I'm) very happy to talk to him about the same matters, if he wants to do that."

Are the Independents wielding too much power? Vote in our poll.
The Punch: Elections are too expensive to rush back to a new vote

But even when a deal is reached on who forms minority government, the Senate could pose a separate problem. The Greens won the balance of power in the Senate at Saturday's election, but under parliament's rules they will not take their places until July 1, 2011. Until then, the pre-election Senate remains in place.

Victorian Family First Senator Steve Fielding - who is facing losing his Senate seat - is threatening to put a Labor government in gridlock next year and South Australia's Nick Xenophon is vowing to force a new national crackdown on poker machines.

Senator Fielding, who holds a casting vote in the Senate until July 1 next year, has declared the "voters are not happy with Labor", and he has to decide whether to block everything it does.

Anti-poker machine campaigner Senator Xenophon has said he will align with new Tasmanian lower house Independent MP Andrew Wilkie to create new alliances between the House of Representatives and the Senate. Senator Xenophon has said he thinks co-operation between the Independents in the House and Senate is not a "bad thing".

"If having Independents holding the balance of power in the lower house means that both the House of Representatives and the Senate start talking to each other and start co-operating in a way to help legislation get through or to deal with legislation more effectively then that's a good thing for democracy," Senator Xenophon said.

Mr Wilkie, who will meet Senator Xenophon in Hobart today, has said the rise of the Independents provides an unprecedented opportunity to energise the public debate about poker machines and bring about genuine national reform.



Read more: http://www.news.com.au/features/federal-election/gillard-greens-in-talks-on-minority-deal/story-e6frfllr-1225910859107#ixzz0xlxzZ6N8

[G.Wood]

So much for the costings being a precious gift that should not be given away lightly

[horace]

pellboy has mismanaged the costings issue

[JGK]

Sportsbet won't let me put any more money on the Coalition.

[JGK]

Looks like Aboott is trying to act like a leader...


The Coalition has slapped down a threat by the family First Senator, Steve Fielding, to try to cripple a Labor government, by refusing to endorse him in blocking supply.
Senator Fielding appears to have lost his seat but will sit in the Senate until June 30.
He claims Labor does not deserve to govern the country and if it forms a minority government, he will use his crucial Senate vote to block all Labor legislation, including its next budget.
\However, to be effective he would need the support of the Coalition.
A spokesman for the Coalition leader, Tony Abbott, said if the Coalition were in Opposition, it would not block supply.
The Greens Senator, Bob Brown, further ridiculed Senator Fielding's threat. From July 1, the Greens would assume the balance of power in the Senate.
Even if Senator Fielding succeeded in blocking the budget, the Greens would unblock it on July 1, the day the budget came into effect.
Phillip Coorey is the chief political correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald.

[Mick Sawyer]

pellboy

snigger

[Zat]

Antony Green has declared the LNP over the line in Brisbane.

Coalition 73*
ALP 72
Ind 4
Green 1

* includes the wackjob from the WA Nationals who deposed Wilson Tuckey but will sit on the cross benches.

[Bradman]

I think we should go back to the polls

But a lot of people say, just because you don't like the result, does not mean you go back to the polls. I can see their point.

Most of us would like to see reform in the political process. A minority government might provide the leverage.

Alright Mick. This is our first and last chance to have at least a meaningful debate on our governmental processes. It might even lead to a minor overhaul of our outdated constitution.

[Zat]

So, where to from here?

Antony Green's election blog article explains a lot.

[horace]

I strongly doubt any good will come of this...

my view is just leave it to the public servants to run the joint...tho I'd be inclined to boot out Ken Henry and other flat earth economists in Treasury

[Bradman]

Abbott trying to keep too many gulible qunts in the air.

[Bradman]

Big backflip by His Accidency's heir apparent. Hehehehe!

[horace]

I expect that there will also be a push for electoral reform..

I suggest the following be deleted from the electoral roll
god botherers of any description
flat earth economists
climate change deniers
greens
employees of or shareholders in News Ltd
collingwood, bronco, west coast and manly supporters
the ACB and its chair of selectors
anyone who negatively gears or owns more than one property
poms with dual citizenship

[Hass]

There is no need to go back to the polls.

We don't vote directly for a prime minister in this country - we elect a parliament.

Whoever can win the support of parliament will form a government.

Unlike previous parliaments, the government will not be assured of confidence for its entire term and will actually have to be responsive to parliament and - by proxy - the people.

It will be refreshing to have some democracy and accountabilty for a change instead of an elected dictatorship.

[horace]

There is no need to go back to the polls.

We don't vote directly for a prime minister in this country - we elect a parliament.

Whoever can win the support of parliament will form a government.

Unlike previous parliaments, the government will not be assured of confidence for its entire term and will actually have to be responsive to parliament and - by proxy - the people.

It will be refreshing to have some democracy and accountabilty for a change instead of an elected dictatorship.

good one Edmond Burke

[Bradman]

There is no need to go back to the polls.

We don't vote directly for a prime minister in this country - we elect a parliament.

Whoever can win the support of parliament will form a government.

Unlike previous parliaments, the government will not be assured of confidence for its entire term and will actually have to be responsive to parliament and - by proxy - the people.

It will be refreshing to have some democracy and accountabilty for a change instead of an elected dictatorship.

good one Edmond Burke

Yeah but this is so refreshing Horrie. We're about to see if the system works as the spivs and vomits imagined it 110 years ago.

[Hass]

While we're on Burke:

Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion.

I think the independents would do well to keep Burke's quote in mind when making their decision.

[Bradman]

While we're on Burke:

Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion.

I think the independents would do well to keep Burke's quote in mind when making their decision.

That quote could well come in handy as it seems the three amigos constituents all want them to go all the way with the Mad Monk.

I mean why would you waste money commissioning that sort of poll Hass. The answer was a lay down misere.

[Zat]

it seems the three amigos constituents all want them to go all the way with the Mad Monk.

Surely a case of having one's cake and eating it too? Not voting for Rabbit, but wanting your independent to go with Rabbit. They deserve whatever they get foisted upon them.

[Bradman]

I want Bob to screw them for everything he can get, get the fark back home, shut his farking mouth and side with the little ranga princess.

[Blackadder]

Aye Zat, if they wanted the Mad Monk vote for there local lib/nat candidate.
Obviously not the sharpest tools.

[Zat]

Well, we are talkaing about some pretty backward parts of the country.

[Blackadder]

Indeed any electorate that elects Katter.

[taipan]

I would have voted for Julia's tits

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