KEVIN RUDD - Wins the Australian Federal election!

[2020hindsight]

You cant have a half senate election without a double dissolution, the risk being that you will put under the hammer all of your seats in the House of Reps. You would want to be sure that you will not get a swing against you, as you may loose some of your governing majority.

Actually it's a hung senate. :-
coaltion loses its majority end of the jun2008.

early days but ....

Coalition 37
ALP 32
Greens look like 5 (these would balance , 32+5 = 37 )

I hope this Xenophon bloke (ant pokies) isn't Xenophobic etc..

"ok Mr Rudd it's ok to declare war on Fiji - just as long as you ban all pokermachines after 9pm" .. etc


(sheesh don't talk about double dissolutionment - and the big risk that Johnny howard might get back in lol) no way !! - don't go there !!

(PS end of the democrats - Meg Lees did a good job way back there when GST was introduced etc - imo)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/25/2100442.htm
Greens, Xenophon likely to hold Senate balance
Posted 1 hour 56 minutes ago
Updated 1 hour 26 minutes ago

Early results in the Senate point to an unwieldy Upper House for Kevin Rudd's Labor government.

With over 65 per cent of votes counted in all states and territories, both Labor and the Coalition look likely to gain 18 seats in the Upper House.

With the addition of continuing Senators, the ALP will have 32 seats, and the Coalition 37.

The Coalition looks set to lose its majority in July, when newly elected state Senators take their seats.

Anti-pokies independent campaigner Nick Xenophon has picked up the third Senate seat in South Australia.

The Greens look set to pick up a second Senate seat in Western Australia, meaning they will have five senators.

Western Australia's Greens candidate Scott Ludlam says it is too soon to claim the second Senate spot, but he is pleased with how things are looking.

"We're really happy with how we've done in Western Australia," he said.

"It's a long time since we've had two Western Australian Greens Senators and if I get to take part in sort of shaping things around climate change and energy issues, in particular, in the next couple of years that would be fantastic."

Continuing Family First Senator Steve Fielding will round out the minor party presence in the Upper House.


Democrat decline
Labor is set to pick up a Senate spot in Queensland at the expense of the Democrats.
The sixth Senate position is expected to be won by union offical Mark Furner while ALP Senators John Hogg and Claire Moore have been returned.
Nationals stalwart Ron Boswell is likely to keep his spot and the Liberals' Ian MacDonald and Sue Boyce will retain their seats.

Queensland Democrat Andrew Bartlett says last night's result is the end of an era.
"I think it's pretty hard to see a path forward for the party at the moment frankly but that's for the membership as a whole to decide," he said.

 

[Knobby22]

Where do you get the stickers. I want one that says" THANK ME I VOTED LABOR"

Good one!

 

[Aussie2Aussie]

Doh! I forgot that Rudd can actually call a double dissolution of both houses of Parliament if the Liberal Senate turns hostile on legislation he feels was mandated by the Australian electors.

Should I predict a return to the polling booth pre-July next year?

Or should I have faith that the Lib senators won't be too spiteful after the "shredding" of so many of their colleagues last night?
AJ

No, July is to soon, he (Rudd) would want to get some runs on the board first and my prediction is that the world economy will be an ugly place by mid next year, which will be showing through here.

In the meantime Rudd will be break the heart of the unions, state governments, hospitals and people looking for cheap entry into the property market, that or he will damn the economy.

The balance of power will be held by Nick ...... something greek, from SA, which will deny the Greens their wet dream of controlling the Senate. All of this so much reminds me of 1972 and you know where that ended.

 

[Julia]

Re: KEVIN RUDD - Wins the Australian Federal election !

I find this argument somewhat like the argument for cheap drugs.

We shouldn't raise the price of credit because that will hurt so many who depend on it.

We shouldn't raise the price of cigarettes because that will hurt so many who are dependent on them.

We shouldn't raise the price of heroin because that will hurt so many who are addicted to it.

Never mind that it was the cheap and easy availability of credit, cigarettes, heroin etc that got them hooked and lead to the situation in the first place. It's not high interest rates that are the problem, but variations in rates - people wouldn't have such huge mortgages if we'd never had low rates.

Aiming for stable interest rates is more important than their actual level IMO.

Smurf, it seems a bit odd to me to compare the cost of interest rates with the cost of addictive drugs!!
Usually I have the greatest of respect for your views, but not this time.
I don't think it's fair - in light of John Howard at the last election suggesting (though carefully not actually saying) that re-election of a Liberal government would ensure low (stable) interest rates - not to consider the impact of rising rates on not just home owners, but business owners, plus all our large companies.

Accept your point, however, about stability of rates. How do you think this could best be achieved? Are you saying that if it were possible to guarantee the stability of , say, the cash rate at 8% then everyone would be better off????

 

[Aussie2Aussie]

Actually it's a hung senate. :-
coaltion loses its majority end of the jun2008.

That has nothing to do with what I was saying about a double dissolution.

 

[numbercruncher]

LABOR targeted the young vote cleverly ,my 18year old daughter and friends seen Rudd on Sunrise ,Rove heard him on FM radio knew he was on Myspace and related to the Kevin07 campange so this bunch of first time voters thought her was cool and voted Labor

True ....

But the Liberals never quite comprehended that their voter base was the working class, and in their typical secretive arrogance turned on the working class with these stupid Industrial relations changes.

This election loss for lib is a collection of many things, look how many votes the Greens got, massive ! The enviromental vote must of been huge, shown not just in the amount the green's got but Labor would of got a huge amount of votes on Enviromental policy alone.

So you could pretty much sum up Liberal's humiliating loss from three areas, Working class turning, enviromental vote and the young (gen y especially). Also alot of older voters struggling at the poverty line on Government pensions.

Next election will be the big test for Labor. But i expect 90pc of people coming of voting age between now and then will go Labor or Green. Our nation and indeed the planet does after all belong to the next generation, we merely borrow it from them

 

[2020hindsight]

aussie 2 aussie 2 aussie - oi oi oi ...
You are forgetting that I responded to what you said to aussie jeff

PS as for whether its double dissolution or a double dissolutionment - I still prefer my spelling .

That has nothing to do with what I was saying about a double dissolution.

I thought it was relevant that at least the coalition had lost it's majority??
you disagree obviously - good for you m8 lol.
I'm off to the beach - I reckon the sun is looking magic today.

 

[Julia]

Re: KEVIN RUDD - Wins the Australian Federal election !

Julia .... Julia ....... you really should of listened to the Labor adverts or read the kevin07 website there is literally dozens of differences .......

Numbercruncher, Numbercruncher (that's a lot more typing than Julia, Julia),
please, please stop saying "should of". In a perverse sort of way I am sort of vaguely fond of you, but this is driving me insane. Please, please: should have.

A education revolution

A catch phrase which has been repeated faithfully by all party members.
We will wait and see what the revolution will consist of. A friend of mine who is a teacher said "well, laptops for teachers would be a start!"

Abolishing workchoices

Another slogan. In reality they are going to tweak it around the edges.

Repairing our Hospital system

Easier said than done. Chronic shortage of doctors and nurses .
Nonetheless, they can't do worse than the current situation which is dire.

NO Nuclear reactors in your neighbourhood

I am uncommitted at this stage about nuclear energy but imagine it will have to be a reality at some stage. Meantime, yes, I do like that they will at least attempt to give some attention to wind and solar etc. Not sure, though, how feasible that is on any sort of large scale.

Dental care

I've already pointed out on another thread that this sounds terrific, is terrific, hugely needed, BUT there is a chronic shortage of dentists so I'm not sure how they are going to do this.
And yes, before anyone feels obliged to point out that the shortage of said dentists is as a result of - like doctors - the Commonwealth withdrawing places/funding, I absolutely agree and think Mr Howard et al should be shot for this. (well perhaps not quite such a severe punishment, but close.)



[QUOTE}Ratifying Kyoto[/QUOTE]
OK, fine. But Kyoto is yesterday's agreement now.



[QUOTE}A world class broadband network{/QUOTE]
Oh, right. I think that was the initial claim. But later it was changed to "wherever possible". So if you're not currently able to access broadband, don't hold your breath expecting Labor to provide it in the next five minutes.

come on your surely pulling my leg, you hadnt heard of any of this ? Liberals dont want anything to do with these extremist policy's. Could propbably view this election as Generational change as much as anything else.

Now there I think you are 100% right. Generational change is probably the greatest single factor.

Look, Numbercruncher, although I voted for the Libs you know that I was less than delighted to do so. I think Kevin Rudd is very bright and perhaps he will indeed be a different sort of Labor leader and will fulfil his promise of 'governing for all Australians". It's great that there are so many women in Parliament. I don't much like Julia Gillard but again she is very bright and perhaps she too will prove herself to not be the tool of the Unions.

The speeches from all the leaders, failed and successful, last night were impressive and a credit to each of them. From now on, I and I think many other people who were previous Liberal supporters, will genuinely look forward to hopefully seeing an innovative new government.

With kind regards
(and no, I would never, ever pull your leg!)
Julia

 

[2020hindsight]

You cant have a half senate election without a double dissolution, the risk being that you will put under the hammer all of your seats in the House of Reps. You would want to be sure that you will not get a swing against you, as you may loose some of your governing majority.

Actually it's a hung senate. .. etc :-
coaltion loses its majority end of the jun2008.

(sheesh don't talk about double dissolutionment - and the big risk that Johnny howard might get back in lol) no way !! - don't go there !!

PS a2a - I was agreeing with you, and speculating on the horrible possibilities btw -

I think you'll find that not even Johnny himself wants him to come back.

PS This last election was as much a referendum on one man "JH" as it was about any number of other things. (morals etc)

 

[2020hindsight]

The balance of power will be held by Nick ...... something greek, from SA, which will deny the Greens their wet dream of controlling the Senate.

Nick Xenophon
refer the post you dismissed as nothing to do with etc

PS there is no truth in the rumour that he put $5K on the pokies at 20 to 1 , and crossed his fingers - and when it won - that's how he financed his campaign

PS As I say back there let's hope he's not Xenophobic.

PS as for denying the greens their dreams ( wet or dry - more likely dry these days - given global warming ) -
it's one thing not to have majority
but it's another not to be relevant.
And no way will they be irrelevant with 5 senators - looking at that finely balanced scenario (first glance anyway)

 

[Knobby22]

PS a2a -

PS This last election was as much a referendum on one man "JH" as it was about any number of other things. (morals etc)

Good point! The Liberals used to have more of the moral high ground over Labor.
In this election they felt a bit "dirty" with some of the racist wedging tactics and nasty thing their supporters were saying (and doing in at least one well known case).

It disgusted me that when Maxine McKew appeared, in the Liberal rooms one young Liberal supporter yelled out "get a facelift you old moll". The Liberals have to have a look at why they are getting such ugly supporters at the present and do something about it.

 

[2020hindsight]

Good point! The Liberals used to have more of the moral high ground over Labor.
In this election they felt a bit "dirty" with some of the racist wedging tactics and nasty thing their supporters were saying (and doing in at least one well known case).

It disgusted me that when Maxine McKew appeared, in the Liberal rooms one young Liberal supporter yelled out "get a facelift you old moll". The Liberals have to have a look at why they are getting such ugly supporters at the present and do something about it.

Not wrong m8
and such justice that Maxine probably got across the line due to that racial bogus "Islamic" handout in Lindsay ....

probably cost JH his seat

how appropriate that racial "doubletalk" (which helped him so much in the past) was his final undoing ( again IMO )

(I still hope to see Jackie Kelly and co brought to justice - let's get the message across that aussies don't like cheats - especially racial bigot "gangs")

 

[numbercruncher]

It disgusted me that when Maxine McKew appeared, in the Liberal rooms one young Liberal supporter yelled out "get a facelift you old moll". The Liberals have to have a look at why they are getting such ugly supporters at the present and do something about it.

Yes ive noticed this over time too, and the rude interuptions and yelling during the ex pms speech. Seem the liberals have been attracting alot of ugly supporters as you say.

Another thing ive never seen a (ex) PM get so much heckling and abuse whilst out and about, probably a sign of diminishing society values as much as frustration over his divisive and feudal policies.

 

[Aussiejeff]

Good point! The Liberals used to have more of the moral high ground over Labor.
In this election they felt a bit "dirty" with some of the racist wedging tactics and nasty thing their supporters were saying (and doing in at least one well known case).

It disgusted me that when Maxine McKew appeared, in the Liberal rooms one young Liberal supporter yelled out "get a facelift you old moll". The Liberals have to have a look at why they are getting such ugly supporters at the present and do something about it.

On the ABC radio here in Wodonga this morning, they played a sound grab of an hysterical female Liberal supporter after JH gave his farewell speech sobbing uncontrollably and totally beside herself and yelling something like "I love John Howard - how could Australia vote him out ... I HATE Australians now, I wish I wasn't Australian any more ... I HATE Australia!!"

I'm not sure even JH himself would have approved of such "anti-Australian" hate sentiment by an Australian citizen......

I think that sort of uncontrolled, emotional outburst by this fanatical supporter sums up the very socially divisive nature of the Howard years.... I honestly hope for this country's sake that this sort of bitterness and scorn dies down over the coming months.

 

[Aussiejeff]

No, July is to soon, he (Rudd) would want to get some runs on the board first and my prediction is that the world economy will be an ugly place by mid next year, which will be showing through here.

In the meantime Rudd will be break the heart of the unions, state governments, hospitals and people looking for cheap entry into the property market, that or he will damn the economy.

The balance of power will be held by Nick ...... something greek, from SA, which will deny the Greens their wet dream of controlling the Senate. All of this so much reminds me of 1972 and you know where that ended.

If, as you predict, everything will be so much worse by July next year, why wouldn't Rudd be better moving to a Double Dissolution ASAP? There would still be plenty of support for him in the "honeymoon" period, without waiting for the wheels to fall off like Gough.

AJ

 

[numbercruncher]

Re: KEVIN RUDD - Wins the Australian Federal election !

Numbercruncher, Numbercruncher (that's a lot more typing than Julia, Julia),
please, please stop saying "should of". In a perverse sort of way I am sort of vaguely fond of you, but this is driving me insane. Please, please: should have.

Fair Julia ... Fair Julia ......


I will most certainly try to accomodate this grammar fetish, I should have from the very beginning.

 

[ithatheekret]

PS This last election was as much a referendum on one man "JH" as it was about any number of other things. (morals etc)

I think Bennelongs swing after 30 years semaphores that clearly .

Australia has spoken loudly , with 85 seats , I think they screamed it out at the booths .

Some of the tactics put to use by a few Liberals support groups , is nothing less than unconscionable conduct , unbecoming of an Australian and having denigrated the fair go forum that the majority of Australians adhere to and hold sacred .

 

[robots]

hello,

its all about johnny and getting rid of HIM,

labor will tweak everthing just a little and then Rudd will bail out like bracks and beattie when it gets too hard

at least JH takes it to the people

thankyou

robots

 

[skint]

The coming year will indeed be interesting. With the coalition and f/first together having 38 seats, the best labor can hope for is 38 also {labor (32), the greens (5) and zenaphon (1)}. In light of the political fallout, the coalition may (key word - may) agree to some changes such as ratifying Kyoto, but its a real stretch to see them supporting IR changes etc.. How many feel a double dissolution is a 'when' rather than an 'if'? Maybe both parties will continue with internal polling to guage their prospects, in the event of both houses be dissolved. Maybe labor will call it on the 11/11/08 for old times sake lol.

 

[Lounge Lizard]

It seems many on this forum fail to grasp the signifigance of this election victory by Rudd, suggesting that nothing will change or that Labor will be straight back out the door again next election. The Liberal party as a whole has been utterly devastated by this loss. I suggest anyone who doubts this has a close look at Andrew Bolt's comments on the ABC's Insiders program this morning. Bolt is as sober, realistic and conservative as they come.