2010 Federal Election

[prawn_86]

London to a brick the AUD will cop a hammering,

Dead right there. This is the worst possible outcome for the AUD. Good for me though

 

[Julia]

I watched the 7.30 Report special tonight. O'Brien interviewed the three original independents. It reinforced my view that Bob Katter is a loose cannon. I would put him on a par with Barnaby Joyce for intelligence. The Party that includes him is taking the risk that this maverick has the power to bring down the government.

And neither Party can form government without him. Another election is looming.

I had the same impression. Bob Katter is as full of malice toward his former Party as is Mark Latham, and this will mean he lacks the capacity for objectivity as an Independent. The other two came across as reasonably intelligent and sensible. I found myself thinking how refreshing it was to listen to politicians who seemed like real people rather than cardboard cutouts spouting the same taped spin.

 

[trainspotter]

Dead right there. This is the worst possible outcome for the AUD. Good for me though

Hahahhaha good onya Prawn _86 !! Every cloud has a silver lining ! I bet you are looking forward to going to work tomorrow ! LOLOL

 

[drsmith]

I had the same impression. Bob Katter is as full of malice toward his former Party as is Mark Latham, and this will mean he lacks the capacity for objectivity as an Independent. The other two came across as reasonably intelligent and sensible. I found myself thinking how refreshing it was to listen to politicians who seemed like real people rather than cardboard cutouts spouting the same taped spin.

Bob Katter seems to have the same protectionalist ideas as Barnaby Joyce and comes across at least as loopy, if not more so.

The three independents may do well to have Andrew Wilkie as part of their group, should he get up. That way a Coalition minority government would have 77 seats should Hasluck fall the right way. It's then very much not in the interest of any one independent to go feral.

The independents would also then be a diverse group who could over different perspectives to consider on issues, perhaps without the socialist radicalism of the Greens. Although originally of Green origin, Andrew Wilkie described himself on election night as more moderate than the Greens IIRC.

 

[basilio]

Originally Posted by Calliope View Post
I watched the 7.30 Report special tonight. O'Brien interviewed the three original independents. It reinforced my view that Bob Katter is a loose cannon. I would put him on a par with Barnaby Joyce for intelligence. The Party that includes him is taking the risk that this maverick has the power to bring down the government.

And neither Party can form government without him. Another election is looming.

I had the same impression. Bob Katter is as full of malice toward his former Party as is Mark Latham, and this will mean he lacks the capacity for objectivity as an Independent. The other two came across as reasonably intelligent and sensible. I found myself thinking how refreshing it was to listen to politicians who seemed like real people rather than cardboard cutouts spouting the same taped spin. Quoted Julia

Saw the 7.30 report as well. I actually feel really, really good about the possibilities of a new government. I'm very impressed with the 2 bright independents. I can see some very constructive political processes evolving with those guys directing the show.

True Bob Katter is no genius but to his credit he's bright enough to know that he isn't the sharpest tool in the box and acknowledges that he will allow the other two independents to do the thinking. I suspect he will defer to their input and essentially try to get some particular value for his area.

As I see it these guys can see a very special opportunity to constructively reform Australian politics and of course the only way that can happen is if they hold the balance of power. So they won't be in any hurry to go to a fresh election which could easily result in a narrow win by either major party.

I believe in the end we will see a Gillard government supported by the independents.

Why ?

1) The three independents just don't have any time or respect for the nationals - and seemingly with good reason

2) The nationals were stupid enough to actually attack them and basically prove their social ineptness

3) From the sound of the conversations I thought the independents showed very strong support for the National Broad Band network, tackling Global Warming and getting stuck into renewable energy. I just can't see the Libs stomaching those agendas

4) I think Gillard will be a more practical and adept negotiator. I understand that at least in the time of the Labour government they were treated with respect and will recognise that in their negotiations.

 

[drsmith]

The ALP with 72 seats could govern with the 3 independents above and Andrew Wilkie leaving Adam Bandt (Green) out in the cold.

I can't imagine the above 3 independents being too keen (Bob Katter inparticular) on a carbon tax or fast trains between interstate capitals.

 

[Logique]

Have people heard the expression crazy like a fox? Don't underestimate these rural MPs just because they don't bother with the affectation of some big-city wine critic. That wouldn't play in the bush. They know their people, and that's why I don't believe they would ever side with Labor, except on isolated policies (such as megabucks universal fibre optic broadband).

If the three ex-Nat indeps enter a coalition with Labor, they are effectively saying to their electorates '..I'm retiring at the next election..' Because they'd be turfed out and they know it. Tony Windsor is enjoying himself too much to risk that.

Windsor is the member for rural New England and supports a mining tax. Rob Oakshot is the member for rural Coffs Harbour and supports an ETS. If you want to look for intellectual erraticism - I'd suggest you start there.

(No I am not Barnaby Joyce).

 

[brty]

The 3 existing independents have done so well because they are independent. Each of them will lose a lot of support by siding with either party to form a government. I think they also know this intuitively.

Where this leads is anyone's guess. My take is that they have to go with whoever has the policies closest to their own as a group, but clearly state they will be voting against legislation that is against their policies and let the public know it.

Doing this has to lead to some instability whoever forms a minority government and back to the polls we go within a year or so. These independents are men of conviction and they have been around the traps for a while, they will not be held hostage by anyone.

brty

 

[sails]

The 3 existing independents have done so well because they are independent. Each of them will lose a lot of support by siding with either party to form a government. I think they also know this intuitively.

Where this leads is anyone's guess. My take is that they have to go with whoever has the policies closest to their own as a group, but clearly state they will be voting against legislation that is against their policies and let the public know it.

Doing this has to lead to some instability whoever forms a minority government and back to the polls we go within a year or so. These independents are men of conviction and they have been around the traps for a while, they will not be held hostage by anyone.

brty

Brty, I agree that they will most likely support one side of their choosing to form government but it will be on the condition that they are not "owned" by that party. After that, they will be free to cross the floor as they see fit.

However, votes are still being counted and, until that is completed, it's all speculation. If the cards all fall one way or the other, independants may not be needed. Unlikely, but not impossible either.

 

[Calliope]

These independents are men of conviction and they have been around the traps for a while, they will not be held hostage by anyone.

It's great to be parochial when you are an independent. When you are part of the government you have to be a team player or the government will fall. There has to be a limit to the size of the pork barrels they barter for.

 

[gav]

The best coverage of our election so far!


What Taiwan thinks of our election:

 

[trainspotter]

Bob Katter, independent MP from up Townsville way and soon to be Australian king/queen-maker gives the following explanation of climate change:

"I mean, if you could imagine 20 or 30 crocodiles up there on the roof, and if all that roof was illumination, and saying that we wouldn't see anything in this room because of a few croco-roaches up there," he continued stating that "Are you telling me seriously that the world is going to warm because there's 400 parts per million of CO2 up there?"

And his election advert. Time to be afraid party peoples. Very afraid.

 

[Mofra]

The three independents may do well to have Andrew Wilkie as part of their group, should he get up. That way a Coalition minority government would have 77 seats should Hasluck fall the right way. It's then very much not in the interest of any one independent to go feral.

Wilkie is regarded as someone who sympathises with Labor, so it might be a hard sell to get him on side if he gets up. By the same token, it will be a hard sell for the other three independants to side with Labor given their past, and the electorates in which they serve.

The other issue for the coalition is even if they do manage to form government, the Greens hold the balance of power in the senate so they wont be able to get too much of their agenda actioned anyway.

Further complicating the matter is Quentin Bryce as GG may not be able to dissolve parliament if it becomes unworkable due to personal interest - her daughter is married to Bill Shorten, meaning she has reduced objectivity and realistically may have to step aside if the situation comes to that.

 

[bellenuit]

her daughter is married to Bill Shorten, meaning she has reduced objectivity and realistically may have to step aside if the situation comes to that.

Who gets to make the decision if she is not allowed to?

 

[Mofra]

Who gets to make the decision if she is not allowed to?

Interestingly, one of the senior state govenors according to TDT:

Constitutional law expert George Williams would not comment on the Bryce/Shorten relationship but said under law the Governor-General must be free of "any perception of bias". In the event of a Governor-General staying out of such a matter, it could then be handled "by one of the senior state governors".

http://www.news.com.au/features/fed...t-leslie-cannold/story-e6frfllr-1225908614941

 

[Calliope]

This could be the way to go;

 

[Calliope]

It has been suggested that if Gillard does get up she will punish Queensland by dropping Wayne Swan as Treasurer in order to look after Shorten who hails from the faithful Democratic Republic of Victoria.

 

[Julia]

It has been suggested that if Gillard does get up she will punish Queensland by dropping Wayne Swan as Treasurer in order to look after Shorten who hails from the faithful Democratic Republic of Victoria.

Wow, that would be blood-letting on a pretty grand scale. She'd be justified in dumping Swan purely on the basis of his woeful performance in the campaign.

Great cartoon. I particularly like the bit about hiring someone to kill Barnaby. He was decidedly kept out of sight and sound during the campaign.

 

[trainspotter]

Whatever happened to this guy during the campaign? He kinda went from battman to invisible man during the 2010 election campaign. Used to be the "golden haired" boy of the Labor Party. Turns out he doesn't have any hair both literally and figuratively speaking.

 

[wayneL]

The best coverage of our election so far!


What Taiwan thinks of our election:

Fantastic! I like their sense of humour.