Australia votes for chaos

Bob H says:

07:39am | 22/08/10

@Eno - and a big raspberry to those consensual big party sheep that constantly belittled and attacked Katter.  They will all be practicing saying ”  Katter, Maaaaate ..... ‘.  a lot in the coming weeks

Peter from rural NSW says:

08:24am | 22/08/10

We had a party out here,because Tony Abbott didnt get back in.That was the MOST improtant thing to happen.Seing that Tony Abbott didint get back into govern,we can rest easy…....

alan says:

10:15am | 22/08/10

Hey Peter from rural nsw. Don’t break out another slab yet mate. Three independents are former nationals. They’ll probably side with the coalition, unless of course Julia wins them over with bridges, roads, community centres and all sorts of pet projects and assorted freebies.  But then again, even Tony will have to roll out the pork for them. Lucky for you, all three are from rural seats. Either way you win. Y’know, on second thinking you can go ahead and break out the slab now. Enjoy.

The impudent Bill Shorten says:

12:39pm | 22/08/10

Sit back and enjoy the ride laborites,Go Bob Katter,a riot

Adam G says:

12:58pm | 22/08/10

I do not understand voting on the basis of: hair colour, ear size, what mummy and daddy did, marital status, religious background, number of children, what they wear at the beach, what they look like etc etc… Sure enough, when they make a mistake in the future - which they will - you’ll complain about it. What happened to best qualified for the job?

I also think a lot it is to do with the education system as it stands. I think so much emphasis is placed on maths and the sciences that humanities takes a back seat. I really wish they would dump some of the naff courses in high school and bring in some of the humanities. Dump the food courses (big call from a former chef), business, computers etc etc. Bring in Australian politics, critical thinking and global issues.

Why not prepare kids for life instead of been scientists? Not every kid wants to, or has the potential to, to be a scientist or mathematician, not every kid wants to be a chef, most kids have access to computers as it stands and not every kid wants to run a company. Get them thinking about the way the world works, what is happening in political Australia and what is happening in the world. Importantly, get them thinking critically and objectively. The world is shrinking and politics is going to become more important, especially with new media technologies bringing them into the mainstream.

Leave the business, computer courses and food courses to Universities and apprenticeships. Because I’ll tell you what, I learnt more about food and business in one year at TAFE than I did in 6 years of high school.

Radagast says:

03:20pm | 22/08/10

We had a great party because of the huge Greens vote. This will also have huge ramification on the Australian political landscape. No more can the big parties pretend that climate change isn’t a issue with the voters. No longer can they force their minority views on Gay marriage on the rest of the populace, and no longer can they play with the lives of those who seek asylum in Australia. The people have indeed spoken. I wonder if the big parties will have heard?

Amused says:

06:52pm | 22/08/10

Er, Radagast. 12% of Australia voted Green. That’s hardly a sweeping mandate. 12% doesn’t even get you close to being able to declare “the people have spoken”, and then foist the Green agenda onto the majority. Sorry to spoil your party.

CT says:

10:36pm | 22/08/10

@Adam G - “I really wish they would dump some of the naff courses and bring in the humanities” - high school students all do year 8 and 9 ‘social science’ (read environment, politics, and geography) and in years 10-12 are given electives. Not all students have to do a physical science, they can do all human sciences if they want, plus the basic math and english required to survive.

“Leave the business, computer courses” - computers are an integral part of life now, like it or not, and everyone should learn at least a rudimentary understanding of how to get around a computer. And business affects us at least as much as politics, being such a big part of politics, and should not be ignored at all.

Adam G says:

03:47pm | 23/08/10

So you think food technology, metal and woodwork, business and computer courses are more important than critical thinking, global issues and Australian politics? Why not leave the mechanics, food tech and computer courses to apprenticeships and university? Drop the electives, bring in courses like that along with the usual English, Sciences and Maths and prepare kids for life outside school. Make critical thinking as prestigious and as important as English, the sciences and maths. Then tack on politics and global issues. The world is shrinking and I am so sick of 16,17 and 18 year old kids coming out of school knowing nothing about the world and the way it works. Schools teach you bugger all about business, cooking, food technology and computers anyway.

jill says:

09:01am | 22/08/10

Another drunk citizen…..........The truth is nobody actually understands how to vote! Instead of supporting the country we’ve all been supporting Liquorland! Booo hoooo….....you’re shattered already! - and there is so much to do! United Future Organisation - Rocks On! - with a little less alcohol.

Craigles says:

09:11am | 22/08/10

We may move past conceding and concessions, Lachlan, with the prospect of real debate to move to negotiate and conciliate what is best - this could produce a change beyond the devious party-room machinations and beyond the shallowness of single-personality politics.

Lachlan the Jacobite... says:

10:36pm | 23/08/10

Hey Lachlan, you do realise you’re supporting the party that raises taxes in order to force centrally dictated lifestyle choices?

The sooner more people study their history, actually read Das Kapital etc. the sooner more will realise that socialism is really just a path to totalitarianism. In practice there’s no real difference between socalism and facism - they’re both authoritarian.

So, keep supporting the left and one day you’ll find alcohol to be either prohibitively expensive or simply illegal. But it won’t matter because big brother ALP will have crushed most of the other freedoms you currently take for granted anyway.

Eno The Wonderdog says:

01:56am | 22/08/10

Geez I dunno - a self lauded ‘not win’ speech by Tone not lampooned by the press not good enough for you Liberal types??

Dave of Perth says:

02:13am | 22/08/10

I agree.

The article is about Australians voting for chaos through a hung result. The jibe at Wyatt Roy is unrelated and uncalled for.

Paul Colgan is critical of the one thing that Wyatt can not change - his age. The sun hasn’t set on the first day of his achievement and already the mud flies.

I’m just wondering what age is acceptable to you Paul - and why?

Michaelo says:

02:16am | 22/08/10

I’ll second that. Good on him I say. He seems articulate enough if that interview he did with Kerry O’Brien is any guide. If he represents his constituents effectively, it doesn’t matter how old he is.

Shane From Melbourne says:

03:12am | 22/08/10

That just means the Liberal Party are recruiting their party hacks at a young age, that’s all.

Jacob says:

04:04am | 22/08/10

“Most” 20 year old run around looking to destroy property? Come on fella. Sounds like someone is out of touch with the younger generation. Despite your generalisations, Wyatt Roy should be very proud of himself.  Now, if only he could get laid…

aileme says:

06:16am | 22/08/10

Meanwhile I’m in my early 20’s and I don’t run around getting pissed and looking to destroy property… come to think of it no-one I know does that is his age, in fact I and the vast majority of my friends have degrees and are working full time… I think it’s funny that you don’t think this journalist has the right to give him grief about being 20 and in government with his posters but you have the right to put “most other 20 year olds” into whatever category you like… hypocritical, don’t you think???

The Shaking Head says:

07:07am | 22/08/10

Same mechanism as racism - good luck to the lad, parliament is full of children who have been cloistered through party careers so he will in no way be out of his depth.  Does Colgo really think that politicians set a high bar?

Graham says:

07:25am | 22/08/10

Fantastic, now he can get pissed and help Tony destroy the whole country instead.

Adam Diver says:

07:49am | 22/08/10

I agree that was totally unnecessary. He should be congratulated on his amazing achievement particulalry with the massive handicap of his age. Imagine if we made a similar claim on the first indiginous or muslim representative, you would be destroyed and rightly so.

BarbaraT says:

08:05am | 22/08/10

From what I remember, Doogey Howser was a brilliant young Doctor.  Poorly executed jibe, but an apt comparism.  This young bloke is what’s needed in politics.  More young people should get involved in the big descisions, not just every 3 years at the booth.

Peter says:

08:13am | 22/08/10

I totally agree with you Brendan. I found the denigrating comment about Wyatt Roy in poor taste. If he is too young to represent his electorate in parliament, perhaps Paul is suggesting that the voting age be lifted. You can’t have it both ways, especially seeing as Labor would lower the voting age to allow impressionable pre-schoolers to vote if they had the opportunity.

Rosemary says:

08:18am | 22/08/10

There are 20yr olds currently fighting and dying in Afganistan for our country, for freedom and for democracy. If those young men can willingly give the ultimate sacrifice for Australia, then another young man should be applauded for winning the right to represent us in Parliament House. Good on ya Wyatt, he has an old head on young shoulders.

ivoted says:

08:23am | 22/08/10

agree, I’d vote for a 20 year old with passion vision and enthusiasm rather than a jaded pollie who does nothing but break promises any day ... good luck with your future wyatt .... the people put their faith in you ... and god knows this country needs some decent politicians with some ethics, morals, and common sense .. we don’t seem to have any at the moment as the australian public clearly just told them

Yvonne says:

09:48am | 22/08/10

If an electortae voted for a 20 year old, one would think it was for good reason. No wonder young people hate older people, when they are stereotyped as in this article. Or is that another generalisation? Democracy at work. Oh, and why shouldnt he put a picture of his favourite band on the wall???? Get real….......

Barry says:

10:57am | 22/08/10

Good on ya Wyatt.  On another note, I am a 21 year old, and I’ll agree that most 20 years olds may not be destroying stuff, but there is a huge portion which spend most their weekends getting pissed and wasting their money, I’d say it could even be the majority.

Richard says:

11:05am | 22/08/10

RT Media Mook: Dear Wyatt Roy haters, Doogie Howser grew up to be AWESOME (on How I Met Your Mother). #ausvotes

yg of sydney says:

11:25am | 22/08/10

Are you willing to give your house finance to a twenty year old to manage if he is acting as your financal planner with no or very little experiences? It is good for young people to engage with the public. He might end up with a very good politian but at this critical time ..... Wonder the libs have done the right thing.

sal says:

11:50am | 22/08/10

@Richard,
Nice try.  How I Met Your Mother aside, Doogie Howser grew up to be a proudly gay actor who starred in one of the funniest pro-marijuana films ever (Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle).  No Wyatt Roy comparison here.  Sorry.

Joe Blow says:

12:13pm | 22/08/10

@yg I’d rather put my finances in the hands of an intelligent young man than in the hands of some of those 50+ year old ALP barnacles.

Robert Smissen, rural SA, God's own country says:

12:45pm | 22/08/10

Maybe in time QLD will have another Queenslander as PM

Robert Smissen, rural SA, God's own country says:

12:50pm | 22/08/10

Maybe that’s what future journos do, most 20yo that I know are focused hard workers, maybe Oz will be better off when a few old farts fall off their perches(I’m 58)

Sam says:

03:20pm | 22/08/10

Robert Smissen, rural SA, God’s own country says:12:50pm | 22/08/10

Maybe that’s what future journos do, most 20yo that I know are focused hard workers, maybe Oz will be better off when a few old farts fall off their perches(I’m 58)

You must be as delighted as I was to see old ironbark fall off of his perch.

Gary says:

03:32pm | 22/08/10

To all you people defending the kid, and stating he was handicapped by his age,  It really sounds to me, like you would have and maybe did vote for him because of his age. Ageism works both ways you know.

And to those who are praising him because ‘Doogie Howser’  grew up to be ‘awesome’ in ‘HIMYM’, I remind you that were simply well written roles performed by an actor. Much like his new boss.

Robert Smissen, rural SA, God's own country says:

04:00pm | 22/08/10

Sam, I am happy to see an earnest young bloke get a go, parliament is far too full of soft palmed city types, this young man was working & raising a sweat. It just goes to show what you can do if you chose the best person for the job, not some time server parachuted in.

Nicole says:

04:28pm | 22/08/10

@Gary, bitter much? I’ve got a 21yo son, and if my son had the drive and ambition as Wyatt, I’d be floored. I’m not saying that my son doesn’t have it, I just think that it will take a few more years for it to come to fruit. Credit where credit is due. I take my hat off to this young man and clearly, so did his electorate. (I’m 39)

Genxandgrumpy says:

07:48pm | 22/08/10

Totally agree with Brendan. Don’t go hating on the Wyatt guy because of his age. The public voted for a twenty year old (MAN!), old enough to be legal enough for everything else. The snipe was uncalled for, there’s plenty of established pollies that you could be lampooning instead for things they’ve actually already done.

Jakke says:

10:01am | 22/08/10

At least labor is only slagging off themselves, which is quite different to the liberals supporters actually boo-ing the PM as if was a footy match during Abbott’s rant, while the PM graciously acknowledged Mr Abbott and nobody boo-ed.

And PS for you: more people voted progressive (think forward) than conservative (think stagnant - like Menzies who thought TV was not going to take off either)

Tracker says:

03:53pm | 22/08/10

@ Jakke, what is wrong with boo-ing the PM ? Would you rather people shoot at her instead as they do in other countries ? Maybe get out the AK-47 and fire into the air and duck the falling lead ? If people want to express their dislike, contempt, approval or love for a particular leader and it is done peacefully then good on them. Fact is the mood in the ALP camp wasn’t exactly cheery last night and most ALP minds were otherwise occupied with their political careers and themselves hence the subdued nature. After Julia’s speech didn’t they vacate the place real quick..hehehe. Get a life you grumpy old ALP conservative..lol

Philip Milward says:

06:33pm | 22/08/10

Jakke,sure it was bad form the liberal sipporters booing at the mention of Gillard’s name but that does not go to the issue of a party’s stability.The issue is that the Independents have said they will support the major party that demonstrates stability,so I say again,there are already big signs of Labour bagging itself and absolutely no signs of the Liberals doing anything like that.
You seem to be all over the place in your reply to my original opinion and even acknowledged the dummy spitting of two failed Labour members and interestingly enough,you could not point to any similar incidents from failed Liberal members,just introduced irrelevancies,therefore I rest my case.

michelle says:

04:05pm | 22/08/10

yes there was a big swing against labour but it wasn’t to the liberals it was actually to the greens. Labour lost 5.3% , liberals got back 1.5% (but that’s not enough to get power and the greens got 3.8% - and there was also an increase of 1.2% informal. What it says is only a small minority are turning back to Liberals , alot are turning elsewhere

Gerard says:

12:56pm | 22/08/10

I’d like to believe that, and it’s definitely possible if the independents do a good job and represent the interests of their constituencies and don’t brown nose to the major parties for their own personal benefit.

Having said that, the political backgrounds of the independents are a cause for concern. Three are former Nationals, the other a former intelligence analyst at odds with the former Coalition government during the Iraq war and expected to support Labor. If such backgrounds cause these men to observe party allegiances during their term, it will severely damage the public’s trust in independents to be truly independent.

Either way, this term could be a major turning point in Australian politics; either the beginning of the decline of the Liberal/National/Labor cartel that has controlled Canberra for far too long, or disillusionment with independents and minor parties that will consolidate the cartel’s grip for a generation.

Gerard says:

12:59pm | 22/08/10

The ALP isn’t interested in finding out what the people say.

Yvonne says:

09:54am | 22/08/10

agree!

Brad Coward says:

10:56am | 22/08/10

Australia voted for chaos….in 2007 !

John says:

12:43pm | 22/08/10

A hung Parliament is a clear result?  Stop patting yourself on the back, the biggest winners in this election were The Greens, not the Libs who the electors obviously don’t see fit to govern either.

Sam says:

03:44pm | 22/08/10

Angus, the mere fact that most lost votes went to the left of Labor (Greens) and yet we will probably end up with a extreme right government as a result suggests to me that things are anything BUT clear. I think it’s a good time to consider proportional representation, where everybody’s vote will count.

michelle says:

04:07pm | 22/08/10

absolutely right- liberals only picked up nationally a 1.5% swing and in Vic actually saw a decline. Tony Abbott shouldn’t be patting himself too much on the back

Gerard says:

01:00pm | 22/08/10

Need I remind you that millions of voters thought Rudd had what it takes?

Philip says:

10:54am | 23/08/10

Gerard,how can you compare Wyatt Roy to Kevin Rudd ? Rudd was placed before the good people of Australia as the alternative PrimeMinister,as someone who had what it takes, but Roy has been put forward as the alternative member for his electorate,as someone who has what it takes,and it seems his electorate has agreed that he does have what it takes,but if he doesn’t,he is hardly in a situation where he has such power that he could screw up the country,unlike Rudd. Where is the balance in your argument ?

Sam says:

01:11pm | 22/08/10

David Ashton says:04:50am | 22/08/10

So much so for Gillards Mantra that the only way to effect Government was from Government. The Only way to effect Government is to vote independent, full stop in the house of reps, and Minor party in the senate.

Mate, I voted for a party (Labor) but I agree with your comment about independents. It would be a wonderful world if we could vote out all party pollies and their big business affilliations. Imagine being governed ‘by the people for the people’. We could have a fair and equitable tax system where even big business paid their fair share without a myriad of concessions and handouts.

Philip says:

11:05am | 23/08/10

Pete,Pete,Pete,now how can you possibly say that voters have been lied to about stopping the boats,Band-aid Broadband, and IR when they have been commitments that have not been tested yet. Getting ahead of yourself aren’t you ? I noticed you didn’t care to mention real lies ala Labor who had 3 years to implement promises and backflipped on some,screwed up others and kept telling us at election campaign time that all their new promises won’t add a single cent to the budget bottom line.With their past record,it is Labor who I cannot trust but then as is obvious to me,you are a die hard Labor supporter who will always have excuses for them.

Gerard says:

01:08pm | 22/08/10

You mean no school building rip-offs?
No $900 re-election bribes to be spent on plasma TVs or fed into poker machines?
No internet censorship?
No workchoices?
No new taxes?
No house fires?
No new nanny state restrictions on alcohol?

Sounds pretty good to me.

Judy says:

10:29am | 22/08/10

I understand that the Greens received 15% of the vote yet only ‘won’ one seat of 150. Therefore that ‘small’ party actually has considerably less seats that they deserve if you’re looking at percentage of votes won. If they do nothing else, you should remember that the small parties do ‘keep the b****‘s honest’.
Cheers

Gerard says:

01:35pm | 22/08/10

Eliminating the power of minor parties is something people like Joseph Stalin were very good at- obviously far better than Australia’s major parties because they have spent years trying to do exactly that.

That the votes of minor parties and independents somehow carry more weight than those of ALP or Liberal members is a myth perpetuated by the major parties and a lazy media. Reports of legislation being blocked “by minor parties” are false. Legislation can be blocked in either house by a majority of its members- almost always by a combination of two or more parties. The major party that opposes legislation is just as responsible for its non-passage as the minor party that opposes it.

Yvonne says:

09:59am | 22/08/10

And if you look at the NBN Rob, there is still no coverage in many regional areas. The whole project is a very very expensive sham. And even if it gets up to those households in urban areas, it will be too expensive to hook up to. Typically labor voters do not realise that all these great ideas cost too much money for their worth. Sigh

Gregg says:

11:02am | 22/08/10

Rob,
Those rural representatives probably do not know that even Labor’s $MultiB was still only going to give them satellite BB, something the Libs have put up as a mix of technology to achieve great BB.

The NBN show is all about cost and speed and zero on actual measured benefits.

There is much more that needs attention in the whole country, rural areas included and where Multibillions can be spent to get a return on.

Robert Smissen, rural SA, God's own country says:

04:09pm | 22/08/10

90% of Oz covered? ? ? ? So the townies (neatly 90%) get super fast & country voters just soldier on, personaly I like Tony’s idea, not just because I couldn’t afford Kevvies/Julia’s pie in the sky.

Rob says:

06:11pm | 22/08/10

@Yvonne:
The NBN will not be too expensive to hook up, that’s the whole point of the project. Already a NBN connection can be had on the trial in Tasmania, you can see prices are competitive with ADSL:
http://www.internode.on.net/residential/broadband/fibre_to_the_home/nbn_plans/

@Yvonne & Gregg both:
93% having proper NBN coverage is still way better than the current ADSL2 (and even ADSL1) coverage that is available now. It will provide many rural areas with an internet connection as good as what’s available in metro areas.

Also, speaking as an I.T. consultant, wired fibre is for many technical reasons a much better technological choice for connection from end-users to the ISP than wireless technology is. The VPN potential over the NBN is far greater than that of Liberal’s plan. People want to be able to access files and databases on their office servers at high speeds from off-site locations, whether it be at one of their clients or from home… I know this because I constantly get clients telling me they want to have this ability.

Yvonne says:

09:52am | 22/08/10

Agree except for the french bit I dont understand. Have to look it up I guess. The electorate actually made a bold stand, unlike the article suggesting the hung parliament is a result of not making up our minds. A swing such as this against one party is not voting for chaos. That may be the result, but not intended, so a stupid article really. Typical journalism in this country. Make a headline out of nothing

Gregg says:

11:13am | 22/08/10

Now, now Gran, settle down with a cuppa.
I too am pleased with the result and unless there has been a move this morning from last nights figures it looks as though Tony may be PM if he gets the support of the independents which would appear likely, an interesting few days for matters to be sorted.

But as for the Greens propping Labor up, many green voters are actually disaapointed normal Labor voters and it is somewhat fortunate that some are truer green and see Libs as a better bet than Labor and so there is the Labor bleeding but also the Green bleeding to the blues.

Ironically, it would seem that whilst there has been the Gillard/Rudd factor for many, the popularity of Gillard down south would seem to have got them a couple of close seats and that’s somewhat remarkable and you wonder at what it says for some Australians as against others.

Is it that Queenslanders wear their hearts more closer to their voting hands?, Maybe the Queenslander, Queenslander, Queenslander emotives coming to the fore.

monique says:

05:22pm | 22/08/10

Gran Depine

What is all this crap about preference deals. The libs made preference deals with the greens in the seats of Grayndler, Melbourne and Batman

John List says:

04:46pm | 22/08/10

Great comment Goose ... Kevin OR Julia would have made no difference to the Labor vote.  That was what those voting Liberal anyway were saying.  Hypocrisy all the way! The rednecks have gone back to Tony, but he can’t do anything for them.  Labor got kicked deservedly for squibbing on the ETS and trying to sound like Tony about asylum seekers.  The vote for Independents and Greens takes us back almost to 2007 to the Labor platform.  That’s what most of the real swingers wanted and with a little more luck that’s what we all will get.

Yvonne says:

10:00am | 22/08/10

Yes, Maxines comments will not be the only ones that will undermine the labor party. No chance of a stable govenrment from that corner.

Yvonne says:

10:01am | 22/08/10

your right Jules

Garry says:

12:27pm | 22/08/10

You must be so happy for the Greens, but charity begins at home first, unless you believe Australia does not have any problems with the poor, mental health, hospitals and the homeless etc, and Rudd would have been dumped by the voters anyway, and climate change has happened many times in earths history, even before man, but if you were to close all industry and remove all cars in Australia, it would only improve 5%, so are you prepared to have massive increases in the cost of living and the repercussions of that, the Greens are.

Adam Diver says:

04:43pm | 22/08/10

@ Garry the actual figure is 1.8% and that does not account for water vapor. Australias total contribution to global warming is more like 0.03%.

Yvonne says:

10:03am | 22/08/10

Agree Garry. At least now they will have so much of the spotlight they may quickly become exposed for the fools they are

BarbaraT says:

12:32pm | 22/08/10

The one good thing about the whole Green senate deal is that they will never be able to pass any legislation on their own.  If their lone Green friend in the House of Representitives decides to table a new Bill, both major parties can reject it and not send it to the Senate.  The Senate on its own can’t introduce any Legislation as they are a house of revue.  So it will take some major horse trading for the Greens to introduce their own loony ideas.  They will just have to settle for getting the best outcome out of whatever the majors decide to send to the senate.

MDMConnell says:

12:12pm | 22/08/10

Yes, Nick Minchin drew some parallels between her comments and the dummy spit by Cheryl Kernot in 1998.

Although McKew was a die-hard Rudd supporter, and with nothing left to lose now, why not have a final whack?

stephen says:

11:20am | 22/08/10

Your first para. is non-sensical e.g. If i vote for, say the LIbs, that means i prefer the Libs, not that I don’t prefer Labour. One vote is one ‘statement’, not two.
My spin on the result, then, is that so far, not enough votes have been counted to say whether voters prefer LNP or Labour.
(They’ve given the Greens Melbourne, which is what i would have hoped all along.)

MarK says:

10:55am | 22/08/10

Up….a lot

Nigel Catchlove says:

11:01am | 22/08/10

I can only pass comment from one booth where I scrutineered and there were, at first count, about 150 informals out of just over 2000 votes cast.  Don’t try to read all of that as ‘protest’ because it is more complex than that.
Of the 2000, there were only two comments written on papers, one said ‘Rudd” and the other said ‘Tom’ which was the first name of one of the candidates but there was no other mark on the paper so it was an informal vote - it may have been the voter’s name - who knows.
There were some where a number was missed (1,2,3,4,6,7,8) which is probably a genuine error, some where just a ‘1’ was recorded against the chosen candidate and no preferences allocated - probably another error and some whre preferences exhausted (1,2,3,4 - out of eight candidates) - again, probably an error.  Very few blank forms, very few donkey votes (which do count) and very few reverse donkeys which also count.  All in all a very clear show with 90% (89.3 actually) of Greens voters following the ‘how-to-vote and voting for Labor. despite all the holier-than-though protestations from bloggers on this site.  A vote for the Greens IS a vote for Labor and in some booths up to 98% of Green votes flowed that way.

Maybe Labor needs to look at forming a coalition with their ‘leftist’ allies similar to the one on the ‘right’ of politics between the Libs and Nats.  Labor got the lowest primary vote across the country since WWII and it was only the massive preference flow from the Greens that gives them some respectability. An yes, I understand that the some of the Liberal vote also went to the Greens most of which ultimately ended up with the ALP.

Yvonne says:

10:06am | 22/08/10

Stewart, Bob would say proportional voting based on these results. He would also know however, that if preferential voting was abolished, the Greens would not get nearly so many votes. How many people do you think voted Greens, knowing that they would not get in and that there second preference mattered more anyway. I think getting rid of preferential voting will make Bob Brown and his Greens redundant. Great, bring it on!!!!!

Gran Depine says:

09:47am | 22/08/10

@Stewart Henstock I would like to second your comment. Spot on mate. I am glad we have “The Punch”, all the other mainstream media would never publish the comments seen on this site. Every political view has the freedom to be heard without the fear of being on ASIO’s blacklist or future hypothetical political regime’s “soon to be tapped” hit list. Furthermore, I will fight, kick, spit, scream and even fart on the person stopping this source of freedom of speech. Keep up the good work Punch Team. Salute!

BarbaraT says:

10:07am | 22/08/10

Have to agree.  Big cheers for the Punch.  The other news forums seem to be into heavy censorship or blocking if your views don’t tow the line.  I’ve had a 100% hit rate with the Punch.  Well done guys.  Freedom of speech is alive and well here, if not in our Constitution.

Sam Chowder says:

10:39am | 22/08/10

Can we go for a curry instead

Sam says:

05:00pm | 22/08/10

I concur with thanking the Punch. I have had about a 90% hit rate here, whilst havinbg a 0 (zero)% hit rate with the Cm, Akerman and Bolt. Crikey cost too much for a pensioner such as myself.

Mary wide bay says:

09:43pm | 22/08/10

Punch is the best. Part of my family now. i like fries with mine.

NJ says:

05:38pm | 22/08/10

Alex, Queensland is in the gurgler economically speaking because Keynesian economics is downright embezzlement! It is theft legitimised by pseudo-economics, and can only be undertaken (on a serious level) in countries that have fiat currencies.

A commodities-backed currency is the oldest check and balance on government power known to human history. It’s even mentioned in the Bible.

Unfortunately in the 20th century we in the West figured we were so clever that we no longer needed to back our currencies with objects of physical, tangible value. For approximately 70 years, the West has been writing IOUs and calling them “money”; we ‘owe it to ourselves’ the Government rationalises.

All fiat currencies have collapsed given enough time, e.g. Roman, French & Spanish empires.

Control of the currency is ultimately control of the economy; it’s time we ended the Governments’ centralised monopoly on the supply of currency. The impending collapse of the $USD and its status as reserve currency, coupled with the inevitable hyperinflation (as a result of the US economy being overleveraged; 3-4 times its nominal GDP value), should hopefully demonstrate the pure evil of fiat currency.

It’s a lesson that unfortunately, has been re-learnt several times in history.

Beth says:

11:24am | 22/08/10

Couldn’t have said it better myself, mate.

Andrew says:

06:45pm | 22/08/10

Mandates are overrated. Every time govts do something, we have a horrific mix of policy errors, unintended consequences, huge bills, massive bureaucracy and endless spin wars. The govts best ideas as you say are
- a massive tax on me (ETS)
- a massive tax on everyone I invest in (RSPT) to pay for
- a massive white elephant that I’ll get almost no use from (NBN)
- hundreds of white elephants from their BER knockdown-rebuild programme
- massive immigration I don’t want (legal and illegal)
The Libs’ best ideas were
- to kill off the above
- a maternity leave programme I will never use
and I can’t remember anything else. Yep, screw the govt, screw the mandate, pass no legislation and then the Watermelons can’t do me any harm because they have nothing to block and nothing to random for their anti-growth policy agenda.

The Old Salt says:

09:54am | 22/08/10

Our GG is not a party hack? Maybe not, but all here appointments to public office have come from the left side of politics.

Joan says:

11:15am | 22/08/10

Gillard thinks she is a President her pics adorned electoral booths with no local Labor member pics,. She started her speech last night with a Clinton quote, and ended aping Hilary with hands high in the air clapping. This from the hyporite who said you don’t vote for the PM but the party…. ran a presidential style election dressed up with second-hand left overs from USA .... including the pathetic ` yes we wiil`

BobM says:

01:05pm | 22/08/10

David, I wouldn’t count on the GG being independent considering she is Bill Shorten’s mother-in-law. Look what happened in Tasmania where the State GG sided with Labor even tho the Libs got more of the primary votes and had a hung parliament. Quentin is probably more of a party hack than most, and she WAS given the job by K Rudd.

Rose says:

09:50am | 22/08/10

More to the point, Wilson Tuckey is gone…...........the onegood thing to come out of this election.

sal says:

04:14pm | 22/08/10

One of two good things, the other being Mr Stephen Fielding can now go home and put his family first.

Ford Prefect says:

12:07pm | 22/08/10

My belief (and probably a little naive - I sit with the majority here) is that a hung parlaiment can only bring us closer to a true democracy in parlaiment.  Where some real negotiation has to occur instead of the blind toe-ing of the party line (unless you want to sit at the back until a replacement is found) type politics we are so used to.
Who’d have thought that one day Bob Katter would be one of the most powerful people in this country.
Bring it on I say.

Adam Diver says:

04:55pm | 22/08/10

“handle the boat people in a more sensible way” what exactly does that mean. If you want to treat them better look no further than what Rudd promised and introduced. However it didn’t work out to well for anyone involved particularly the 170+ who died and the 2000+ still waiting in refugee camps because we filled up our quota earlier.

BobM says:

01:09pm | 22/08/10

Don’t worry, somebody else probably filled it in for you…...Bwahahahaha!

Gregg says:

11:30am | 22/08/10

Adam, are you blind!
Similar policies!
. spending generally
. NBN
. Mining Taxes
. Boat people TPVs
. fast trains and slower ones!
. GP super clinics making it difficult for existing ones
. ETS
A few other tweaks here and there on other policies
Do you see too much similarity there?
I personally think that differences were very much clouded by the gender difference and then we saw the cloudburst in the last few days.

Yvonne says:

09:56am | 22/08/10

good comment Barbara

Bob H says:

10:43am | 22/08/10

here here Babs T, our old politicians have served us so well haven’t they?

MickG says:

11:25am | 22/08/10

Well said BarbaraT.  Of course, had the Roy kiddie been with The Greens we wouldn’t hear the end of them banging on about what a progressive party they are and how they represent the youth of Australia, blah, blah, blah.  One of the highlights of the night for me was watching young Wyatt make Kochie on 7 look like the condescending prat that he is.

Reader says:

10:16am | 22/08/10

I think, in ‘07 it was more of a protest vote than anything else. Most of us were fed up with Howard’s Gov and gave them a marching order. Bennelong was traditionally a blue sit so it’s more like back to normal situation. One think we can learn from the last two elections that people tend more to punish rather than reward a government. Whatever outcome is achieved, we will move forward but it may just be a ‘going ahead of ourselves’ rather than making progress.

Bob H says:

10:48am | 22/08/10

Such scare monger bleating noleen,  Its a good result, moves power a little bit away from the two parties that stifle Australia’s development for their own benefits

Joe Blow says:

12:16pm | 22/08/10

That’s not scary - they seem like very sensible people.  What is scary is that any future economic policy reform lies in the hands of the Greens!!!

Gerard says:

02:10pm | 22/08/10

“the economic policy of Australia now lies in the heads of 3 Independents”

Not really. The independents have absolutely no power if the Liberal and Labor parties vote together. I won’t be surprised if this happens. The major parties will do everything in their power to portray independents as irrelevant to try to wrest back their seats in the next election.

Julie Coker-Godson says:

02:56pm | 22/08/10

@Robert S McCormick:  This is not Utopia!

Sickemrex says:

03:03pm | 22/08/10

Hear, hear!

I hope.  It’s either an opportunity for our reps to act like adults and achieve consensus through negotiation, or a disaster.

fehowarth says:

11:20am | 23/08/10

The problem is that Mr. Abbott and his supporters do not know they have not won.  Labor has not won also.  If any party has won, it is the Greens.  I like to think the voters have won.  A government made up of more than one party represents more people.  The only thing needed for this to work is to have respect for all members of the parliament, not only in your own party.

Do not the rights of the Greens and other minority parties have any merit? The present system of winner takes all does not make sense. You are saying that only one party has all the answers.  I am old enough to remember Mr. Menzies not being to proud to steal policies from Labor after elections.  Mr. Abbott would be better at looking at what can work instead of what he destroys. It is not about whom, what is right, or wrong, it is about what is the best way to do it. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

Whether it works depends on whether the media is willing to give it a fair go.  Grow up, sometimes change is in our best interest.  The two party system is being found wanting.  Statesmen can make it work. If it can work in most other western countries, surely we are mature to do so,

Listen to what the independents are stating.  They appear to be agreeing with Labors policies not the Coalition as being in their best interest.  The message they are giving is that it is about stable government not parties.  It is time we grew up and come into the modern age.  We should be glad to see the end of the two party systems. As for the allegations against the GG, it is insulting to say she cannot make up her own mind.  The woman has a long and independent successful career.  Would they be saying the same if she was the father-n-law.

It is a pity not all interviews could be of the standard of Red Kezza last night.  The questions were probing but to the point.  A miracle happened and information got from all three. As for Mr. Abbott’s 400000 extra votes outshone by   Mr. Abbott ignores the fact that most of the swing went to the Greens.  The number of votes is immaterial.  All that counts is the number of votes in the house.  Mr. Abbott should heed the warning given by the independents. That is it about stable government not parties.

Robert S McCormick says:

04:41pm | 22/08/10

You are so right,Heather! The only reason the ALP-Appointed Murray-Darling basin Plan, or whatever it’s called, was withheld by Gillard was for 100% Party Policial reasons. The ALP, and to a certain extent their running mates, the Greens, don’t give a toss about anywhere other that the heavily populated urba areas. The only ‘green’ bit of the Greens is their, perfectly leigtimate, desire to save old-growth forests & particualrly if they are in Tasmania!!
Now that there are Indfependents - even if most of them are ex-Nats - we might just see the Rural Areas get some attention & not before time! The ALP has NEVER had the slightest interest in our Primary Producers. They are solely an urban movement. The NBN? We should not imagine for one nano-second that they even considered anyone other than people in larger populated areas. At last, IF the Independents don’t betray us all & accept Ministries in an ALP Federal Government, as the so-called Independents & Nats in South Australia did, which resulted in an ALP State Government which was, just like Rudd & Gillard, all yap & no action, then the Rural & Remote areas of Australia will get the services & facilities they so deserve. In fairness to the ALP the Libs offered precious little to the Rural Sector either

BobM says:

01:16pm | 22/08/10

I think the Independents said they would vote as a block - and I can’t see them going with Labor as they are all country seats and former National party representatives.

Jackie says:

12:18pm | 22/08/10

Actually about 18 months ago…sorry to be the one to have to tell you.

Nicole says:

04:35pm | 22/08/10

Jeez, I need to get me jeans and me Blundstones off and take a look around! I haven’t seen shoulder pads since….......early 90s? I wonder what my horse is going to think when I rock up in a frock, high heels and shoulder pads?

Eric says:

12:21pm | 22/08/10

There speaks a sore loser of the Labor variety.

B says:

12:44pm | 22/08/10

Labor voter are we?

Gerard says:

02:50pm | 22/08/10

BundyGil is absolutely correct, except maybe for the last sentence. Certainly the major parties each got about 70 seats more than they deserved, but with independents holding the balance of power, maybe people will start to wake up to the fact that there’s another alternative to the lies, greed and corruption of the Labor and Liberal parties.

Super D says:

03:01pm | 22/08/10

I’m sure he means they were wrong to get rid of Howard and should have given Abbott a majority yesterday.

SJP says:

11:49am | 22/08/10

beautifully said, Mid.

Julie Coker-Godson says:

04:27pm | 22/08/10

@Neil:  I am strongly of the same view.  Trying to imagine the Greens compromising with anybody is hard going and I wouldn’t be doing it if it were in my purview.  There will be destabilisation aplenty, particularly on issues such as the NBN broadband network and the ETS where positions for and against are very strongly held.

Bundy says:

02:06am | 23/08/10

I really don’t understand this assumption that the greens are extremists out to be as painful as possible until every tree is saved. 

I see them more as the Jimny Crickets of politics.  Small, green, and constantly telling the big bastards to behave, even if they don’t always listen.  A decent social conscience is something both major parties have been missing - Rudd’s grandstanding apologies and the like included.

Gerard says:

02:54pm | 22/08/10

And why wouldn’t it be a real prime minister? If the rest of the country can’t be bothered electing representatives who act in the interests of the electorate rather than their party, why shouldn’t the independents decide?

Robert Smissen, rural SA, God's own country says:

12:53pm | 22/08/10

Let me explain it to you Jackie, you need an IQ of at least 10 to be able to tie your own shoe laces, not most Australians wear thongs.

facepalm says:

12:54pm | 22/08/10

Or they’re an equally valid expression of disgust. Well, at least mine was. I even scrawled “They’re all f***ed” on both ballots, just to be completely unambiguous. With some games, only winning move is not to play at all.

Gary says:

01:13pm | 22/08/10

Latham may have destroyed Labor’s chances twice now.

Jarrad says:

02:06pm | 22/08/10

A customer at my work said she was voting for Julia because she didnt like Tonys ears. This is the problem with compulsory voting. A lot of people are actually given a brain by mistake.

Gerard says:

03:07pm | 22/08/10

I would have been far more disappointed by the massive number of votes for the Liberal and Labor parties than by those left blank. How many times does “the major parties don’t give a toss about anyone but themselves” need to be explained?

Unless you’re lucky enough to live in a seat where an independent has a realistic chance of winning, any vote is just a sad waste of a voice.

Robert Smissen, rural SA, God's own country says:

12:55pm | 22/08/10

SO FUNNY! ! ! !

Notquitethemajority says:

01:43pm | 22/08/10

speaking for the majority?  Oh look, there’s a monkey on your back
.....I’ts on a horse

Dayton says:

01:08pm | 22/08/10

Agreed. Labor must axe Stephen Conroy no matter what the outcome is. He is the main reason there was such a big swing from Labor to the Greens.

Dwgw says:

07:46pm | 22/08/10

Nice warm fuzzy sentiment Daniel. A bit like the new Green candidate saying now there’ll be more love in the world.
All I can see is it costing us another 75 million to run another election, and I cant help thinking this would have paid for a lot of more hospital beds.

Adam Diver says:

05:08pm | 22/08/10

Prey tell how you have come to the knowledge of the real abbott or what exactly you are basing it on?

I use to say that Kevin Rudd likes to eat his own ear wax and that was out of line. He definately eats it whether he likes it or not I can’t be sure.

Garry says:

03:50pm | 22/08/10

So where do these people get the money from to pay the people smugglers to bring them here if they are so poor, and why do they bypass many countries who will accept them to get here, is it because Rudd sent the message that Australia is an easy touch. Look after your own people first and fix our problems first, and why should Australia be ashamed of protecting it’s own interests. Climate change will happen no matter what mankind does, it is a fact of nature, and man was not here in other climate change periods and still it happened. The sky is falling, sound familiar.

Nick says:

03:55pm | 22/08/10

Brother/Sister I feel your pain. I live in Cambo, even poorer than Vietnam, and we have a reasonable broadband system. Your other comments about the REAL day to day survival issues also resonate, and make me shake my head at my countrymans ‘Shallow Hal’ outlook on the world. For me - I’m staying here and watching the predictable pandemonium back home with half a smile and half a grimace

Gran Depine says:

04:30pm | 22/08/10

@ Stivi Cooke If Vietnam is so beautiful and Uncle Ho was fair, then why did all these boat people post Vietnam war migrate to the US, Canada, HK, Australia and NZ? Damn freedom fighters how dare they migrate to a better world for their families. Why don’t you convince all these ex-refugees to give up their new citizenship, return to Vietnam and teach the Generals the taste of the new democracy? I tell you why, because they lived and survived the communist torture and they know how it really is to be caught between French colonialism, corrupt politicians, Mao’s doctrine as interpreted through Deng Xiao Ping (the late PR CHINA leader who is famous for saying “What is 100 million lives?” if the end achieves the common mean.

Why don’t you ask the Greeks who migrated to Australia who suffered and experienced 200,000 fatalities during the KKE communist civil war or good old Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime? THAT’S RIGHT…let us all LOOK FORWARD like PM Gillard. If we ignore the past, we are bound to repeat it. As for the real issues in Australia, you either part of the landscape or part of the picture and you can shove you wise “Hinsight” observations up your little environmentally friendly bamboo hut far far away. Idiots in Australia are being brainwashed with the socialist agenda and more and more people are waking up. Go and live in Greece today sweet heart and see how it is to live with the austerity measures because of these genius greedy neo-socialists. Stivi ...I wish,I wish, I wish you stay exactly where ever the F%$# you are!

Peter says:

02:37pm | 23/08/10

@ Gran Depine. Although the greek militay coup in 1967 was the main reason my dad left, i think the exodus of Greece goes a bit further than the civil war that took place in the late 1940’s. more info:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_military_junta_of_1967–1974

My dad left Greece because of a military regime that banned any sort of political discourse amoungst the locals. I certainly recall stories from my father that they had to hide in “safe houses’ if they just wanted to talk about politics.. You will note that this coup d’etat was organised by conservatives not communists. People fled their oppression..

Eric says:

05:30pm | 22/08/10

Your ignorance may end one day, and if so, you will appreciate conservatism.

mid says:

01:19pm | 23/08/10

I appreciate conservatism, I just wish we actually had a conservative party in this country to back

Candice says:

06:23pm | 25/08/10

Agree 100% Chris!!

Bundy says:

02:18am | 23/08/10

Why do you assume that the people voting green don’t know the policies or that some how this is only the fault of the ALP?  I would have thought that if either major party delivered some rational and clear policies then perhaps they would have a showing that delivered them a majority.

The green vote shows there is a strong case to be made for policies more aligned with their views.  The ALP is drifting so far to the right they might as well merge with the Liberals, if only they could agree on workplace policy.

Personally I feel more comfortable with the balance of power being held by a party with a progressive view than being under the thumb of a backwards thinking mob like Family first.

dave kelly says:

11:40am | 23/08/10

Yeah Raymond, they dont want Abbott eithee!!!!

Carscon says:

07:47pm | 22/08/10

I reckon your spot on. Compared to the rest of the world this country is travelling along beautifully, low unemployment, low interest rates, no recession. The ALP believe it or not have done a pretty good job all things considering. If the ALP is as bad as the Conservatives say then how come the Conservatives didnt win? The ALP got smashed in Queensland because of Rudd and Bligh - simple as that - massive protest vote. As to who governs now well If I was an independent and wanted some real action for rural communites especially with regard to communications infrastructure there is clearly only one choice - the ALP - as they were going to do this anyway. As Katter said last night, for 12 years under Howard, the LNP did nothing in this area when they were screaming for it and its not suprising when you consider that Howard and Abbot are fanatical believers in “the market”.  It would go against everything Abbot believes in to spend the amounts of money required on such infrastructure as he just doesn’t see any benefit in it - to him if there is a dire need for it then the private sector will step in and “provide”.

Bundy says:

02:28am | 23/08/10

Labor had the best opportunity they have ever had to sort out the mess between the state and federal levels of government.  We could have seen health, education and services properly funded and supported across the country.  We could have seen a massive reduction in red tape and political bun fighting caused by the state layer of bureaucracy.  Instead they twiddled around for 3 years and left it all to fester as the ALP could not even sort out there own house and allowed the states to throw their weight around.  They have only themselves to blame for state issues coming to the fore.

I say this as someone who is not a fan of the Liberals.

Ding says:

08:56am | 23/08/10

Carscon says: “I reckon your spot on. Compared to the rest of the world this country is travelling along beautifully, low unemployment, low interest rates, no recession.”

Open your eyes ... the true rate of unemployment is cleverly disguised, interest rates are almost the highest in the developed world, and whilst we don’t have a technical recession things are not so beautiful in many parts of Australia.

Jason CR says:

06:48pm | 22/08/10

4leaf
The coalition received 450,000 more primary votes - end of story.
And what happened to your theory last week when you were blurting that the bookies NEVER get it wrong.  They did and you did.

MarK says:

08:22pm | 22/08/10

I will make sure to tell Bob Brown he is in coalition with Labor.

i am sure he will be pleased.

Add the Green and Labor vote together? Lol. Nice if you can get it.

Does that mean the Libs can count a few of the more “right” Labor guys because, you know, its only fair.

HAHAHAHA. What a great effort in justification.

Jason CR says:

09:10pm | 22/08/10

Get your head out of the sand Shane.  How many seats did Abbott gain in this election?? I was saying that if he got within 6-8 seats it would be a win considering how far back he came from.  You’re like Wayne Swan, refusing to accept what has happened here.  450,000 extra primary votes to the coalition sums it up mate.
As for Labor saying that Julia did a magnificent job to come back from those vicious leaks….ummm the leaks were about HER thoughts on pensioners and paid parental leave.  Labor never cease to amaze me with their spin. 
Was the swing to Abbott 1% in Qld, NSW, NT??  Wow, how did he pick up 13 seats on a 1% swing??

Ding says:

07:12pm | 22/08/10

Informed eh ? A new cable was laid not so long ago to Guam and another one to the USA is in the planning stage at this time. The existing cables have unlit fibre in them so there is currently spare capacity out of Australia.

Nigel Catchlove says:

06:21am | 23/08/10

Mark, I struggled through the morass of your media release but I really should have stopped at the first line: “Over the past decade my calls for an Independent commission to deal with both electoral reforms and election conduct has fallen on death ears, says Mark Aldridge Independent.”  Death ears?  In my ideal of ‘honest democracy’, functional literacy of elected representatives is a pre-requisite.

Mark M Aldridge Independent says:

10:28am | 23/08/10

Nigel so are you saying it matters not about how dodgy an election conduct is found to be, as long as those who win have good grammar skills? I was not asking for your vote, but for honest elections for my country.

Margaret says:

10:40am | 23/08/10

on this occasion I felt disenfranchised by both the major parties and overwhelmed by the unadulterated propoganda emanating from both sides
I also felt that the electorate was being held hostage by a (frequently) inept and subjective media (some should go right back to school) which made the information even more confusing
ultimately I shifted back slightly in the reps due to all the scare mongering and voted for the greens in the Senate
all I wanted was some honesty and transparency in the process and it was lacking in this election
finally…rather than chaos, it may well bring these people back to a position of conscience and for that reason i do not fear this hung parliament

Margaret says:

10:41am | 23/08/10

on this occasion I felt disenfranchised by both the major parties and overwhelmed by the unadulterated propoganda emanating from both sides
I also felt that the electorate was being held hostage by a (frequently) inept and subjective media (some should go right back to school) which made the information even more confusing
ultimately I shifted back slightly in the reps due to all the scare mongering and voted for the greens in the Senate
all I wanted was some honesty and transparency in the process and it was lacking in this election
finally…rather than chaos, it may well bring these people back to a position of conscience and for that reason i do not fear this hung parliament

CC says:

06:35pm | 25/08/10

Unfortunately Margaret, the Greens have been allowed to be the least transparent of any party, as most people don’t take them seriously. Have you seen any costing relating to their policies? How much would it actually cost to implement them? Oh wait, that’s right, they’ve never had to cost them out so who would know.

Shane From Melbourne says:

07:53am | 23/08/10

Yeah, they tried that in the U.S long ago. The Confederacy lost.

Peter says:

09:45am | 23/08/10

The Queen should now step in. Your right, the GG is compromised..