So, our pariament is hung
If you, like me, have been bemoaning the general publics complete lack of knowledge about how the government works, then rejoice. For the hung parliament has made everyone sit up and say "huh?" At which point the edumacation starts.
The result from Saturdays election really has thrown everyone for a loop hasn't it. Instead of the predicted close call (let's face it, everyone thought that the Coalition would scrape it in by the skin of their teeth) we now have the prospect of a government cobbled together from either one of the major parties with the support of four, possibly five, relatively unknown men.
Exciting isn't it :)
What has been interesting has been the reaction to the idea of a true Coalition government (not the Liberal/National coalition, which lets face it, is essentially the Liberal party with a couple of Nationals hanging on for dear life). The media has gone completely ape poo over the idea. Predicting doom and disaster with great wailings and gnashing of teeths, while those that I've spoken to "on the street" seem to be loving it. Watching Gillard and Abbott have to completely change tack and start running what is essentially a mini-election has given people hope that the system isn't irretrievably broken.
I do find it kind of amusing to read and hear those who declare that because Tony Windsor, Bob Katter and Rod Oakshot are ex-nationals and so called "conservative" politicians that their only moral move would be to join the Coalition in government. This after all three have copped any amount of political crap from the Coalition in the past, especially from the Nationals. They seem to be forgetting that Katter, Windsor and Oakshot represent a Country Party that has long died off elsewhere, and indeed they represent a type of MP that is in very short supply, a true local representative.
For the next few weeks we will, as the old chinese curse goes, "be living in interesting times". Whether the big three will throw their lot in with the Coalition or Labor, the major parties have been put on notice that they can't take the electorate for granted any more. Change will have to occur if they wish to stem the tide of resentment and anger that has been building over the past fifteen to twenty years.
If they don't change they're going to be left behind and someone new will step in to fill their shoes.
That someone may just be the Greens. If any party could be said to have won the election, it's the Greens. When the new senate sits, they will be in control, their 9 senators putting them in prime position to ensure that any legislation that comes through the Senate will have to either meet with their approval, or that of the Coalition. This is the first time that the Greens have been in this position in the Federal parliament, and it will be interesting to see how they handle the power.
Of course it's not just in the Senate that the Greens will hold special sway. Thanks to the Labor party implosion, general disaffection with the majors and the retirement of Lindsay Tanner, the Greens were able to hold on to take the seat of Melbourne. This means that in this hung parliament they could have the power to make or break a government (especially if which every coalition is formed only hits 76 seats).
To tell you the truth, I'm not sure who's more worried.
