Who will be Prime Minister?

[Squawk]

Wow - the Politics forum suddenly has life!

TBH I haven't been able to keep up with all the goings on, who has said what and when etc, but my main intent was to point out the provisions and point out that the leak could have come from Treasury, but equally could have come from elsewhere in the process.

At the end of the day, elected members have no choice but to accept the public service. Needless to say though, few politicians trust even fewer public servants.

[am Bays]

aB, I am heartened, but a lifetime of watching close election counts makes me pessimistic that Labor will win, even though my psephological opinion would be that he should

My summary remains:

If Labor hold Corangamite and/or win Brisbane, they'll form government.

If they lose both, Tony will do so.

In any event, it's as close as you could get.

Phew, Theresa Gambero has increased her lead from 382 to 684 votes of Bevis this morning. Wyatt is looking a good thing in Hasluck. It is going to be good to have an indigenous voice in the lower house.

First women (HoR), youngest ever (HOR and Senate), first indigenous member (HoR and Senate), first member of Asian decent into the Senate. The Labor party talks diversity of electable members, the Liberal party practices it.

[redandblack]

ALP has the first woman leader, aB.

And we've got Penny Wong

[bulldogproud2]

aB, I am heartened, but a lifetime of watching close election counts makes me pessimistic that Labor will win, even though my psephological opinion would be that he should

My summary remains:

If Labor hold Corangamite and/or win Brisbane, they'll form government.

If they lose both, Tony will do so.

In any event, it's as close as you could get.

Phew, Theresa Gambero has increased her lead from 382 to 684 votes of Bevis this morning. Wyatt is looking a good thing in Hasluck. It is going to be good to have an indigenous voice in the lower house.

First women (HoR), youngest ever (HOR and Senate), first indigenous member (HoR and Senate), first member of Asian decent into the Senate. The Labor party talks diversity of electable members, the Liberal party practices it.

Getting them into parliament is one thing - getting them to lead the government is another. First female Prime Minister in the Federal system (Julia Gillard), first female Premier in the State system (Carmen Lawrence), first female premier in the largest state in Australia (Christine Kenneally), first female premier in Queensland (Anna Bligh).

[am Bays]

First female federal minister.

Actually the first Female Premier was in SA - Don Dunstan.....

[mick]

aB, I am heartened, but a lifetime of watching close election counts makes me pessimistic that Labor will win, even though my psephological opinion would be that he should

My summary remains:

If Labor hold Corangamite and/or win Brisbane, they'll form government.

If they lose both, Tony will do so.

In any event, it's as close as you could get.

Phew, Theresa Gambero has increased her lead from 382 to 684 votes of Bevis this morning. Wyatt is looking a good thing in Hasluck. It is going to be good to have an indigenous voice in the lower house.

First women (HoR), youngest ever (HOR and Senate), first indigenous member (HoR and Senate), first member of Asian decent into the Senate. The Labor party talks diversity of electable members, the Liberal party practices it.

Getting them into parliament is one thing - getting them to lead the government is another. First female Prime Minister in the Federal system (Julia Gillard), first female Premier in the State system (Carmen Lawrence), first female premier in the largest state in Australia (Christine Kenneally), first female premier in Queensland (Anna Bligh).

Lots of firsts, but are/were they any good? Carmen had a very bad memory, Keneally and Bligh are soon likely to be consigned to the dustbin of history. Gillard who knows? I am suprised you forgot the lady from Victoria Joan Kirner? how quickly we forget, then I suppose thats what Labor tokenism is all about

[Magpiespower]

Keneally... soon likely to be consigned to the dustbin of history.

Big party in March.

Whole state dancing on the grave of NSW Labor.

Sussex Street will be a ghost town after the 2011 election...

[bulldogproud2]

aB, I am heartened, but a lifetime of watching close election counts makes me pessimistic that Labor will win, even though my psephological opinion would be that he should

My summary remains:

If Labor hold Corangamite and/or win Brisbane, they'll form government.

If they lose both, Tony will do so.

In any event, it's as close as you could get.

Phew, Theresa Gambero has increased her lead from 382 to 684 votes of Bevis this morning. Wyatt is looking a good thing in Hasluck. It is going to be good to have an indigenous voice in the lower house.

First women (HoR), youngest ever (HOR and Senate), first indigenous member (HoR and Senate), first member of Asian decent into the Senate. The Labor party talks diversity of electable members, the Liberal party practices it.

Getting them into parliament is one thing - getting them to lead the government is another. First female Prime Minister in the Federal system (Julia Gillard), first female Premier in the State system (Carmen Lawrence), first female premier in the largest state in Australia (Christine Kenneally), first female premier in Queensland (Anna Bligh).

Lots of firsts, but are/were they any good? Carmen had a very bad memory, Keneally and Bligh are soon likely to be consigned to the dustbin of history. Gillard who knows? I am suprised you forgot the lady from Victoria Joan Kirner? how quickly we forget, then I suppose thats what Labor tokenism is all about

Ooops, I did forget about Joan!
I think a lot of people in Victoria have tried to too!

[topsywaldron]

The Labor party talks diversity of electable members, the Liberal party practices it.

This is true. They've even taken this to the extreme of putting intellectually handicapped members in Parliament.

Just look at Julie Bishop.

[am Bays]

The Labor party talks diversity of electable members, the Liberal party practices it.

This is true. They've even taken this to the extreme of putting intellectually handicapped members in Parliament.

Just look at Julie Bishop.

Keep 'em in the kitchen hey Tops, or better still working on the collective??

[topsywaldron]

Keep 'em in the kitchen hey Tops, or better still working on the collective??

She and Barnaby Joyce can both go to the kibbutz together as far as I'm concerned. Not a grey cell between them.

(Hopefully Mark Arbib goes too.)

[Media Park]

dowe have a government yet???

[Magpiespower]

(Hopefully Mark Arbib goes too.)

Take his mate Karl with him, too...

[ca]

I would hope the Independents make a call very soon. I think the time is coming when they need to make their decision public. I am sure privately they all the know the way they want to go but don’t want to jump to quickly. I think personally they want to go with Labor and think that is the best outcome for the Country but probably feel given the Electorates they represent they should go with the Coalition.

Ideally for them the Coalition will continue to be a bit difficult and Labor throw everything at them and they can go where they want to without much backlash. Either way by the time we hit Monday they should go public.

[Psyber]

Federal Departments don't sway either way as they may have in he past. It would come down more to individuals in those departments these days and as per usual Im sure you've only dealt with those that suit your argument.

It's possible, but it would be by chance - you don't get to choose who you deal with when you need to talk to a government department.

In fact I usually find I eventually get pissed off and write to the Minister, then you tend to get some action.
I did that when I had trouble with sickness certificates for patients being ignored by CentreLink local officials in Melbourne.
They were being told they had to go job-seeking regardless of being certified unfit.
That happened under the Howard government, but it wasn't government policy, just local re-interpretation - I don't know whether it was political mischief or just stupidity.

The Minister had the Centrelink Area Supervisor ring me to get the details and sort it out, and give me his direct number in case it recurred.
[Dealing with private industry is more easy - I have my main bank's branch manager's direct phone number and direct email address.]

[Psyber]

I would hope the Independents make a call very soon. I think the time is coming when they need to make their decision public. I am sure privately they all the know the way they want to go but don’t want to jump to quickly. I think personally they want to go with Labor and think that is the best outcome for the Country but probably feel given the Electorates they represent they should go with the Coalition.

Ideally for them the Coalition will continue to be a bit difficult and Labor throw everything at them and they can go where they want to without much backlash. Either way by the time we hit Monday they should go public.

I'd be surprised if anything were sorted out within the next 7-10 days - there is no need to rush it.
If they are serious about what is best for the country they really have to do the due diligence, and that is not just the policy costings.
[I think that particular issue will be sorted out over the next several days.]

The last party they should go for is the one that tries to bribe them, and both Katter and Windsor seem to have made it clear they won't be bought by the speaker appointment and Ministerial appointments - unlike Bob Brown.
I'm also confident they don't yet know which way they want to go, because they are using their heads not their emotions and will want to examine the facts.
[And of course I, purely personally, think a Labor/Green coalition would be disastrous when the next economic slump hits, after Greece collapses, and there is no money in reserve.]

[Dirko]

ALP has the first woman leader, aB.

And we've got Penny Wong

Gillard/woman
Wong/woman

There's a couple of oxymoron's for you.....

[am Bays]

Well according to Antony Green on abc.net.au. the AEC electoral computer is giving the final "in doubt" seat (Brisbane) to the coalition

Final count even allowing for the WA Nat member sitting on the cross benches LNP 73, ALP 72 Greens 1 and Ind 4.

Obviously counting will continue in the seats until polls are declared.

Hmm what will the next week bring in terms of who will form the minority government, with the support of the independants?

[mick]

ALP has the first woman leader, aB.

And we've got Penny Wong

Gillard/woman
Wong/woman

There's a couple of oxymoron's for you.....

Wasn't Wong was the senator who put the interests of the ALP ahead of her own state with regard to the Murray, and also did not have the guts to go against her own party with regard to same sex marriage? An easy life in the Senate, so I suppose she's laughing no matter what happens.

[topsywaldron]

Final count even allowing for the WA Nat member sitting on the cross benches LNP 73, ALP 72 Greens 1 and Ind 4.

Isn't it 72 each with the W.A. Nat, Katter, Oakeshot, Windsor, Brandt and Wilkie sitting on the crossbenches?