D-day plus 17 …

… and finally, the small matter of the result. The winner is Labor. Not a famous victory by any stretch of the imagination, but under the circumstances they’ll be happy with the four points. For my part, I have my doubts about members of parliament going against the obvious preference of their constituents in so fundamental a matter as government formation, barring the proverbial extraordinary and reprehensible standards. I’m not entirely sure that a bit of creative accounting from the Coalition clears the bar on this count. That said, I have no doubt – none – that conservatives tempted to echo these sentiments will find themselves constrained by their philosophy’s most eloquent champion, Edmund Burke, who famously told his constituents: “Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion”. (Burke’s speech has been given a fair run around the place in recent times, including by apparently learned people who would do well to read it through to the end.)

Besides, my difference of opinion with Windsor and Oakeshott is purely a matter of degree – there were respectable arguments that could have been mounted whichever way they jumped. Ultimately they deserve our gratitude for the patient and considered fashion with which they have navigated through their delicate position. Most particularly, they should be heartily congratulated for ignoring a fortnight’s worth of quacking and bleating from a section of the media that does not at heart believe in consensus, checks and balances or even particularly in democracy. Whatever uncertainties might lie ahead, one thing is sure: these voices will spend the coming months and/or years peddling distortions and hyperbole to create a sense of crisis about a situation which in reality has every chance of serving Australia well. Long may the independents continue to turn a deaf ear.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

2,892 comments on “D-day plus 17 …”

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  4. vik
    [Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 3:38 pm | Permalink
    There is a God (or maybe a Goddess) after all]

    of course there is there is also spirituality and the good ness and light

    this has all come down to karma for the things the libs have done to us and to julia and to kev and the msm are included in this karma i would say.

  14. What slightly worries me is that the Liberals + their puppet Fielding will make the Senate until July 2011 as obstructionist as possible – perhaps Bob Brown will talk about this when he does his press conference later?

  15. Some journos pissed off big-time.

    Windsor saying he thought the Coalition would win if an election. Journos don’t understand that we’d be without a government for another 6 weeks at least and that the Two Amigos prefer Labor’s policies.

  19. Tony Windsor must have found disscussing things with Katter and Oakeshott so long winded and wandering off the point I am amazed he is still so calm and composed

  20. [What slightly worries me is that the Liberals + their puppet Fielding will make the Senate until July 2011 as obstructionist as possible – perhaps Bob Brown will talk about this when he does his press conference later?]

    And the minority government should yell about it each and every day they obstruct!

  22. [What slightly worries me is that the Liberals + their puppet Fielding will make the Senate until July 2011 as obstructionist as possible]

    They will just schedule as few Senate sitting days as possible between now and July next year.

  26. Congratulations to Labor (and its PB-based supporters) on forming the next Government.

    And many thanks to William for his excellent coverage of the election (before and after!)

  28. [Coalition will push for election as hard as they can]

    And it’d backfire on them electorally!
    On the downside, we’ll be subjected to another 3 years of Scott Morrison whining about boat people. 😀

  29. @ABC comments, Actually both Ali and Chris were pushing the obvious narrative today, that Oak and Windsor are dead certs for Labor.

  31. [What slightly worries me is that the Liberals + their puppet Fielding will make the Senate until July 2011 as obstructionist as possible]
    Just have to do bare minimum until then. Now the fibs will be going over all ballots with a fine tooth comb looking for legal challenges.

  32. People – I know there are many happy people out there, but this isn’t a football match.

    Great outcomes re policy

    1) NBN

    2) GBNT on Miners

    3) Other Infrastructure like BER continues

    4) Indies and Greens looking for ETS or CPRS

    5) No embarrassment as a PM.

    Bad outcomes

    1) Boring as bats.hite QT in HoR

    2) Oakshott get any more exposure to prattle on.

    And the worst

    WHO WILL STOP THE BOATS???????????????????? 😉

  34. How long before the Dirty Digger’s rags start chorusing “Ms Gilliard has no option but to ask the Governor General to dissolve parliament and call an election immediately.”

  36. Great news – result Labor in minority as expected. When I collect my winnings it will be time to get into the new issues we never thought would be on the table, ets, refugees, public education, Henry Review, and more. Whomever said “3 more years” a minute or two ago couldn’t be more wrong, thankfully. Go the indies and the Green!

  38. Just visited Bolt-land – makes post-bomb Hiroshima look like a pleasant environment!

    It’s like reading the morning papers saying “your footy side is going to lose” after you come home from the win.

  43. Anyway, a big congratulations is in order for the great & legendary William Bowe and his always terrific blog!
    🙂

    Let’s just pray this is a stable arrangement and we get good government over the next 3 years! 🙂

  47. Meanwhile, on the high seas, a batch of boatpeople are being radioed about the result and are steering their boats towards Australia. Expect to hear about them within the next few days 😉

    Gah, the press vultures basically squawking at OW right now are really disgusting!

  50. [So William, you picked the hung parliament and the Indies’ split.

    I bow to you (’scuse pun).

    Now I can stop hyperventilating]

    I agree, that is an extraordinary prediction. Who else on pb predicted this?

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