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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  2. A taste of the response

    NSW Nat Leader
    [AndrewStoner The electors of Lyne delivered an 18% primary swing against Oakeshott 2 wks ago, dare say it would be a lot more now 12 minutes ago via mobile web]

    Lib MP
    [bobbaldwinmp Did Oakshot sell out for the job of Speaker, surely not! 11 minutes ago via txt]

    Lib MP
    [steveciobo Hard to take them seriously. Claim they’re about their constituents, but back Labor/Greens. ALP/Greens polled 11.5% & 17.8% in their seats! 1 minute ago via web ]

    [michaelobrienmp Why is Oakeshott so reticent to admit what job Julia has offered for his support? I thought he was committed to transparency? #ausvotes 4 minutes ago via web ]

  6. Coalition will push for election as hard as they can

    Yes and sounds like most of the press want the same. Nothing
    like being *fair and balanced*.

    Frau Kelly hates the outcome.

  7. Nauru should be looking forward to some alterations in their foreign aid arrangements. After all they did their little best to sink Australia’s Government of the day.

  12. The most marginal Labor seat is Corangamite, and Mr Cheeseman has won it by 700 votes – not much of a basis for the Libs to mount a legal challenge.

  15. austrlalia is ruined. a carbon tax/ mining tax and ets will ruin the economy. these were the key issues and and comment 82. we do have an embarrassment as a pm, one that knifed her boss for the job who will put a heroin injection room on every corner and shut down the coal fires power stations in this term coz of the coalition with the lunatics in the greens

    AUSTRALIA IS RUINED COZ OF THE ALP/GREEN/IND ALLIANCE

  16. In the one hour wait after Katter’s announcement, Fran Kelly was saying she thought this indicated W&O would back the coalition also.

    So, she’s a fool.

    Now she is hassling W&O about supporting Labor when ‘the Coalition would win a re-election’.

    She is transparently partisan.

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

    Precisely. The government is supplied for the next year. If they want to obstruct, Gillard can wait until July 2011. It’ll just make the Libs look bad.

  25. This presser is going to go on until Gillard walks through the doors in a dramatic entrance, and all the camera suddenly turn to her!

  29. >>Gee the press pack are taking this personally.

    Well they all received an email from the Murdochbunker say” Get Abbott elected or it’s your job”.

  38. The more the Murdochliberal Party attacks O and W, the closer they will be bonded to their decision. Long may it continue. By 2013 they will be taking out AWU tickets.

  49. [On the downside, we’ll be subjected to another 3 years of Scott Morrison whining about boat people.]
    The best thing was for 17 days we didn’t hear about “Stop the Boats” – hopefully we have laid that shameful ghost to rest for all time!

    To me that was the very worst thing about Howard and what I will never forgive him for.

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