#ausvotes

While the last of the counting is being completed, it is clear that neither the ALP nor the Coalition will be able to form government on its own. However, someone has to. Rightly so, both the ALP and the Coalition want to govern, and our voting systems to one side, both have convenient arguments to suggest why they should govern. That these arguments are put forward after neither is able to secure the majority of support in the Lower House is trite, and points to the very reason for the disproportionate rise in the power of the Independent’s when compared to the actual votes that they secured in their regional electorates. Further, a plurality of 76 seats is all that matters. By default, despite their resources and majoritarian advantage, the major parties failed to perform at the polls. They were both unable to achieve unequivocal support from the electorate, despite their bargaining power, their political platforms, and a simple plurality voting system that gives them considerable advantage over minority parties. The vagaries of preferential voting are of no assistance to them now. While this will certainly become a subject of debate in the near future, for the imminent minority government, it is a subsidiary issue.

Caretaker Government

The incumbent government (the ALP) is given the privilege of operating a caretaker government, and it must be remembered that this occurs as the Governor General will never be without sound advisors in government with the Prime Minister as Chief Advisor.

The Caretaker Conventions that we observe during these occasions are directed toward establishing a fair platform upon which to campaign during an election, and one in which Executive decision making is kept to a bare minimum.

Forming a Government

The incumbent government is given the first opportunity to form a government, as a matter of prerogative right. The Governor General will require all possibilities to be exhausted before an election is called. Good faith must be exercised in all negotiations with a view to forming a government from within those elected Members of Parliament. Negotiations are presently taking place between the incumbent and those that maintain the balance of power in the Lower House; Messrs. Oakeshott, Windsor, Katter, Wilkie & Crook. Negotiations will also take place between those that hold the balance of power and the Coalition, for they too are offered the opportunity to form a government should the government fail to do so.

While the single Green member in the lower house is committed to the ALP through a party alliance, Messrs. Wilkie purports to be a lone Independent whose only alliance is with South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon in respect of poker machine reform. Mr. Wilkie has met with the government and has put forward his requests.

Mr. Crook was elected as a Western Australian National, but survived to win his seat by virtue of ALP preferences. While he has had differences of opinion with his east coast Nationals counterparts, he has attended their party room meeting. Apart from opposing the Mining Resources & Rent Tax he has indicated a level of independence on the cross bench as his position.

Messrs. Oakeshott, Windsor and Katter are Independents from regional Australia, and while they are not acting as a bloc they have reached consensus and approached government collectively.

Compounding this marvelous turn of events is the fact that these Independents have no platform upon which to compare their politics with either of the major parties. They have but the interests of their own electorate and hailing predominantly from regional Australia, those interests will be distinct from urban electorates. Indeed, all members are bound to place the interests of their constituents as a priority and history has shown that even members of larger opposition parties can be induced to cross the floor quite legally. Such enticement may involve a cabinet position which would give the opportunity for that member to influence real policy on behalf of its electorate. So it seems that political support is subject to daily affirmation.