#ausvotes

The Governor General Summons Parliament

Within 30 days of the return of writs after a general election, the Governor General will reconvene parliament. The incumbent government has the right to face the new parliament and test to see if they can gain its confidence. While the Governor General remained unconnected during negotiations, if indeed no resolution is found and the incumbent government cannot gain the majority support of the Lower House, the Governor General will invite the Opposition to form a government. If they too are unable to form a government, the Governor General as upholder of the Constitution will have no resort but to once again dissolve parliament. At that time, all Members will face the electorate once more. For some this may not be the most favourable outcome.

The Device of another Election

As a device, the incumbent government may wish to return to the polls in order to gain more seats, for with a larger working majority there is less pressure on a government to perform. With many of these nuances of parliament not being expressly delineated, other jurisdictions are instructive. The power of an incumbent government to call an election after a hung parliament is not available at will but must be qualified. In the UK it has been clarified that in this event the Governor General will not dissolve parliament on this advice of the incumbent Prime Minister unless the incumbent Prime Minister can show that they command a simple majority within the House. If the Prime Minister cannot show this majority the responsibility for dissolution is purely that of the Governor General who will do so promptly if the Opposition is also unable to form a government.

The Prime Minister – the Leader of the Party with Majority Support

Considering the change in leadership of the ALP just prior to the election, and the consternation caused by its broader consequence of depriving the nation of its elected Prime Minister, many would expect the leader of the next government to be the leader of the party with the most votes. Not only does the preferential voting system betray the party with the most votes, but as it now stands the leaders of parties are a matter for caucus and not the electorate.

The events leading up to the 2010 election were prophetic. After the termination of Kevin Rudd’s role as Prime Minster by his own party, the position can now be seen for what it truly is; one enduring only to the extent of support within caucus, if not, as minority government will show, within the Chamber. In minority government even the leader of the government, along with policy and legislation, is subject to inter-parliamentary negotiation. Prior to the dawn of minority government, the leader of a political party enjoyed the majority of support within their own caucus, now possibly even that will be dispensable. In order to satisfy the wishes of supporting members of parliament, the government may well concede to changing its leadership.

Other Types of Alliances

Coalition

The manner in which a government could be formed is diverse. On one end of the spectrum, one which Australian politics is no stranger to, is the device of a Coalition. Here, as with the Liberal and National parties, two parties enter into formal agreements to unite and form a government if possible. Often these agreements are enduring as they can be complex and with a view taken for the longer term.