furbacchione

Only happened once before where there is an almost 50% split...

If I were to put on my statistics hat and think about the results for a second or two I would say those result are a very clear indication that the public are equally not fond of either party and or simply have no idea who to vote for.

Say you were to take a sample of 1000 people and asked them to choose between two people or two groups, without giving them any information about either, statistics would argue that the probability would be that approx. 50% would pick one and 50% would pick the other. Give those same 1000 clear information for them to make up their minds and you'd see a much different result. I think the same thing has happened in this election. Which could mean the public have very little confidence in any of the people or parties.

ProudVIC

A lot of the swing in this election was towards the Greens, which is a party considerably left of Labor. What that indicates is that a significant number of Labor supporters are unhappy with the party at the current time and have switched their vote as a protest. It also indicates that issues of social and environmental concern are slightly ahead of issues of economic concern at the present moment in this country, (although in my opinion they are interlinked).

One thing you can say for certain is that next to no Liberal supporters would have switched their vote to Greens as they are on complete opposite ends of the political spectrum. There was only a 1.6% swing to Liberal in this election last time I looked but around a 3.6% swing to the Greens.

If Tony Abbot gets in as PM he is going to face a formidable task to get any of his more extreme right policies through as he is going to face a barrage of Greens in the senate as well as a Green MP in the House of Reps.

When you think about it, this hasn't been as great a result for the Liberals as it appears. In 3 years time when the next federal election is held, if Liberal really stuff up and Labor get their act together a lot of the green vote will go straight back to Labor. It is a very different story to the Howard days when the Liberal party dominated the senate as well as the House of Reps. and could just about do as they please. Once they started to propose and implement extreme draconian policies like 'Work choices' that's when voters stood up and returned Labor emphatically.

soapy©

did anyone watch that swan dude last night? i thought he was going to spit the dummy.
great telly if you ask me.

best line in the election

i'm getting a lot of static
then when questioned by someone who wasnt picking on him he could hear fine

made me pish massel laughin anyway

Gibbo

This talk of work choices is just so ridiculous!! Anyone who believes that the Liberals would attempt to bring that back, in any form, after what happened at the last election has rocks in their head. The swing to the Greens was more, I think, to do with Labor's scare campaign on that subject than anythingelse. The Green's policies are pretty scarey.

Centurion

My take on the result. Incredibly complicated voting system of preferences leads to stupid results that the majority of people did not intend from time to time.

If it were not for the Greens (who should change the name to a more descriptive "socialist treehuggers with the most laughably crackpot manifesto ever written, but people will vote for us because the words eco and green are trendy" - just to avoid confusion) Labor would have lost by a landslide.

Broad Shoulders

Possibly, but let's remember the Coalition is also a two party option, so you could also say that without the Nationals the Libs would be just as f#cked.

The bottom line is, that the country has equally no faith in either of the major parties. They clearly don't think Tony is fit to govern this country and they clearly don't trust Labor's leadership by Gillard to last any longer than Rudd's.

In summary, weldone Australia, I think you got it right.

mulben

If Victoria wasn't so out of step with the rest of Australia , a measly 2.7% swing away from Labor would have seen them short by 10 seats.
Why do Victorians back such an under performing Govt. ?

NedKelly

I am beginning to think this is a good result. It means we have neither party in real power so no-one can go making big changes that screw things up which is what normally happens.

Sherlock Holmes

I live in Vic. Never saw it as labour before, especially in the country. Very good question as to what went on. Smallest state, biggest problem.

renth

I just need Abbot to swear in as PM so I can pick up my winnings.

Amazulu

From what I've been reading today:
If TA becomes PM and Labor go into opposition, how long will KRuddie hang around for? A by-election in his seat could go to the coalition by all accounts - strengthening TA's position.

ABCDiamond

Did Gillard promise them anything specific if she gets back in ?

Sherlock Holmes

Perhaps TA is taking a lesson from Cameron. Let Labour make all the noise first and then step in. Let's hope so.

But the similarity between Brown and Gillard is amazing. Bad losers both.

DeadVim

The people have spoken and they said "Meh".

The Sex Party should have got some seats, then we'd have a well hung government.

Deancm_MKII

Someone twittered that into channel 7 last night.