I have heard a lot say they are going to vote informal--because they are sick to death of he both parties, I wonder if they will

...

I see that 5% of voters did so informally

Yes I saw that Clay--well this election has sure sent a message to the both of them to say we have NO faith in either of the Big two

I hear that the Labor party was soundly defeated in Queensland in particular

...

A handful of independents are set to decide Australia's political future after an inconclusive election delivered what seems certain to be the country's first hung parliament since World War II.

...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/

...

Have often wondered how many actually do vote more than once. Those books they use to cross of your name is such a totally outdated system.

I do however believe that every one should vote. People have died on hunger strikes to give us the right to vote.

Have known quite a few who have voted "informally" and they are the biggest whingers when it comes to something they dont like that the govt does. You dont have the right to whinge if you dont take a stand and vote.

What does all this mean? a hung government, does this mean that with all

the disgraceful and terrible things we have heard that the labor party is guilty of

is still not enough to give the liberals a run away victory, does it show that

a large number of Australians still prefer labor with all their faults over a

self righteous liberal party.

This mess means the election is not over, there is still no winner. The Greens won their first House seat at a general election and have the balance of power in the Senate. There are four certain independents - three are the re-elected Bob Katter, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor who represent conservative electorates. They say they will consult and seek a stable outcome.



And here's the bottom line -



Katter, Oakeshott and Windsor will probably vote with the Liberals. The newly elected Green, Adam Bandt will back Labor. The likely fifth member Andrew Wilkie in Tasmania, previously ran as a Green and is likely to support Labor. So we've got 3 Libs and 2 Labor.



How do they expect to get a stable outcome out of that? Please tell me we don't have to go back and vote again, I couldn't stand it.

I hope we do not have to vote again, if it hadn't of been for the

sausage sizzle I would not have made it home.

If the both parties had listened to the people and not spent their time bitching about one another and got on with the job they might have had a chance, just goes to show that the public is not stupid and maybe not they might listen??

Look what they said about us in the New York Times today.



[i]Ms. Gillard, 48, a former lawyer and labor union advocate, became the country’s first female prime minister in June after she ousted the once popular Kevin Rudd in a sudden mutiny that shocked the country. Mr. Rudd’s approval ratings had been declining for some weeks, and many Labor officials were convinced that the election could not be won with him as party leader.



But Ms. Gillard’s campaign has been marred by internal party bickering and a lingering sense of resentment among some voters — particularly in Mr. Rudd’s home state of Queensland — over the former leader’s abrupt removal.



Mr. Abbott, a 52-year-old Rhodes scholar who trained briefly for the priesthood before turning to politics, has sought to capitalize on that sentiment, telling supporters that Saturday’s vote was a “referendum on the political execution of a prime minister.”



The cliffhanger results Saturday are a stunning reversal for Labor, which, for much of Mr. Rudd’s tenure, enjoyed some of the highest approval ratings of any Australian government.



Yet despite claiming credit for keeping Australia out of recession during the global financial crisis, Labor has come under sustained criticism in recent months for its decision not to press forward with its cap-and-trade plan for carbon emissions and a battle with the powerful resources sector over a proposed tax on iron ore, coal and other commodities that form the backbone of Australia’s resource-driven economy.



If Labor were to lose, it would be the first government since 1931 to be turned out of power after just one three-year term. [/i]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/world/asia/22australia.html?_r=1

Did I read it right - Wilson Tuckey beaten by a nat ?

Yes fwed, what a silly old bugger, thank goodness he's gone. He's another one of those people who believe they are very special, a bit like Belinda Neal. In 2003 he wrote to Patrick Conlon who was Police Minister in SA on official ministerial letterhead, asking him to "review" his son's conviction on a traffic charge. Prime Minister Howard said that Tuckey's actions were foolish but refused to dismiss him but he had the good sense to resign and returned to the back bench.

I can go to bed happy - Maxine McKew got the boot!



Now that's not fair!



She will probably go back and join other lefties at Channel2 and annoy the crap out of us avid ABC watchers.



What did surprise me on Saturday night, when I switched channels, was the difference between 'seats won' by each party. It varied by up to 5 seats.



Channel 7 was terrible with Koch trying his hardest to make it something it wasn't and Mel, well she sat there smiling and trying not to open her dumb mouth to once again show her ignorance.

Tanwin I agree with you ,that Maxine Mc Kew is out,then she blames Gillard for kicking Rudd out,but she forgot to show herself in her electate all thru the campaign,and had the cheek to expect people to vote for he,r but that is Labor

The terrible twins still spewing out their vomit, Maxine may have

been a one shot politician with no experience, but do not forget

she was able to topple that peak of liberal bulldust howard.

The great man who took us into a war no one wanted, where

18 aussies so far killed, for what.while he dances around with his

fat super.