It has been a good decision on the part of the Independents to go with Labor. The current behaviour of some Coalition members just proves the Independants made the right decision. The election was a good result as both Parties needed to be pulled into line. To say that Labor is more aligned with big business is somewhat hard to understand on the basis that it has been the Coalition that had been pushing "Workchoices".

Hopefully we will now get more debate now in Parliament.

One of the best articles on politics I have read in a long time. It goes further than any mainstream media article on who exactly is Rob Oakeshott. The man was the most prominent Independent of the 3 (or 4) of them and pushed hardest for the reforms.

At first I was sick of his theatrics when he announced his decision, but then I thought, after years and years of boring Question Time, why couldn't we wait as he actually delivered some meaningful rhetoric?

But essentially why this piece is so enlightening is that it challenges the conservative/progressive divide. People do not fit into one or the other. Indeed, if they really think, and distance from themselves the prejudices and party loyalties of others, they will not fit into either.

We need more Rob Oakeshott's in Parliament.