'Close election'? This is wishful thinking, surely. Sportsbet has already paid out on a Coalition victory in SA after seeing the odds for it drop from 1.3/1 to 1.05/1. And the odds for a Coalition win in Tasmania are already up to 1.02/1. Labor is badly on the nose across the whole nation, and if it wasn't bolstered by the neo-Marxist left in the form of the Green party it would be even more clearly a thing of the past. Competence can function without compassion but -- as the Gillard-Rudd shambles so eloquently demonstrated -- compassion can't function without competence.

OK, I was wrong -- it was close, and the outcome remains in doubt. Will SA be governed by a party that 63% of its citizens didn't give a primary vote to, or only 55%? It does show how desperately Labor relies on its unholy alliance with the Greens. And it's also a kick in the face for SportsBet, which as I said has paid off on a Coalition victory already. They are generally pretty good on political odds, so I wonder what went wrong here.

I think what 'went wrong' was that while there were massive votes for the Liberals in some safe seats, which pushes up the overall Liberal vote, they didn't get enough of a swing in the seats that mattered. If they don't win government I hope they are not going to spend their time in opposition griping about their overall vote. There have been state and federal governments on both sides in Australia that have been in in power despite not winning the overall vote - it goes with our electoral system.

Jon
It is bery very close
And the fact Labor hasn't claimed a victory pretty well sums things up. I suspect they expect the prepoll are against them as they were recently in Griffith in Brisbane. They were very quick to claim victory there even though they had lost the primary count.
Wait until the prepoll votes are counted. That I expect will be the difference in the Labor marginals.

South Australians are no different to everyone else, they'll vote with their back pocket. As per usual the public servants will support the ALP gravy train & the workers i.e. those who put in an effort to earn their living will vote conservative. If the ALP gets back in then that means there are more snouts in the trough that is the public service.

Don't know why I get accused of bias every time I write something someone doesn't agree with. I'm an habitual Liberal voter, so if I were biased in this case it would be towards hoping the Libs would win.

Graham, anyone who even vaguely may mention anything remotely against the Liberal Party will be bashed down on this site, even those who are liberal voters!

I think your article was a fair indication of how the South Australian voters must be feeling. The election will be a close one because most are unable to choose between the policies/politicians of both major parties, and/or are over it all and are going for the minor parties instead.

It will also be similarly interesting to watch the Senate election in my state, WA, coming up soon :)

Susonline, are you annoyed about having to vote again for the Senate, and do you think you will vote differently this time ?

Yes I am annoyed at the terrible waste of time and money at having to vote again Candide.
If the 'lost' 1300 votes came from one area, then why can't just that area vote again?

Yes, I will probably vote differently this time.
I am not happy with the current lies and carry-on with the Liberal government and the Buswell scandal !

Susan
A clear majority of Sth Australians would not agree with you about how they are feeling.

What a load of tosh Susan. I've noticed we have partisans from both sides on this site, and I hardly ever get involved in comments threads. So the fact that someone might challenge someone else on a political statement is not sign of bias

We will have to agree to disagree on this one Graham.
Cheers,
Suse.

Disagree on what Suze? You don't have a case, or not one you've stated, and it's not fair to slur people without outlining what they are supposed to have done.

I haven't 'slurred' anyone Graham.
I am sure you know to whom I am referring.
I think, like many female posters, I will have an extended break from this site now.
A pity, as I did used to enjoy it.

I have no idea to what you are referring Suze.

Graham, some of the trolls on OLO, apart from their general rudeness to anyone who expresses a view contrary to their own, are also quite rude to those they assume to be women. Many of the more measured and interesting contributors have given up and gone, leaving the field to the trolls, but once they have no-one to snipe at they will lose interest too. It is unfortunate that the trolling has been tolerated.

Susan

simply name the trolls and their activity here. That will clear things up

Dear Suse,

Please don't stay away too long.
You shall be greatly missed.

imajulianutter, Suseonline didn't say anything about trolls, I did. They are the ones who seem unable to post without including gratuitous insults and put downs.

Candide
Is calling everbody trolls, without nominating any one, an example of a gratuitous slur?

No.

Why not?