Any more consensus could be a bit of a problem for people demanding it when Governments and Oppositions agree on things these people don't like.

Dealing with illegal immigrants and the deployment of troops overseas is one example of consensus on the books, now, and there are plenty of objections on these two issues from the very same people yabbering about consensus.

I think most of the electorate (excluding the most ardent Howard supporters) saw through the whole me-tooism tag as just another buzzword in election strategy. Afterall sometimes Parties will agree and why would we be surprised with the tweedledum and tweedledee approach particularly in relation to the economy.

We shouldn't aspire to too much consensus or bipartisanship as a general rule. One of the strongest components of democracy is an Opposition that keeps the government accountable, even if it is only via the media and at Question Time (such as when the government might hold the balance of power in the Senate)

Mr Right is right. Consensus and bipartisanship are all very well to some extent but still fails to address how we might include voters in a more participatory style of government ie. the consensus of the people.