Maybe it is just because it is a Monday morning, but I am having a great deal of trouble processing all this hung parliament stuff.

The UK recently went through the same cycle, with a conservative leader having to accommodate a fairly substantial minority party, in order to form a stable government. The differences, however, are far greater than these superficial similarities.

For one, the parties concerned had developed, refined and presented their policies to the electorate over a number of years. Popping your head over the parapet on the Monday before the poll with a manifesto cobbled together from opinion polls and focus groups is not quite as convincing.

As a result, there are absolutely no principles involved, even at the level of the two main parties. Which, when it comes to "negotiating" with independents, means that the electorate as a whole has absolutely no input to the final mish-mash of policies that eventuate from the compromises that will inevitably be made.

So this is our reward: a "government" for the next three years that is representative of the wishes of absolutely no-one in the country.

That puts the concept of parliamentary democracy into some question, I would have thought. And in the process, makes an absolute mockery of the argument for compulsory voting.

I was told earlier that

>>Anyone who does an informal vote this weekend should not then complain about who does come into power. You will get what you deserve.<<

I took the advice seriously, and dutifully placed my vote on Saturday.

Am I now "getting what I deserve", suzeonline?

The outcome is not necessarily a bad thing. We are too hung up on the two party majority in Australia and a democracy which includes a number of variants to the status quo is not a bad outcome.

Parliament is better served with many Independents who are not tied to party lines and who will represent their electorates and all Australians by being accessible. Independents and minor party reps are generally more accessible because they have to work harder and cannot rely on the party loyalty vote.

It also means the legislative process will invite greater consultation and scrutiny and by nature Independents will provide some encouragement for electoral and parliamentary reform.

Not a bad outcome as long as stable government can be formed. Not to mention the benefit of not being beholden to any particular vested interests that may not always represent the common or national interest.

I believe it is an excellent result for the Australian tax payers for Labor has been humbled, Liberal can not crow, the Independent's character will be on display for all to see and the Greens have come out of the cupboard. All are going to have to work together outside the box for the good of the people and selfish ambition is the casualty. United we stand divided we fall. The new testament is about working together for the good of all and childish behavior doesn't cut it. If you do what is right and do it right it works. Two people on the election panel on saturday night displayed real immaturity and need to grow.

Yes, I have faith that the next govt can work. It will be a test for either Abbott or Gillard. If the next PM is successful, it would define a great prime minister's term.

Of Gillard or Abbott, I would favour the latter on the basis that Greens influence in the House may cause too much division, albeit that the latter may be more suited to environmental aims. The Greens will still have influence in the Senate

I agree with Pelly.

This result may, just may, give us a
government that may be forced to work
outside Party lines, for the benefit
of us all. At least we can hope that this
is a step in the right direction for our
country, where people will begin to matter
instead of political allegiances. Perhaps
this is the way our country should be
headed - with more independents entering
parliament and less party politics.
Wouldn't it be great if good decisions
became acceptable - regardless of who
proposed them - as long as they were beneficial
to the country. Now that would be a step in the
right direction.

Neither Labor or Liberal/National have been given a mandate to govern, look at the result Labor 38.5%, Lib/Nat 43.5%, Greens 11.4% and Others 6.6%. Abbott can't guarantee support in the Senate for any government he might form and Gillard didn't get enough votes end of story. Lets do it all again that's democracy.