benq Wrote:
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At another election I'm pretty sure the informal voters and Green voters would rush back to Labor and they'd be able to form a majority government quite easily.
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What makes you think that? I could see more people going independent. At least the people I associate with were surprised so many got the vote. Now they see it as a way to get back some from the fools that have destroyed their lives over the past 30 years! Jeez some are even contemplating running themselves, something they would never have dreamed of until now.

I voted independent and so did all of my friends, next time we'll do it again! I could see all of them hung over and over again :) What a wonderful thing that would be!

The reason I think that, is because most of those new Green voters would be traditional Labor voters. The percentage of folks who change their vote at any election is usually quite tiny, and I think these disgruntled Labor voters see the Greens as a sort of lefty Labor party, and would rather their "disgruntled" votes go to the Greens (or informal) than the coalition.

What many of them wouldn't have known at the time of voting is that their non-Labor vote "almost" cost Labor the election. So in order to provide stable, majority government I think they would at least "temporarily" return to the Labor fold and vote in a majority Labor government.

Don't forget that the coalition barely had an increase in their overall vote compared to their last election defeat. The population clearly doesn't want them to govern.

Across regional Australia, a brace of electorates profoundly rejected Labor and the Greens at this election. When you add the combined votes of the ALP and the Greens, the four seats where these parties polled the lowest combined totals were: New England (11.4 per cent), Lyne (17.2 per cent), Kennedy (24.7 per cent) and O'Connor (25.7 per cent).

And who are the four MPS who hold these seats? None other than Tony Windsor (New England), Bob Oakeshott (Lyne), Bob Katter (Kennedy) and Tony Crook (O'Connor)

The question is whether these independents intend to represent their electorates or their own self interest. Because of their power today, their next elections will almost certainly be decided on their decision today.

A donkey vote instead of a vote for the lunatic fringe is a more considered non vote for the 2 main parties.

I have more regard for a considered informal vote than for an uninformed vote based on a catchy sound bite and a how to vote form.

An interesting and correct point you make Benq about Coalition support.
And the Green vote is clearly drift from Labor.

I'm somewhat reassured when you say "the population doesn't want their Govt".
I agree, the spectre of an Abbott Gov't is now a real possibility.

I think Arjay's right. The last thing the Coalition would want is another election.

And as for Latham advocating donkey voting.

On another post, I also advocated a "none of the above vote. But I also said,
that the only way such a vote could possibly be an expression of democracy
would be if more than 50% did it !. It should be an option the ballot paper !.

I voted Labor ticket on election day out of fear of an Abbot led Gov't.
I see this now as sensible, even though the Greens were attractive to my thinking.

Some of the bitterness here is pure hate and blindness.
Come of the grass fellas, Labor was flogged by its own actions, the actions of some one close to Rudd.
Mostly by Rudd himself.
THIS was an election Abbott should have walked in, yes his policy's leave much to be desired but lets face it, his fear thing worked.
Now antiseptic.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA, Bill Shorten, Paul Howe's, are men you can trust, believe it.
I am twice the age of one and nearly two and a half the age of the other.
The come from the same stable.
BOTH have already proved them selves, both contributed to the very survival of our best union, my lifetime one.
Read the speeches of both, understand they are what we thought Rudd was.
IT HURTS, it truly does,to know Rudd did a Latham, he thought he owned my party.
Gutless back down on DD election ETS I think the press gave him no option about boat people but his biggest crime?
After a lifetime of climbing the ALP ladder over the body of foot soldiers like me, he put himself before party.
IF we have to bend our knee to silly wish lists lets go back to the polls now.
Greens except in NSW bring that on now please, have reached high water mark if they can deliver some of their policy's we may see Australian boat people looking for homes in Indonesia.