SO much reference to Rob's decision speech being too long. what a joke. it was only 17 minutes to here one of the most important decisions for decades. It shows the level of attention span of the average news junky is dangerously brief. We waited 17 days for this decision. 17 minutes really is not that insufferable. Children!.

The reason that people are complaining is that he's only entitled to 15 minutes of fame.

Seriously, it was his moment and he milked it for all it was worth. He may be an Independent, but he's still a politician.

I have not changed over night I proudly remain a Labor tragic.
And I live not far from Oakshots seat.
Said it before the settlement say it again he, and for that matter Windsor are much loved much trusted and with no doubt honest men.
What ever they do, where ever they take us, they will continue to be, independents.
A focus on the silliness around them yesterday a member of the Liberal party's spares bench the National party stood in frot of an unquestioning media and TOLD LIES.
He claimed 95% read under stand, of both seats are conservative voters.
These two and like it or not Katter count Labor voters in their votes and no seat none in this country has near that figure of conservatives.
The new fashion seems to lie and some fool will believe you.

What a mind-blowing position to be in for Rob Oakeshott. The other two independents had declared their hands, so it was up to him to either put Labor in power or give Labor and the Coalition 75 seats each and send everyone into a real spinout!

I think under the circumstances that we should not be at all critical of him for drawing out and dramatising this great moment in his life and in the history of Australian politics.

Plenty of criticism should be levelled elsewhere though, regarding the lack of policy from both major parties and the flaws in our system that could allow such a ridiculous situation to arise.

He would have been well advised to have kept it brief, & sharp. Something to the point, & giving his reasons would have been good.

As it was, all he did with his waffle, was highlight that he is a bit thick, & definitely not someone you would chose to have in the position the election put him.

I hope his thinking is clearer when his mouth is shut, than it proved to be when it was open. It would be nice to think that someone in that position was smart enough to be able to understand the issues they will vote on.

MPs like him are a good recommendation for the two party system, with most members doing as told.

Belly,

While I admire your robust support of your new found allies, the reality is that in these electorates Labor and the greens came a distant 4th and fifth in these electorates with combined totals of 15% or less. A poll post election in these electorates overwhelmingly favoured a coalition government.

While they enjoy a lot of personal support, they have made themselves vulnerable to attacks, and if this is successful their support can drain away very quickly, as it did with Kevin Rudd.

I missed a lot of his speech.

About 30 years into his speech, old age caught up with me and I passed away peacefully.

I am writing to you from the heavens above, many years into the future. . . Oh dear, my word, the NBN costed a lot more then Labor claimed and it’s not even half way finished!

Dear AP,

I loved his speech - he took the time
to fully explain how and why they made
the decisions that they did. And I
was inspired by his enthusiasm and
passion in the belief of parliamentary
reform, of politicians putting aside
Party politics, and working together
towards the good of the nation. If only...

Sadly, the comments from the Coalition
ranks since that historic day have dashed all
those hopes for me - and it looks like
the Coalition has not gotten the message
the voters have tried to send them in this
last election.

It will be back to Party
politics for those neanderthals, and attack,
and adversity - same old, same old ... tactics
and weasel words as before. The Independents
will need all their self-control not to give in
to these divisive tactics. And I'm sure that
it won't be long before voters realize that
the Coalittion should be permanently barred from
holding any positions of influence in our
parliament - they're an obstruction, and don't
deserve to warm any seats.

The pearler for me is when he tried to justify how even the electorate was when it came to Gillard or Abbott. The fool actually said in a jocular fashion "even my kids who are 4 and 6 are split on who they like. For god’s sake this line and the rest had me wishing that someone would step from the crowd and smite him before more drivel comes out. Disgusting, schoolboy smugness and limelight seeking. The generation of pollies we have are directionless clowns, but perhaps that is a direct reflection of the society they govern.

Belly:>> These two and like it or not Katter count Labor voters in their votes and no seat none in this country has near that figure of conservatives.<<

Belly the most salient thing that Bob Katter said was "if Kevin Rudd was in place I would go with Labor". I believe this displays the integrity of the man, and I disagree that the other two are class acts. Perhaps they were before the sudden burst of power gave them new perspective, but not now.

Unnecessary ramble. He waffled on about stuff no had the time to listen to. The vast majority of the population were at work or with the media there were tv commitments etc etc etc. Not the time for it.

Maybe he could've written it down and Graham could've posted it.

There was never going to be another election. Could anyone ACTUALLY imagine these independents risking their shot at parliament?. As if.

I was listening via radio so the smugness you speak off was not apparent humility of mentioning his family division did. I would much rather hear a politician's lengthy speech on why he/she made a decision than let it filter through a biased media first. Lucky we don't live in ancient Greece or Venezuela where we might even have to listen to great men talk for longer than an eternal 30 minutes! The ability to speak without Que cards or notes is at least one box ticked in my criteria for a thinking man/woman. Waffling on? Crikey! so what did you think of John Howard or Abbot! Personally i find Gillard excruciating to listen to as well but luckily the cheapest tertiary education will inform one of how our system works and it's comforting to know there are some people now in the Labor alliance that have a proven track record on sincerely wanting to make this country better for everyone (conservatives, progressives, radicals and greenies). it just sickens me that there is such vitriol spat at bob brown and the Greens. Take a good look at your children, your family and maybe even someone outside of your 6ft fence and contemplate where we are in history and what are the most pressing issues.

Foxy

Exactly!

I curbed my impatience due to the complete novelty of a politician expressing himself sincerely and not a hint of orchestration in anything he said.

Yes, indeed, the coalition appear not to have learned the lesson given to them by voters. I noted on another thread the repeated use of the term "Labor is the enemy" on the ABC yesterday by Nick Minchin.

To the Liberal Party:

Time to regroup and offer genuine policies that will benefit Australia and if that means agreeing with Labor, then just do it.

Severin:>> To the Liberal Party:
Time to regroup and offer genuine policies that will benefit Australia and if that means agreeing with Labor, then just do it.<<

Severin perhaps they can take a leaf from Gillard’s book on apolitical decision making as exampled by a proposed spend of hundreds of millions duplicating the existing illegal alien facilities "anywhere" except the already paid for Nauru, as that would be a total admission that Howard was right. Labors policies mean jack, because the implementation of all they have attempted has failed, and suddenly Gillard will make it work with a cobbled together slither of a government. Sorry we are to "move forward" and not look back, suckers.

Rob Buckshot had a lot to explain.

Firstly why he betrayed his electorate, and why he is representing his own interests first, and those of his electorate second.

Dear Shadow Minister,

Could you please explain to us on this thread
how Rob Oakeshott (you mis-spelled his name
by the way), let down his electorate and so forth.
He explained the reasons for their decision -
and what they acquired for their electorates,
was a great deal.

Did you not listen to their speeches, or failed
to comprehend what was being said - or are you
simply part of the Coalition abhorrent behaviour-
of condemn, attack, promise nothing, and don't co-operate -
even if its for the good of the nation?
Party first, nation second!

"Rob Buckshot had a lot to explain.

Firstly why he betrayed his electorate, and why he is representing his own interests first, and those of his electorate second."

As an independent have not Oakeshott's electorate voted for him to represent them how Oakeshott thinks best? Would the best way for Oakeshott to do this be by getting as close as possible to the decision making?
I fail to see why so many commentators seem so afraid of this minority gov. Of all legislation passed by both the Coalition and the Labor party in my memory has been to limit Australian peoples rights, increase police powers, instill xenophobia, side track real issues in favor of racist policy, annihilate any chance of the Australian manufacturing sector getting back on it's feet, force our best thinkers off shore..... it goes on and on. With no strong mandate to easily push through legislation at least we can rest assured that a bad situation will not get any worse in the near future. Real checks and balances may disclose the BS we have been fed for he last 20 years.

I would be happy if all elected representatives could do their level best in parliament for their electorates and for Australia.

The left-overs from the previous Howard government were an insult to the nation, opposing everything for the sake of it and sulking at other times. One previous senior minister took time off to write a book and others flogged their travel 'entitlements'. Then there was the incessant griping and moaning that they were not getting paid enough in opposition to cover the lifestyles they had got used to in government.

It isn't going to take much of the game playing by Abbott to bring that all back to an electorate that is already convinced that some members of parliament care more about what they can get out of the nation than what the nation can get out of them.

These personal attacks on the independents will quickly anger the electorate. So what if someone spoke at length, big deal.

Hasbeen welcome back!
See you are still all at sea,and still trawling that baby's nappy behind you.
Shadow Minister,well bought up, but as ugly as usual .
Labor and Nationals can not remove these two, you know that their personal vote is Iron tight.
No secrete Labor never took Oakshot on in NSW.
He took the seat of the ex deputy PM from the nationals.
You clearly are telling pork pies.
His vote is personal not conservative and you know and understand it.
But you are huge fun, and along with Hasbeen a symptom of just why you lost an election very much there to win.
Never again will you get so much help from the ALP.
NSW will give you joy, me too, no deference the trash will be taken out but a return to accountability will see the new team come back stronger.
Thanks for the enjoyment but reality is a worth while path.

Foxy, AP, Cornflower, et al,

Having listened to the speech, it was 17 minutes of trying justify his decision. In doing so he completely neglected to compare the offers from the coalition and Labor. If he had done so, the near equality of the two packages would have left his decision basically down to continuing his role in the spotlight as the final arbiter of Labor's legislation, and a boost to his parliamentary pension as a cabinet minister.

Whilst an elected representative is sometimes called upon to compromise the wishes of the electorate for the greater good, it would appear that this time it is for his greater good. Even if he is not re elected, he can rely on a cushy directorship, and all the perks of being an ex cabinet member. He should apply a bumper sticker to his car saying "so long suckers".

Dear Shadow Minister,

I guess its all subjective. I listened to his
speech in its entirety - and I certainly did
not get the impression that he was trying to
"justify" anything, as you claim. He was merely
doing us the courtesy of explaining why they
made the decision that they did. There is a
difference. And, they did sum up the Coalition's
offer as opposed to Labor's. Broadband, played
a major part in their decision. They chose the best
deal for their constituents.

Still we each see things from our own perspectives.
Some people will see a glass as half-full,
others will think they own it.
It's a question of - to each his own.

Shadow Minister

I'm sure you heard already
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/10/3008678.htm?section=justin

Tell me I am wrong.
Go on think about it
if the two ex Nats supported Abbott Shadow Minister and Captain Hasbeen, would be telling us they are men of conviction!
Say it isn't true.
Gotta laugh.
And I remain convinced a DD election is in our best interests, greens however will still control the upper house.
Keeping up the deliberate lie, that these men got in on conservative voters back, while condemning them for past ALP Backing turns these two in to Monty Python funny men .
Goodonya fellas love a laugh.

Belly, Foxy,

It was interesting that in turning down the cabinet position that he had previously asked for, he mentioned "the pressure" being applied.

Apparently the fragility of his position has started to dawn on him. His survival at the next election is precarious as the independent who brought in a Labor government, but as a Labor minister his future past 3 years is non existent.

With Wilke wanting to block the mining tax because it is not high enough, things are looking shaky for JG.