Foxy, this election was never about tony abbot winning, it was always about whether or not labor could loose badly enough to be voted out and, if not for the electrol roundabout, being the green vote actually being a vote for labor, they would have been thrashed.
As for the ind, well Tony Windsor himself admitted that he preferred libs, but thought labor would offer more stabillity, simply because they would be to affriad to call an early election. Remember, those ind are unlikely to be there next time around.

Now, if you are happy to crow about this and call it a 'win', then good for you.

Just remember, labor has lost a huge majority and only got there via default.

Belly, my prediction is for the tigers to beat the saints and the roosters to beat the titans.

Remember, the sainys only just defeated a depleated manly, then had a week off they didn't need.

Roosters titans final, roosters win.

As for the political scene, panic if either turnbull of costelo make a comeback as madam Pm will not stand a chance against either of them.

Dear rehctub,

The only way the Liberals have been able to
get into government was with the help of
the National Party for approximately the
past fifty years and yet they object to the
formation of the current government.
If you feel that this is something to crow
about - then fair enough. And by the way,
which ever way you slice it - the Australian
Electoral Commission has made the figures
public - and whether you like it or not -
Labor did win the 2 Party Preferred Primary vote.
And if as you claim - this election was not about
Tony Abbott winning - you'd better tell him that,
because he's convinced that the campaign is still
on - from what he and his colleagues are saying,
and the way they're behaving!

What certainty can we have of stability in
government under the Coalition (Libs & National),
when all their actions to date demonstrate
their determination to undermine a legitimately
elelcted government in the interests of destroying
Australian politics no matter what. How can any body
in their right mind entrust the future of the country
to such irrational people?

It's "simply not cricket" for Tony Abbott to take his bat
and smash up the cricket game. But that's apparently
what Catholic little boys were taught in private schools.
My husband is familiar with that sort of mentality -
having himself been educated in a private Catholic School
System.

cont'd ...

And by the way, according to a recent poll,
Julia Gillard was the preferred PM at 54%,
over Tony Abbott at 34%, so obviously there
is something out in the electorate that
shows that people don't want the Coalition
in power.

As for your stating that the independents
won't be around next time. I wouldn't bet
on it. I've have family in country NSW
and Queensland, who no longer trust the
Coalition after supporting them for decades.

Foxy while I got the election results very wrong, it was surely the low point for Labor.
A we are confronted by a Parliament that may fail any day.
Labor has a task, it is to not sell out its own voters by giving too much to the greens.
Yes greens have some great ideas,, and some horrible ones while Labor is at its low point greens are at their highest one.
It is worth noting ,,surely it is, that long time greens mates here in OLO are disturbed by my truly held views .
And like it or not my truthfully held view is some real bile is on display here in OLO from just a few this election result has seen defensive stance take place to defend some.
This threads title is one, now do not get me wrong, it is my view let the titles continue let the bile run free but do not take my right to reply away.
Who would have thought a close and inconclusive election could harness such our right of reply?

Dear Foxy
The difference between the two parties aliences is that the libs and nats went to the election 'as one'. Whereas, a large percentage of green voters, who were in fact X labor, were actually to dumb to realize that a vote for the greens was in fact a vote for labor, whom they had dumped, all due to preferences. Bilnd freddie knows the greens and labor are one. It's just a trick labor keeps up their sleve.

Now, to suggest that labor won ligit government is quite simply a joke. Julia gillard should hold her head in shame as she was thrashed at the polls, just not badly enough ( 86 seats down to 72/3)and, if not for her blind luck in securing the inds she would have added yet another failed trophy to the labor trophy case.

In fact, I would bet Tony Windsor would not have gone that way if she had come clean with the 'day one' mining tax 'back flip'.

I am no fan of TA, but look out if we have a strong leader. Labor will be bannished for decades. I can wait.

Dear rehctub,

We have no choice but to wait.

At least for now.