jurplesman>> I am sorry if I sound a bit critical of the standards of this discussion board.<<

Apology accepted.

jurplesman, I think your opening statement, implying that TA lost the last election is wrong and deceitful.

He out polled Julia and, if not for the grubby deal she did with Andrew Willki, which she did a back flip on, we would still have had a hung parliament, or better still, a return to the polls.

If you think she didn't lie about the carbon tax, what would you call it?

If you think she didn't lie to AW, what would you call it?

As for the problems with a hinge parliament, as I said before, I doubt this will be a problem next time, as these ind simp,y won't figure in the voting. They have cooked their goose, as to say.

Jurplesman forgive them they know not what they talk of.
I did warn you this is basically a Conservative site.
Some quality conservative comment and Liberal can be found here.
Do not look for it in your protagonists.
SOME, refuse to learn Oakshot has been an independent for MANY YEARS.
Or that Windsor is in his second, very near third DECADE AS ONE.
I like the place, but know we are often subjected to uninformed posts equaled only in the worst graffiti you have seen.
I recommend this to ease your pain, an understanding Abbott will be so bad many who support him here will in time scream just as loud and pretend they told us so.

Hi Belly, thanks for your post. This explains everything. I wonder whetther it is possible an informative conservation here.
The stalemate about the refugee policy in parliament is a great surprise to me,as it would be to many other Australians. To me politics is about finding solutions to social conflicts, which would require flexity of mind and finding common grounds and negotiating with your 'opponents', that would satify all instead a small group with avested interest. I expected that a hung parliament with a minority government would result in more mature policies. But such is obviously impossible if one of the parties declares that they are not willing to negotiate and declares before any negotiation that they won't change their stance. For a party representing free enterprise and free competition of ideas and enterprise smacks more of a dictatorship than democracy.
With monumental changes going on in our world, new technical development, changing climate, degradation of our environment, overpopulation, we need a flexible government responsive to the best professional advice to deal with a rapidly changing world. No single party ideology would be able to handle this.

no mention of Oakshott and Windsor who pooped on democracy due to their hatred of the Nationals. Labour in bed with the Greens and the indepenents have done more to destroy democracy than any others in Australia's history. You are totally blinded jurplesman. Hopefully its not hatred that has blinded you like Oakshott and Windsor and others that defend lying to the electorate. The polls have reflected Labours treasury from the time Ms Gillard stabbed Rudd in the back.

In other words you are saying that independents and the Greens are not entitled to have a vote In parliament. These are politicians chosen by their constituents by a section of Australians!
I suggest that you have problems accepting a hung parliament - a real novelty for Australians. 
You imagine that parliament SHOULD consist of one dominant party, as has been the common experience in the past. 
Again you are using negative emotive terms expressing your personal disapproval without being able to explain in neutral terms why you object to the outcome of the last election. Calling our Prime Minister a "liar" - a mere ad hominem argument - does not change the position. I did not vote for the Labor Party, because of Gillard's indication not to pursue a carbon tax. I am really concerned about climate change (a huge complex topic in itself).   Hence my vote together with many others at least influenced Gillard to change her course. 

The reality is Parliament has been chosen by the people, including me, whether you like it not.