Little wonder it's close. The LNP wears the odium of necessary curtailing of pension "entitlements", super changes, and other excesses. Labor would have had to, and may yet be the ones that do, make these unavoidable reforms.

In a backlash, The country swung towards maintaining middle class welfare in these uncertain times, and gave warning to any prospective government, "hands off our teats!"

There's an interesting summation of the results of
this election. Whether you agree with it or not,
it is worth a read:

http://www.newmatilda.com/2016-07-03/the-point-piper-train-wreck-malcolm-turnbull-loses-his-big-gamble

When you look at it the Labor has already won with 17 seats changing hands and more to come. Shows how disappointed people are with the Lib’s . Jobs and Growth can’t they find something other than 3 word slogans.
Where I am it’s Labor for 20 years straight in both state and federal. You could say things are very stable.
The Lib’s have nowhere near won this election as yet. Turnbull must be counting green votes To say he can form govt; Just like Abbott he will put his backside up for sale to anyone at all. If he loses this he will be out on his ear.
The CFA complaint came to nothing, Turnbull needing to put some mud on the unions all fell off, the only CFA members that were seen were lib voters. A stupid idea interfering in an issue that is a matter for the state. The CFA matter had to come to a head and the vic PM done just that. The result of 3 years of inaction and a directive from the FWA. The Vic PM was endorsed for his actions.

Here's another link that explains what the future in
politics could look like:

http://www.newmatilda.com/2016-07-03/too-much-party-testosterone-explains-the-opposition

Again, it's worth a read.

Another feature that arose is the vote for the parochials with no national interest at heart, just selfishness for whatever their states can gain.

I put NXT in this category. As kingmaker it can wring a sweet deal for SA at the expense of everyone else, whereas major parties must govern for all. I don't believe any of the NXT guff about its national interest at all, nor those who voted for it.

The case exists for an NXT type party for each state, interested only in that state's interests, further splintering the vote and making Australia a looser federation without a national heart.

Country, my country, we apologize to our children who will pay the price for our selfishness.

Dear Luciferase,

I spit on your "nation". What you have is one group of bullies wanting to control a whole continent and impose their will over its 24 million people, so they tactically try to convince people who live 1000's of kilometres apart as if they have some "nationhood" in common with people they are never likely to even ever meet. That is sick!

Looking at the particular case of Xenophon, the commonwealth has brought South Australia economically to its knees by introducing international trade-agreements which might have been good for other states, but were disastrous for SA (later they cry about GST and welfare flowing to SA as a result).

People and communities deserve and should be able to pursue their own lifestyle, not a lifestyle dictated from 1000-3000 kilometres away.

While I cannot see South Australia being the first to exit the commonwealth, it is quite likely to become the second after Tasmania (with the rest to follow) - especially if the Liberals decide to punish Tasmanians for their vote, not long after they will be surprised to find the island conducting a referendum to exit the commonwealth.

I watch with pleasure how, due to infighting within the national LibLab party, none of them will be able to wield absolute power. Yet let us not be euphoric: the road is still long since they still hold a majority in parliament and could at any time resolve their internal differences if they wanted to.